INTERESTING TALK ABOUT QUEEN ELIZABETH

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 178, 14 August 1937, Page 13

INTERESTING TALK ABOUT QUEEN ELIZABETH

MRS. H. W. C.

BAIRD

BY

"The beautiful old red sandstone eastle of Glamis, in Scotland, w&s the girlhood home of Queen Elizabeth." said Mrs H. W. C. Baird in a delightful talk about Queen -Elizabeth, which was given at the Hastings Townswomen's Guild meeting on Thursday afternoon. Mrs Baird described most interestingly Glamis Castle, where the Strathmores have lived for over 600 years, mentioning the reception rooms, the banqueting hall, which is now the din-iiig-room, and the crypt, as well as many other parts of the castle and its surroundings. "The Earl of Strathmore, -the Queen 's father, was the eldest of a family of 10, all of whom were very musical," continued Mrs. Baird. "Every evening after supper two pipers marehed round the table three times, "and their playing eould be heard as they afterwards' walked down the passage. Tliis was followed by a little music, and the family sang paTt-songs, glees and ,choruses. From the family of 10 it was possibje to'have a male quartet, a women 's trio. and a family octet. Queen Elizabeth . inherited this 'ove of music, and Prineess Margaret Rose is also said to be very musical." Mrs. Baird spoke about the mystery of Glamis, about which there are so many different stories, and also about . the ghast of Glamis. She said that the ghost, according to stories told, had not been seen since a certain, sruest had spent the night in the eastle. This guest was a minister, who was always colleeting money, and whcn the ghost appeared in his room he was quite unperturbed and merely remarked, "It ' is too cold to get out of bed, but my c.o.lleetion box is on the dressing table, ' ' and . the ghost had not appeared since. , " Queen Elizabeth was. the ninth of a family of ten, ' ' continued the speaker, " and as most of the other members oi the family were growu up when she was younger her best pais were *iei mother and a brother, 18 months younger than herself. Queen Elizabeth, who was then the Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, always, had great eharin of manner, and when a little girl her own family always called her. little Prineess Elizabeth^ though they had no idea that she would be a future Que«?n. '.'Lady Elizabeth and her younger brother, David, were very fond of the theatre and dressing up, - and were brought up in a keaJtby natural way, aceompanying their parents to London when they went to their towii house. On her 14th birthday she was taken to the theatre for a treat, and while there heard the declaratloa of war. -Tha family returned to Glamis Castle, which W8is turned into a hospital. Mrs. Baird related many .interesting stories which had bcen told by the soldiers who stayed at Glamis, and all spoke of the kindness and sympathy shown by the Countess of Strathmore and Lady, Elizabeth. j.uo former iuways .breakfasted with departing soldiers, no' matter how early the rneal, and each soldier received a parting gift. - Many of the soldiers wrote to the Countess of .Strathmore, and. some etill do, and during the tour of Austraiia by the Puke and Duehess of >York, ono of the soldiers living in Sydney wrote to the Duehess and was received later at Government House, and the Duehess danced the third danco with him at the ball given there. The Duehess recognised another soldier when in Wellington. "The Eing and Queen first met at the agee of 10 and 5 respectively at a party given by the Countess of Airlie and not again until the first scason of the Lady Elizabeth ih London," continued Mrs. Baird. "Everyone was dolighted when the engagemont of tha Duke of York and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was announced, and also at 'the time of the wedding. Though they were married at Westmlnster Abbey the wedding (cake was made in Edihburgh. A charming fhought was

that of the Duehess when she placed her wedding bouquet on the Unknown Soldier 's grave. "Their home was'White Lodge, Richmond Park, and they were eoon in great demand at public funetions, where the Duehess beeame known as the 'smiling Duehess.' Later their London home was 145 Picadilly and finis was not only a Royal residence but a home." Mrs Baird spoke about the tours which the Duke and Duehess made in South Afri,ca, Austraiia and Kew Zealand, where they became most popular every where they.visited. She also mentioned the birth of Prineess Elizabeth and Prineess Margaret Rose, the latter being the' first Royal birth in Scotland for over 300 years. "When Duchoss of York, the Queen became very interested in women 's a«tivities, children 's welfare and- the slums," said the speaker, "and in the latter she showed much tact aud sympathy. She has always been kind and thoughtful also to well-educated women who have had a hard struggle in life. ' ' The Queen has always tried to bring up her children in a natural, liealthy and happy way, with consideration and thoughtfulness for others. Perhaps those who have known her as the smiling Duehess will know her now as a loyal partner and helpmate who sliares with the King the burdens of the Crown for she will always be a g^llant lady and gracious Queen."