CHRISTENING A PRINCESS

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 374, 4 March 1937, Page 2

CHRISTENING A PRINCESS

DUCHESS OF KENT. Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel. London, February 10. The daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Kent was -christened in the Private- Chapel at Buckingham Palace yesterday, receiving the name; Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel. The Archbishop of Canterbury, who took the service, was assisted by Prebendary L. J. Percival (Precentor of the Chapels Royal and Domestic Chaplain to the King).

The sponsors were the King and Queen, and the Earl of Athlone, v.io were present, and the Queen of Norway, Princess Beatrice, Princess Nicholas of Greece, Princess Paul of Yugoslavia, and Count Toerring, who were unable to be present. Members of the Royal Family present, in addition to the child's parents, were Queen Mary, Princess Elizabeth, Princess Margaret, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Princess Louise Duchess of Argyll, and Princess Alice Countess of Athlone. Prince Edward was taken to the ceremony.

Sir John Simon, the Home Secretary, Dr W. Gilliatt, Dr A. E. Gow and the Ladies and Gentlemen of their Majesties’ Household in Waiting, and of the Household of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, were also present. Mir E. Stanley Roper was.' at the organ, and the choir of the Chapel Royal were in attendance. The gold font made for the christening of Queen Victoria’s eldest child was brought from Windsor, and the baby was sprinkled with water from the River Jordan. She wore the Brussels lace and cream satin robes which Were used at the christening of Queen Victoria’s children. The baby cried lustily throughout the ceremony and little Prince Edward joined in sympathetically.

Pink For a Girl,

Pink flowers’ were mingled with’ white round the gold lily font. Pale pink anemones and tiny pink, starry bouvarvia carried out the Goodyear scheme for the top of the font. Lilies of the valley, snowdrops, and pheasants’ eye narcissi were introduced with them.

White heather Was used, together with pink carnations, round the base of the font. Sprigs of royal myrtle were also introduced. They were gathered from a bush grown from a sprig in the Duchess of Kent's bridal bouquet. Guelder rose, lilac, and lilies were the all-white decorations used in the chapel. The Queen wore a square, flatcrowned beret with her greige ensemble. Her favourite touch of violet appeared in the tailored bow on the crown.

Queen Mary was in a light grey ensemble. The Duke and Duchess of Kent were the last to leave for the Palace. They stood smiling on the steps- of their house before- entering the car. The Duchess chose a becoming shade of raisin for her satin dress. Her matching hat, of Gainsborough shape, was wide brimmed and trimmed with coq feathers of the same colour. Before the ceremony the Duke and Duch iss of Kent gave a luncheon party at 3 Belgrave Square, at which the King and Queen. Queen Mary, and the- Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were present.

"My Daughter’s Education." The future and education of his daughter, whose christening he had attended earlier in the day, were discussed in the evening by the Duke of Kent, speaking at a dinner in London given by the Clothworkers’ Company in aid of Newnham College, Cambridge. “To-day,” said the Duke, “I have had the great happiness of having my daughter christened, and I was thinking of her life and education. I came to the conclusion that unless she worked very hard she would never attain a sufficiently high standard of knowledge to qualify for Newnham. This realisation made me appreciate from an entirely personal point of view the pleasure and feeling of achievement that must be felt by all who go to Newnham—and their parent® as well.” In response to an appeal for £63,000 to complete a building and re-equipment scheme, £6667 was subscribed at the dinner, including an anonymous donation of £lOOO. The total amount realised so far in the appeal was £-44,667.

Other speakers included the Hon. Rupert Beckett, Canon H. R. L. (“Dick”) Sheppard, Professor Winifred Cullis, Sir Alan Garrett An-der-