Evening star., 1939-05-21
Notable Britons Accompany
King and Queen on Tour
Encourage Reads Like
Roll Call From
Medieval History
BY MONA DUGAS.

Like roll call from medieval his
tory is the list of the royal encourage
which is accompanying their majes-
ties. King George and Queen Eliza
beth, on their journeys in North
America. The members of the
Queens household, especially. re-
mind one of the chronicles of the
early years of English history. re-
calling as they do the tales of
intrigue. war, treaties and shining
adventure.
Of particular interest is the name
of Lady Katharine Seymour, lady
in waiting to the Queen. Daughter
of the third Duke of Abercorn and
second wife of 1t. Col. Sir Reginald
Henry Seymour, K. c. V. O., 1t. Col
retiredD, K. r. r. c., late Equerry
to H. M. George V. Lady Katharine
bears name significant in the an
nails of English history. 1t was Lady
Jane Seymour, who, in 1886, mar
ried King Henry VIII and bore his
son, Edward VI, in 1887 And it is
the name of Seymour that appears
through the pages of English history,
shaping the destiny of kings and
queens in their course
Lady Katharine's father holds a
title in each of the three Kingdoms,
for he is third Duke of Abercorn in
Ireland, sits as the fourth marquis
in the British Parliament and is 18th
Earl of Abercorn in Scotland. He
also holds the title of Due de Chatel-
herault in France.
Friends Since Childhood.
Born in 1900, Lady Katharine was
a woman of the bedchamber to
Queen Mary from 1927 until 1890.
She married Sir Reginald in 1890,
and was widowed last October.
Sources close to court life say that
Lady Katharine was chosen to ac-
company the Queen to take her
mind off her sudden loss.
OF the same age as Queen Eliza
beth, Lady Katharine and her royal
mistress were friends since early
childhood, and, to the Queen, Lady
Katharine is Katie" After learn
ing shorthand and typing, Lady
Katharine took over much of the
Queens correspondence, which she
still handles.
Lady Mary Nunburnholme, Queen
Elizabeth's other lady in waiting,
who is travelling on this continent
in the royal encourage, is the young
est daughter of the Fifth Marques
of Bath. Before her marriage No.
vember "a, 1927, to the Third Baron
Nunburnholme, she was Lady Mary
Thyme. She is the mother of two
sons, Ben Charles and Charles
Thomas, and one daughter, Charmi-
ane Elizabeth Violet Cecilia.
Lady Mary is IS and, according
to report, has brown hair and blue
eyes. She is thought to be one of
the most beautiful ladies of the
court. A good horsewoman, inter-
ested in charity and amateur theat-
ricals, Lady Mary is said to be un-
obtrusive, sincere and can hold her
own in any conversation.
Wedding Gift from Royalty.
She has diamond brooch which
was sent her at the time of her
marriage by the King and Queen,
then Duke and Duchess of York
The brooch is still one of her priced
pieces of jewelry.
There is a fine distinction be-
tween the two ladies in waiting who
are travelling with the Queen
Lady Mary Nunburnholme is one
of the ladies of the bedchamber, and
Lady Katharine Seymour is wom-
an of the bedchamber. The duties
of the former. who are always peer
esses, are those of attendance at
courts and various other ceremo-
malls in which the Queen takes
part.
The women of. the bedchamber,
woh are of high rank, always are
in personal attendance on the
Queen and reside with her majesty.
The ladies in waiting may be
distinguished from among the
throngs of women who might be
with the Queen during her travels
here by the small, light blue ribbon
bows which they will wear over their
left breasts. In the center of each
bow is the jeweled cypher E, which