THE PRINCESS OF WALES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 775, 26 March 1910, Page 11

THE PRINCESS OF WALES.

Before the' King's accession to the ifaone, Bays ran English; paper, the Princess.of Wales spent a great,deal,of her. time *t York Cottage, and : lived what was comparatively.: speaking' a life of seclusion. • She appeared,. of oourse, at Court, and attended a certain iramber of social and publio functions, but the Princess held 'that her first duty '■ was to her children, and to them she devoted by '■. far the r greater -.part of her time. ;: Never was there a more devoted or loving mother. '/■'.; ■ The.. Princess was a tremendous believer in outdoor life for children, and' it was a strict rule at York Cottage that the young Princes should be ready to go but at ten' o'clock every morning: unless Jthe weather was exceptionally/bad, 'but they "were never kept in on an ordinary wot day. Her Royal Highness invariably went oni- herself -"wat her children'; she taught them how to trundle hoops, tnd delighted in running races with them. •■■■ -,' :••. '/-

' After the King's accession; Hie Princess bad, of course,;to fulfil many more miHio and social obligations thanhitherto; as Princess of Wales she had to pTeaido at Marlborough House, and take an active part in many functions at wihiohj-as consort', of the Heir Apparent,'it was 'necessary, she should »ppear. It is '■:'&' matter .of common knowledge-that this is a part, of her fife which has never appealed to the Princess;: her nature, is reserved and re&ingj ■ / and if she consulted her.owa inclinations she would be seldom 6i never seen in, pubKc. : - But the Princess knows that'one'.in her high position cannot indulge her natural inclinations, a^,she has;sacrificed them cheerfully.' As hostess at Marlborough House, as guest at various great houses, and as patron, of many charitable entertain-ments,'-she ;is-" always delightful and' ciharming, gracious and kind. Her friends,; outside relatives, ; are few; among-these are Lady Eva Dugdale and Mis. Derek Keppel. The former is: in 'her household, and .the latter is the wife of the Hon. 1 Derek W. Keppel, one of lie Prince of Wales's equerries. 'Mrs. Keppel has known .the Princess of. Wales for many 'years, and jne great bond of sympathy between ■them is,their love'of children.;,.' Mrsi '. Keppel and her children are constant visitors,at Marlborough House, and 'the' former are frequent playmates of, and great friends with, the Eoyal children. . Mrs. Keppel also shares with the' Princess, a dislike of-,dancing, and at the.State balls at Buckingham. Palace the Princess and her friend may often be seen:, sitting out 'dances together When her Royal is able to escape performing a duty that does' hot .by any means appeal to her. Tie Princess made a rule when she first came to Marlborough House that she would: keep- at least one oleaf'day » week: in which she - would devote, herself altogether to her.'childreh.'.•; For 1 Siat day. she vrodd;enter into'no engagements of a publio or private character. In the manning her; Royal Highness- would go ,'otrt "driving .with the young Princes' and the Princess Mary, but. 13» feature of the day:-was afternoon tea, a .meal, partaken, of entirely en faimlle in;;-the Princess's bondoir, her Royal: Highness pouring out tea dispensing the cakes, herself. . : " -, For tbree; ; years; ,pui. Princess kept:' ■her ;rule ■ of. devoting. -herself '.for ■:one day entirely to,:children,very strictly, bnt, then;the growing pressure of her engagements.- when she' was in: Loncompelled.her. to, relinquish it;. at no time, however, does her Royal. Highness 'ever "pass a day. when under - the. same. roof, as her, family .without spend-., ing at least an..hour with.! them,. in which she sets an example to many .wealthy women who never, see,..their. dhildren for day». and who have not one-tenth part of, the .obligations and. duties' whiob keep'the; Princess, frequently (busy, for ..fourteian".or. fifteen tours out 1 of tie .twenty-four.- > -