Empire-wide Interest In The Child Who May Rule Us.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 361, 16 February 1937, Page 2

Empire-wide Interest In The Child Who May Rule Us.

Probably the most self-possessed person in the British Empire, in the face of the chance that has placed a 10-year-old girl next in line for the Throne, is the little Princess Alexandra Mary, herself. For, 10-going-on-11. the Princess Elizabeth has always accepted her Royal position with calm and has faced the white light of relentless publicity with aplomb. When she Wears a new style or colour of dress, British mothers rush to the stores to deck their children out in similar clothes. The flood of chocolates and china, hospital wards and handbags, dresses and dolls, named after the princess is already becoming a deluge.

Her mail has always been heavy, especially at her birthday time (April 21) and at holiday seasons. It has required extra post office clerks and a special maid to handle, and has in recent weeks become a cloudburst.

Reared To Be Queen.

If there was a single home in the British Isles which <sid not display a picture of the princess before Her father’s accession to the Throne, the deficiency was probably remedied as soon as possible.

Her first tooth, her first strugglings with baby speech, her first intelligible Word, her first pony, her first partly dress of white chiffon over pink satin, her toys, her playthings, her dogs, her nursery, her clothes siince she began “growing up,,” all these things have been relayed to an avid public since that day of her birth 10 years ago.

Princess Elizabeth has been reared from the very moment of her birth as a potential reigning queen. Had her succession been certain, no step in her upbringing would have been different.

From that birth moment, the white light of publicity has played constantly about the fair golden hair of the princess. Therein she is different from her illustrious namesake Queen Elizabeth, and even from the 'great Queen Victoria. Nobody thought they were going to be queens, and their childhood was quite obscure. On the day of her christening, Princess Elizabeth was carried out on a balcony for adoring crowds to see. Since then, whenever she was staying at the King’s London house at 145 Piccadilly, she has been shown to the public daily.

Accustomed to Position.

Hence the little princess probably "took in her stride” the momentous 'event which brought her ont( step nearer the Throne. Her understanding of her Royal position is clear.

Servants have always bowed in her presence, and visitors to her parents’ home have always made a point to courtesy or bow when she entered the room.

The days when she was a goldenhaired baby, and lisped her own name into “Lillibet,” are gone. When she appeared as a bridesmaid at the wedding of the Duke of Kent, onlookers were amazed at her mature appearance. Tall for her age, Princess Elizabeth was not easily picked out from th© adult bridesmaids.

The days are past when Queen Mlary greeted, ifflte. tloddlfog girl as "bambina,” and when Edward, the former king, jocosely met her with a casual “Hello, Queen Elizabeth.” Was there prophecy in his careless words? Whether there was or not, the educational regime, the ceremonials and the watchful care with which she is always guarded, all these will be intensified now that the Princess Elizabeth is direct Heir to the Throne.