ROYAL CHILDREN

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3220, 17 May 1911, Page 2

ROYAL CHILDREN

. Air Spoaight, photographer,.. interviewed in a ladies’ paper about liis experiences of photographing little princes and princesses, says:—’’Royal ladies never wear, low-cut gowns' if, they are to be taken with their children, and they choose soft clinging frocks that will make a pretty picture, rather than elaborate gowns.

“Royal children, too, are very simply dressed—the boys in sailor suits or tunics the girls in pretty washing frocks. The children of our own Queen are taught to be most careful of their clothes. Once when Mrs Spoaight, who is a well-known miniaturist, was painting the portrait of one of the lit-, tie Princes, she was interested l to see that, though he changed l his colored blouse for a white one before his “sitting,.” he changed it back again directly she had finished! with him !” “The nurseries at Buckingham Palace are very charming,” Mr Spoaight went on—“big, old-fashioned rooms, comfortably and simply furnished, and with glass cabinets round the walls containing all sorts of interesting things that their Majesties have picked up on their travels for the children.” The nurseries of all. the courts he has visited, Mr Speaight said, are modelled on English lines,' and most of the nurses are English too. All the children speak our language quite well, and use it in speaking to English people. ‘And! their manners are perfectly exquisite,” lie said. “The courtesy for which our late King was renowned no longer strikes one as wonderful when one sees how carefully royal children are brought up. No matter how tiny they are, they never seem too young to shake hands gravely with mo, and 1 say, ‘How do you do, Air Speaight ?’

“They are wonderfully obedient, too, and I have not found one of them spoilt; and for this reason, even if it were not for the honor, I would rather photograph royal children than any others, lor while tlie others may be well mannered, the royal children certainly will be.” ‘‘l take toys to amuse, my sitters for royal children are iust like other children, and even though they may have many toys of their own, they are much more interested in mine—because they are new to them. Some of the playthings I take are quite simple, some very elaborate, for you never know what is going to strike a child’s fancy, but my experience is that it i s the penny toys I buy in the street that the little princes and princesses like best. “That was not so at the German Court, however,” lie went on. “I tried ever so many things with the Kaiser’s grandchildren, but they were not particularly interested in any of them, and’ at last the Crown Princess said: ‘I am afraid my children will look at nothing but soldiers, Air Speaight! No other toys amuse them!”

How this must please the great “War Lord!” ’