The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1935-01-18
Three Future Kings--And Maybe
A Queen--Study for Royal Roles
Regal Children Get Little Pub.
licity Except When Sue
cession Looms
Nv MILTON BRONNER

by MlkION BNONNEh
(NEA Service Staff Correspondent
London, Jan. l8.-Euroean states
men, with keen eye on cannon fod-
der, may be worried because the peo-
pie are not filling the cradles the
way they used to, but-there is no
great falling off in royal birth-rates.
Europe IS filled with royal babies
and children. Four OF these are Of
the highest importance in the future
history Of the world; ll-year-old
Peter II, King Of Yugoslavia: Crown
Prince Michael, for a brief time boy
king Of Rumania and destined some
day to be king again; Princess Eliza
beth, eldest daughter Of the Duke
and Duchess Of York. who some day
may be the second Queen Elizabeth
OF Great Britain: and Prince Bau-
douin, heir to the throne of Belgium.
The rest Of the royal children of
Europe aren't as important in the
scheme Of things because they hap
pen to be girls, and In most European
kingdoms only males may become
heirs to the throne.
Children Unpublished
Despite their exalted rank, most
OF these royal children are hardly
publicized at all. Consider Peter II
of Yugoslavia, for instance. When
his father, King Alexander, fell G.
victim to the bullets Of an assassin
at Marseilles last October. the world
in general learned with astoniShment
that his son and heir was a pupil in
a. select private English school near
London.
There were many reasons which
induced his kingly father to make
that choice. In the first place, the
boy was rather serious minded and
at the same time, gentle. Alexander
wanted him to take his part in the
rough and tumble of English school
athletics to bring him out and make
him a good mixer. Then kings need
the gift Of tongues and the father
wanted the boy to be proficient in
English, which threatens to supplant
French as the world tongue. Finally.
Alexander knew his royal house had
desperate enemies, and England SEEM
ed q safe place in which Peter could
grow up.
Father Deposed Michael
Fat, broad-faced Prince Michael,
l3, heir to the throne of Rumania,
has had the most remarkable ca
reer Of any royal youngster in recent
world history. His father. then Crown
Prince Carol. left Rumania sudden
~ in December 1925. He renounced
his rights to the throne, definitely left
his wife, Princess Helene. and gave up
the power to bring up his only son.
King Ferdinand called crown coun-
Gil, which proclaimed Michael heir TO
the throne. It also was arranged that
when Michael became king. there
should be q regency, composed of the
head OF the Rumanian state church.
the Chief Justice OF the Supreme
Court and Prince Nicholas. the boy IS
uncle. Ferdinand died July 20. 1927
and. at the age OF 6, Michael was pro-
claimed king.
But things took a dramatic turn in
June 1928. when Carol suddenly re-
appeared in Bucharest and was pro-
claimed king. Michael was reduced in
rank. He was now Crown Prince with
title Of Grand Voyyoda of Alba Julia.
Ever since then. King Carol has ex-
erted himself to Wean the boy away
from the mothers influence. He is
being educated in select circle in
Bucharest.
Princess Groomcd
Popular little Princess Elizabeth
Of England is being groomed as one
who some day may be Queen of Eng
land. Only three lives stand between
her and the throne-King George, the
Prince Of Wales and her father, the
Duke OF York, in the order named.
OF course, If her parents had a baby
son, her nose would be out Of Joint,
SO far as the throne is concerned, be-
cause the succession goes primarily
to the males. But she would still pre-
cede her younger uncles and her cous-
illS in claims to the throne.
At one time there was talk OF send
ing the eighty year old Princess to
some private school attended by some
OF her little friends. But her parents
have changed their minds. She Is
taught by private tutors in the fall
and winter at her parents home in
Piccadilly, in summer at their lodge
in the grounds Of Windsor Castle.
King Leopold Of Belgium and his