Evening star., 1953-05-31
By MoIIie. McGee

(This is the concluding ar
ticle in a series OF IL about
Britdin'S neW monarchy
Britain's new Monarch takes
her plane for longer journeys IN
Britain, just as casually as she
gets into her car for a trip across
London. Latest improvements in
royal conveyances include not
only rubber tires for the 200
year-old gilded coach of state,
in which the Queen will take the
slow. momentouS drive to and
from her coronation, but also
purple air-carpetS" or cleared
skywayS for the up-to-date
royal flights.
Even before the days when the
first Queen Elizabeth had the
tails of her coach horses dyed
orange to distinguish them as
part of royal equipages. royal
means Of transport bore distinc-
tive emblens.
When the Queen is q plane
passenger her standard, in mini
ature, f1ys above the cockpit, as
it does from the bonnet Of her
car as she travels on official af-
fairs.
When her majesty is making
a semiprivate trip, the only way
to recognize her maroon car. Is
by it's mascot "a silver st.
George. Her chauffeur, Chivers,
who has driven her for many
years, has been known to un-
screw it and put it in his pocket
to guard it from souvenir
hunters when he parks the car,
or leaves 1t in a public garage.
Troffic Arrangements
Except on ceremonial oc-
casions there is no stopping Of
traffic or clearing Of streets for
royal journeys, but careful tim
ing and planning by members
Of the Scotland Yard Traffic De-
partment. who work closely with
palace officials to enable royal
cars to be waved" through by
white-gloved, special squad po-
lice
Every likely trip from the pal
ace to any part Of London is
timed. When the Queens pro-
gram is given to her security Of
f1cers they know exactly how
long 1t will take her car to reach
its destination and by what
route it will go.
Occasionally there is a hitch.
but not often. A suburban ma
tron bushes when she remem-
bers how, a few years ago, she
took her toddler-on reins-for
a walk. Noticing that the street
was strangely empty. she thought
1t a good chance to instruct the
child how to cross the road.
They we're having a gay little
romp down the middle Of the
thoroughfare when she became
conscious that large car was
waiting. She picked up her
baby and stepped aside, and then
realized with no little discom-
fort that she was receiving a
gracious bow from the late
Queen Mary. delayed en- route
to the tennis matches at VIM
bledon.
It was on such a trip. that
Queen Mary had the only auto
mobile accident in royal family
history-except for the Duke of
Edinburgh's few scratched fend-
ers. Her car hit a truck and
went over on its side. She had
to climb out by a ladder that
was dropped through the broken
window, and a few minutes later
she continued her journey, as
dignif1ed as ever, but minus her
umbrella-it had been snapped
in two. Later in the day she
was sent to bed for three weeks
treatment for shock; she was
then over 70.
Two Privileges
Royal cars have two trafflc
privileges: They drive through
gates on Constitution Hill, only
opened for royalty, and also
through a special short cut at
busy Hyde Park Corner. other
wise they keep to the usual rights
Of way.
The royal family pay for pc
troll (gas) they use in their cars,
but not for that used in planes,
which as THE Kings Flight"