Delivered The Queen’s Babies

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30956, 12 January 1966, Page 2

Delivered The Queen’s Babies

(N.Z. Preu Association—Copyright) LONDON, January 11. Sister Helen Rowe, Britain’s most famous midwife who saw the Queen’s four children into the world, died in Stratford-Upon-Avon Hospital last night. She was 71.

'Hie small, slim, brownhaired midwife was a familiar sight in the palaces and leading houses in the country for the last 40 years. She delivered so many babies that she lost count of them. Sister Rowe used to say that that Queen, as a parent, was “wonderful, rather like one of the old type of mothers.” The Queen made her a mem. ber of the Royal Victorian Order, an award given only for personal or extra-ordinary service to the Sovereign. She treasured photographs of the Royal Family and a diamond brooch given to her by the Queen.

I Sister Rowe was said to have always inspired confidence and shown quiet efficiiency as well as insight while ; on duty. I Just three hours after the Queen gave birth to Prince (Andrew in 1960, Sister Rowe told Prince Charles to carry !the baby into the room where ■ the Queen was lying. She later described the expression on the Queen’s face as one of “great joy.” Sister Rowe hated limelight. After the Royal births she would slip away by the side door to her one-room apartment in North London or small house in Eastbourne on the south coast.