QUEEN GOES SHOPPING

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 27, 23 April 1927, Page 25 (Supplement)

QUEEN GOES SHOPPING

LOVER OF ANTIQUES

A large motor-car drew up in Edgware Road recently. Two ladies alighted and entered the antique shop of Messrs. C. Collier and Co. “I suppose there is nothing particularly in my line to-day?” asked the elder. It was the Queen, accompanied by Princess Mary, and she was paying a surprise visit to the establishment where she has often purchased curios. "I have a lot of Chinese antiques, and the Queen is a keen collector,” said Mr. Collier later. "She is particularly interested in delicate models of houses, pagodas and furniture. "I usually write and tell her when I have anything which I think she would like, but to-day she Just came to look around. Neither she nor Princess Mary bought anything, although the Queen has frequently made purchases on previous occasions.” The Queen took part in an entirely different shopping expedition when she and the Princess, a little earlier, visited the new headquarters of the Qirls’.Friendly Society in Greycoat Place,* Westminster. In the nee work department, where the work of a ,'lid members is shown, both the I "t ladies made a number of purciuises, but the Queen's selections were almost exclusively confined to baby garments, evidently for her grand-daughter, Princess Elizabeth, who is now under her charge at Buckingham Palace. The society’s birthday flag was flying during the visit—the headquarers were opened by the Archbishop of Canterbury exactly a year ago—and the Queen, who asked the meaning of the flag, was interested to know that she had selected the birthdr'- of the new building for her visit. In the publication shop of the building numbers of the general public surprised by the sudden appearance of the Royal party were inclined to withdraw; but the Queen, with a charming smile, requested them not to inconvenience themselves in any way.

Down in the basement both the Queen and the Princess expressed surprise at the spotlessly clean state of the boiler-house. It was more like a well-kept kitchen, they said. And. having left, they returned to have one more look at it. Here they encountered an ex-naval man, Proctor, whose war ribbons were recognised by the Princess. He told her he had served for 19 years in the Navy, latterly as leading torpedo man, bis last ship being the Achilles.