Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-02-10


time, Elizabeth was not even in
this line; had her uncle, the Prince
of Wales, married acceptably and
sired sons, she never would have
come within hailing distance of
the crown.
But the choice made by King
Edward VIII Is history, and it had
become apparent by the time of
the accession of George VI, late in
1885, that he was not likely to have
sons. The education Of the Prin-
cess, therefore, took a sharp turn
at this point from the routine
tutelage of young aristocrat to
the careful instruction Of prob
able constitutional monarch.
Experts Tdke Over
The training given her by her
capable Scottish governess, Marion
Crawford, was augmented by
studies under leading specialists.
Languages the new Queen speaks
both French and German duently
were taught by native speakers.
The maze of custom, tradition and
statute which the British call their
constitution was expounded by the
outstanding authority on that COM
pick subject. Today, Elizabeth is
considered one of the best
grounded persons in this field ever
to occupy the throne.
Although Elizabeth has been
groomed actively for queenship
only over the last is years, she has
been in the public eye since birth.
AS the eldest grandchild of the
doting George v, she was the dar-
ling OF the empire from cradle days.
BritonS strive on one hand to
democratize their royalty, and on
the other to vouchSafe it an aura
of unapproachable glamour. Hence,
Elizabeth's childhood was a mix
ture Of clustered quiet and gold
f1sh-bowl publicity. But there was
little of Hollywood hoopla about
her comings and goingS. The Brit
ish additionally like to be let alone.
They are content to afford the
same privilege, In some measure,
even to their royal family.
Legends Grow Up
Legends grew up quickly around
Princess Lilibet and her sweet and
winning-and sometimes imperious
ways.
1T am not a little lady, I am q
royal princess she told patron
izing visitor one day in the presence
OF her grandmother, queen Mary.
The prin and proper Queen added
icily, "she is royal princess now,
but we hope she learns to be a
little lady some day"
Scots, who have felt more or less
left out since the end of the Stuart
dynasty in the 18th century, took
Elizabeth especially to their hearts.
Her mother was q member Of the
Scottish nobility.
So the story told by Sir James
Barrie, the playwright, had special
meaning for eScots-and perhaps
affords others a close look at the
canny young Queen. Barrie was
visiting the princesses one day
when the younger sister, Margaret,
said something that he decided to
use in a play. He jokingly prom
iSed Margaret penny's royalty
for rights to the line. Elizabeth
asked whether he meant a penny
outright, or a penny each time the
line was recited on stage. II for
got was dealing with a fellow
Scotsman" the playwright re-
marked later.
n SoIonel ar 10
When she was 16, Elizabeth was
ready for q measure Of public
life. Traditionally, the Grenadier
Guards are commanded by mem
Der Of the royal family. Her father
made her colonel Of the regiment
as an introduction to the duties Of
royalty. At IS she became mem
Der of the council of state, which
reigns when the sovereign is abb
sent or Ill. BY the time she was
81, she was almost as well-known
q public figure as her retiring
father.
All during World War H-Eliza-
beth was Is when 1t broke out and
10 when it ended-the Princess
took an appropriate part in the
war effort. Unlike many high