The Wilmington morning star., 1944-04-09
Who Will WinEliza beth's Hand?
Britain Speculates AS Lily.
bet Approaches Her
18th Birthday
By RUSSELL LANDSTROM
AP FEATURES

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AP FEATURES
LONDON.-W;th the observance
OF her eighteenth birthday April 81
brltaln's fresh. checked and attrac.
tive Princess Elizabeth will say a
long farewell to most of the sim.
PIE pleasures OF girlhood, and hew
closer to that course which must
be followed by all who one day
may rule.
For this anniversary will be the
soyal coming of age, the begin
ming OF the responsibilities of ma
turlty. Statecraft and social con-
seriousness become more than SYM
Dolls In the svntax of her elders.
ana most important of all. per-
maps, for the princess personally.
WILL be the matter of her mar
rage at a suitable time.
Princess Elizabeth hit the ton
headlines year ago when her
seventeenth birthday, signpost of
transition from childhood to grown
up stage, reminded a lot of peo.
pie over the world that the elder
daughter of the British sovereigns
was no longer playing with dolls
and riding tricycles. Newspaper
ana magazine writers discussed
her training, her developing hui
man qualities. her potentialities as
leader.
Enga cement rumors increased
with the passing of the months.
One such had it that Princess
Elizabeth had been betrothed Ell
Their to the Duke of Rutland or
Earl of Euston, each "a years
old, and that formal announce
ment would be made on Eliza
beth's eighteenth birthday.
Buckingham Palace spokesman
were told quickly that the rumor
was unfounded. but they decided
after long huddle to issue no
official denial, reasoning that
denial would increase the publici-
ty and establish troublesome
precedent; every report, however
trifling, concerning Princess Eliz-
abeth, or for that matter, any
other member of the royal fam
lily, would have to be disposed of
in similar fashion.
These rumors, inevitable con-
sidering that any of perhaps a
dozen young bachelors would be
eligible as consort to Elizabeth,
have frightened the traditional reti-
cence at the palace. Not only are
the palace advisers and secretar-
les unwilling TO talk about a pos
sible match for Elizabeth, but they
hesitate to particularize even about
the aspects of her life that have
to do with romance or
matchmaking.
At eighteen, Princess Elizabeth
is being prepared to
come more and more before the
public eye, however. Already
bill has been enacted by Parlia-
mnt providing that she shall be
eligible after her birthday to serve
on the Council of State, which in
certain circumstances acts for the
king. Last fall she fulfilled her
first grown-up public social en-
presenting medals, as
president of the Royal College of
Music, to a number of students.
She has inspected troops, attended
the theater in the west end, played
in Christmas pantomimes, appear.
ed at dances. meeting Americans
as well as her own people.
She was present when several
Unitd States Amy officers, Win
ners of the Distinguished Service
Cross for action in North Africa
or Sicily, were presented to the
king and queen at the palace late
last year. Three whom Princess
impressed with her
charm and pnlse were NJ Tor
James B. Cacvey, Newburgh, N
Y; Capt. John Finke, of Saginaw,
Mich, and Vicksburg, Miss, and
Capt. Quentin Roosevelt, of Oys-
ter Bay, Long Island, son of Brig.
Gen. and Mrs. Theodore Roose-
welt.
She didn't say much, of course,
but the way she said it pleased