Evening star., 1953-05-27
From Libet to Queen
: EIizobeth's Marriage to Philip
Climax of Real Love Match

Greece's throne in 1863 as
George I. He is a descendant
Of Queen Victoria on the ma
ternal side.
Philip was brought to England
as a 1-year-old by his uncle
Dickie after a rebel Greek gov
ernment forced another uncle
King Constantine. to abdicate
He was brought up as typical
aristocratic schoolboy and ir
the Anglican faith. In Worlc
War II he took part in Mediter-
ranean fighting in a number o1
ships and served on convoy duty
around the world.
Free to Marry as She Chose.
AS goth century princess
Elizabeth was free to marry OF
her own free choosing with two
restrictions. The thrones ties
with the Church of England
barred her from marrying a
Roman Catholic, and she could
not marry without the King {
consent.
Close friends took the engage
ment for granted when Philip
spent his summer holiday with
the royal family at Balmoral
Castle in Scotland, and then took
out British citizenship and re-
nounced his Greek title in the
winter Of 1867.
But palace officials. sensitive
about the private life Of the
heiress presumptive to the
throne, were issuing denials OF
any impending marriage.
The only !, palace announce
ment was that Princess Eliza
beth was going on a four-month
tour of South Africa with the
King and Queen. A lovesick girl
took off on the battleship Van
guard for the long journey tc
meet Zulu warriors and Other
polyglot future subjects.
Won Africans Affection.
She carried Off her role we'll
in line with her training for the
queenship, and won the affection
of the South Africans, though
there were times when she was
bored. She complained about
meeting so few young people.
"One would think they almost
forgot that Margaret and I were
coming when they planned the
program. she said.
She demonstrated instructive
ability to do the right thing
Spotting a busload of Girl Scouts
separated from the others she
went to greet them despite thu
anguish of civic officials. Aftel
a chat she returned with the in
formation that they were Scout
troop from a leper colony. But
word of her thoughtfulnesI
spread and her popularity
doomed.
The cold war was beginning
and Elizabeth came of age dur.
ing the South African tour. II
a broadcast from Capetown or
her 21st birthday she gave thi!
pledge:
MY whole life, whether 1t bt
long or short, shah be devoted te
the service of the great imperia
family to which we all belong.
Eager to See Fiance.
Like any young girl in love
she was anxious to see her fiance
now just plain 1t. Philip Mount
batten. And she let go with 9
few dance steps on the quarter.
deck and hummed, People will
say we're in love" when the Van
guard docked at journeys end.
Elizabeth was sure in hel
mind, and within two months, or
July 10, 1947, the palace officially
announced the engagement.
In a few weeks the British
were to see their greatest pos.
session, India, drop the empire
towing line and cast off on a
course of independence. The
British, too, had just experienced
a bleak winter of blizzards and
fuel shortages. But they baskeo
in the glow of a royal wedding s
pageantry.
Winston Churchill sounded the
theme in the House of Commons
Millions will welcome this JOY
Gus event as a flash Of color or
the hard road we have to travel,
he said.
On the eve Of the wedding the
King conferred a new title on
his future son-in-laW, his royal