THE QUEEN AS MOTHER-IN-LAW.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81914, 8 January 1907, Page 4

THE QUEEN AS MOTHER-IN-LAW.

According to a universal report, and "Chat iu the most exalted as well as in tne humbler circles of society, the position of mother in-law is one fraught with peril to family harmony. .Queen Alexandra comes out of the ordeal, as she does in all those where true womanliness is in question, with triumphant success; and her two sons-in, law and her daughter-in law are all devoted to her in a? very peculiar and intimate sense. j

Few people are aware of how long and .how intimate was the fiicmlsii between the Duke of Fife ami his future wife's parents before any question of the great Scottish noble's engagement to Princess Louise of Wales was first mooted. Lord Macdull', as he then was, was a pleasant looking Etonian at the time be made the ac qv.aintanee of the Prince and Princess of Wales during a picnic given by his parents on the banks of the Dee, As he grew up and became a rather prominent figure in politics. Lord was an "habitue" of Marlborough House, and thus he had every opportunity of-mak-ing acquaintance of his future Sovereign's three young daughters. When lie succeeded to his earldom and his immense income the situation remained about the same. Lord Fife took bis place among the most eligible bachelor peers in the kingdom, and the lovely Princess, who was so many years later to become his mother in-law paid him the absolutely unique compliment of dining in his liquse. and of being present at a great ball given by him in her own and Heir Apparent's honor. From time immemorial no Princess ol Wales or Queen Consort was ever entertained by an unmarried man, and so the ball given in the September or ISBO by tha Duke of Fife remains historic in the history of British Royalty. THE LOVER'S ADVOCATE.

It is an open secret that Queen Alexandra warmly advocated the marriage of her eldest daughter to. Lord Fife. She realised, as no one but a mother could do, how much l'lincr? Louise's happiness was bound up in this important question of her marriage, and therefore, iler .Majesty threw the whole weight of her in ilifcuce on the side of Princess Louise's non-ltoyal suitor; and among the most valued of the Duke's personal possessions is the exquisite miniature of his wife, ringed in fine matched qearls, which was presented to him on his wedding day. . To the case was at taehed a card bearing, in the then Princess of Wales' line, sloping handwriting. "From your mother in-law." A DOUBLE KELATLIKSHIP. The present Princes of Wales is, ol course, doubly related to the King and Queen, and they have watched her liiu with affectionate interest from practically the day of her birth; in fact, the King is his daughter-in law's godfather. The lenderest affection united Queen Axelandra and the late Duchess of Teek, and there are many most touching references to their long friendship in tie biography of the kit ter. Princess May and her brothers were constantly at Marlborough 'louse and in their young cousin the Prince and Princess of Wales welcomed with eager pleasure the betrothal of their beloved eldest son. the Duke of Clarence. When, within a few 'weeks, death supervened, the bereaved mother found her greatest consolation in being with l'rineess May, and as time went on she saw being repealed the strange and pathetic romance which had already occurred in the ease of her own sister, the Princess Dug,;... and the Emperor of Russia. Since the marriage of her only >.ui viving son, Queen Alexandra has been untiring in her constant kindness to her daughter in-law. During the many enforced absences of the Prince and Princess of Wales, tier Majesty has taken charge of the children, keeping tffe' absent mother constantly informed as to their welfare. The Queen was also careful, both before the Accession and since, to give the daughter-in-law her right place with the public, and at, Sandiiiigham the two lioyal ladies are quite as much together as if they were in very truth mother and i daughter. . ■ ■'.'i:. <S : i>:\ili'