QUEEN'S SHOPPING

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 66, 10 December 1937, Page 13

QUEEN'S SHOPPING

DisaBled Soldiers' Work CHRISTMAS BUYING LONDON, Not. 20. Whenever they could spare a moment from their busy round of official and social engagements, the Queen and' the other ladies of the Hoyal Family have been attending to their Christmas shopping and preparations. They have been opening, attending and even selling at the numerous exhibitions, where Christmas presents have been on sale in aid of deserving causes. The Queen spent a long period one day at the annual War-Disabled Men's Exhibition, which was opened by the Duchess of Kent and has also been visited by Queen Mary, the Queen of Norway, the Princess Royal and the Dukes of Gloucester and Kentl This is the fifth successive year that Queen Elizabeth has made - the exhibition one of her favourite depots for buying Qhristmas presents, and she made at least one purchase at each stall. Meeting Old Friends. The Queen talked very happily and at length with the salesmen, many of whom are limbless or blind. Shaking hands with one of them jvhom she had met before, she remarked, "This ig just like meeting old friends, •' and at another stall she said to the ex-service-man in charge, "I remember you last year. You are a very good salesman." The Queen made constant inquiries about the success of the sale, the progress of the workshops involved, and the welfare and health of ,the men employed. Another day the Queen and Queen Mary attended a specially-arranged private dress parade in the blue and silver music room of Sir Philip Sassoon's house, where lingerie, boudoir wraps and drapes designed by Lady SmithDorien and made at the floyal School of Needlework, were displayAd. _ Her Majesty told Lady Smith-Dor-rien that she and Princess Elizabeth planned to work a sampler together during the winter, and as a result she took back to the Palace with her a Coronation sampler for which Lady Smith-Dorrien had written the verses. Another Royal lady who has been extremely busy with preparations for Christmas is the Duchess of Kent. There was a delightful incident at the opening of the Christmas sale . of the Royal School of Needlework at which slie had consented to sell gifts at a fancy goods stall. She was doing an excellent trade, surrounded by eager customers, when she lieard a similar voice in her ear isay, uCan 1 help you, madam?" , Roaring Trade.

It was no other than the Duke of Kent, who, though neither invited nor expeeted, had suddenly decided t to share his wife's task. To tho great delight of the crowd, the Duchess spurned his kind offer, but lie insisted on remaining, remarking with satisfaction, "I am going to make tnyself usolull" The Duke thereupon entered iilto his task with great gusto, calling out, "Change, pleasel" .in a professional autnner. He djd "a roarjng trade.