The Washington herald., 1920-12-12
ENGLAND SEEKS
GIRL FOR QUEEN
Daughter of People Consid-
cred to,sit' Upon Throne
OF Britain.

who is going to be the next Queen
of England?
This is the puzzle that certainly
every woman. and most Of the news-
papers and male folk in England
are trying to solve.
For the first time since the matri-
moniaI experiments of blum King
Henry the Eighth, there Is an excel
lent chance Of . .Commoner", mount
ing the throne Of England, and
hordes of matchmaking msmmas. to
say nothing Of hundreds Of blush
ing debutantes, who six years ago
would have admitted themselves
ruled out of the:contest.' realize that
the imperial crown Is well within
their grasp. plus very presentable
Prince Charming, II they can man
age to rope in the Prince of Wales.
Among the many social upheavsls
caused by the war not the least
striking is the difference II has made
to the Prince of Wales. Without
world war. he would certainly have
been Notwithstanding to plan.
and probably before now-to some
German. Russian or other princess.
He might have been given a choice
of two or three, but his list for Sc
lection would have been strictly
limited. But with tho wiping out
of the Russian royal family. and
the total eclipse Of the German and
hao Va
to call for a pack Of cards for hing
self and claim q fresh deal.
In fact there are only four prin-
cesses of suitable age left in Eu,
rope. They are the Italian Prin-
-cesses Yoianda and Mafalda, Marie
of Rumania and Margaret Of Dem
mark. The Italian candidates are
Catholics, perhaps not an insuper-
able obstacle, but anyway the Ital-
Ian throne is not regarded as too
stable just now, consideration
which will weigh very heavily when
the final decision Is taken by the
powers that arrange royal mar
riages. Ts
The Danish Princess Margaret rs
a prime favorite of Queen-Motherl
Alexandra's, but there Is no indica-
ton that the prince has any views in
that direction. while the exponents
of high policy cannot see any ad-
vantage to Britain in an alliance
with poor little bankrupt Rumania.
Princess Toe Young.
Were King Albert's daughter five
or six years older, high policy would
doubtless win and an Anglo-Belgian
alliance contaminated, but little
Princess Marie is only fourteen, and
a Prince of Wales cannot wait for
her to grow up. Three English
princesses are available, two Teck
princesses and Maud. younger
daughter of the late Duke, of Fife.
but the Tecks have little wealth or
prestige. while the greater part of
the Fife fortune went with the title
to the elder daughter, Princess
Alexandra, who married Prince Ar
thur of Connaught.
Hence the matchmakers have
turned to the ''Old Nobility" of Eng
land and right here the said Old
Nobility must be kicking itself
badly over the fact that IL hasn't
more manageable daughters to
offer. Taking the three highest
ranks, twenty-eight dukes can only
provide fourteen daughters OF suit
able age. forty-two marquisess but
fifteen and 225 earls a paltry thiSty-
seven eligible candidates. Three
quarters Of these would be automat-
ically ruled out through lack of for
tune, personal looks or on account OF
"entanglements,' divorces. etc, of
their parents or near relations, for
no scandal must be raked up against
the future Queen of England. nor
rl, IL ha t4l
Yank Bride Improbable.
Advocates of Anglo American
friendship are roofing for an Amer
ican bride, and the Prince has doubt
less seen plenty of suitable candi-
dates over here. but the wish Of the
man-in-the-street undoubtedly is for
our young man" to make an Eng
lish marriage. So far, however. no
given by the Prince himself. not
maker having detected him showing
undue Partially for any particular
person.
There are no very rigid court
rules on the subject in England, the
consent of the King being sufficient
to satisfy etiquette. and the consent
of Parliament, which has to be OBJ
tanned by the heir to the throne in
any event, royal or otherwise. Par
Lament would readily consent to a
non-royal bride, and 1t is generally
believed that King George and
Queen Mary are desirous of allow
ing the young prince to choose for
himself.
Equally with the Prince of Wales,
Princess Mar ystands a fine chance
of being permitted to take a nom
royal husband,>for there are no ell
gible princes of her own age left in
Europe. The younger princes Of
England may profit similarly.
One of the main qualifications for
non-royal Princess of Wales, or
non-royal husband for Princess
Mary, will be a substantial bank
roll, for the British royal house is
not wealthy.