A SACRED ROOM

Shannon News, 21 October 1927, Page 2

A SACRED ROOM

QUEEN ALEXANDRA'S BOUDOIR.

One room of Marlborough House is to be left entirely untouched, by direct order of the Prince of Wales. This Is Queen Alexandra's private boudoir, in which she passed so many pleasant hours. It is to remain in precisely the same condition as it was when the late beloved Queen Mother last used it (writes Howard Hensman in the 'Woman's Magazine'). Its walls are panelled in deep crimson silk, and the centre of the floor is occupied by a handsome writing table that holds a, variety of writing conveniences, including a large blotter bearing a silver crown upon its cover, a heavy inlaid brass case for letters requiring attention, and a silver writing set. The table also bears a large number of photographs, all handsomely framed, of various members of the Royal Family. One of these is King George when a child, and directly facing it is another of the Prince of Wales when little more than a baby, and bearing the inscription in Queen Alexandra's well-'remembered beautifully clear, sloping writing, "Our darling David." In a corner behind this table is placed Queen Alexandra's favourite piano, upon which she was a very expert performer in her younger days, and placed upon this are two autographed photographs of the late Lady Halle, the foremost lady violinist of her day, who was on terms of very considerable personal friendship with the Queen Mother, who used frequently to play her accompaniments for her. This boudoir is likewise full of interesting personal souvenirs of Queen Alexandra, including several cases of jewellery and articles of personal adornment, while a little coloured sketch on one of the walls shows the late Duke of Clarence and Avondale and the present King in the costumes that they wore when attending their first fancy dress ball., Facing the window overlooking the gardens beneath is a full-length painting of the King in a sailor dress as he appeared when he was 12 years old, while nearby hangs the last photograph ever taken of King Edward, a few months prior to his death.