Evening star., 1951-10-03

might call on the Duke 10 take a
ship, or lead a mission. But, list
or no list, it isn't likely that the
Duke of Edinburgh will be avail
able to the Royal Navy. He Is
practicing to be consort to a
queen.
The Princess and the Duke
blowing into Quebec would look,
If they were a couple of other
people, like a pair of smart
Europeans coming to America to
do some yachting. But this tour
by the heiress presumptive to the
British throne is far more serious
business. 1t is. first of all. a get
acquainted and a study trip.
The schedule of the Princess
and the Duke gives them about
month in Canada and the
United States, and of this time
the official itinerary sets down
only five days as holidays" Only
five days to sleep late, to wear any
old clothes and to relax from the
royal obligation to be royal from
morning to night.
No Cornerstone Rites.
Three of these free days will
be in the Canadian west and two
in the Laurentian Mountains of
Quebec, and the indications are
that the royal travellers will need
them. They start their tour just
ia little apprehensive that the well
come will be strenuous even for
two husky young persons used to
that sort of thing.
So they have pleaded, "just as
little fuss and pageantry as pos
sible."
The Princess and Duke will not
care for honorary university de-
Igrees this time. They will have
no time to lay cornerstones OF
open institutions.
A shower of invitations to accept
Ihonors, make speeches and give
the royal touch to cornerstones
has descended on them since plans
for the trip were announced. They
can't be everywhere, and must
avoid giving offense to anyone
who might be overlooked, so il
was decided to adhere strictly tt
the program laid down by Cana.
dian and British officials. The
program side-steps many demands
in the United States by limiting
the visit to Washington. 1t i:
to be a no-landing air trip from
Montreal so there will be no ques.
ton of touching at Philadelphia
New York or Boston. Next time
maybe.
The unusual combination o.
shyness and self-possession which
many Canadians and Americana
doubtless will observe in tht
Princess is attributed by closs
friends to her rearing, and to tht
unsettled state Of the world in tn.
years of her girlhood.
Had Retiring Father.
She had the most retiring o.
fathers, the gentle Duke of York
When Elizabeth was born in {
house on Bruton street in Lon
don's Mayfair on April 81, 1926
it seemed quite unlikely she woult
step into immediate succession Il
the throne. The Prince of Wales
now Duke of Windsor, was hei
apparent and facing up most ad
mirably to the responsibilities ap
Iproaching him.
No one could dream that il
10 years he would abdicate 70
the love of an American woman
Mrs. Wallis Simpson. But he die
and that fateful decision mad
Iall the difference in the world t
the little princess who was doin
Iher lessons almost in obscurity il
the Picadilly home to which tn
family had moved. Her trainin
had, up to then, been designe'
Ito make her a graceful flgur
moving in royal circles, but nc
to be the center of the scene. Sh
was being cloaked In her father
|modesty.
So until the Prince of Vale!
who became Edward VIII, re
nounced crown for love, Eliza
beth received scant public atten
|tion. And even after the abdi
Ication and the coronation of he