NEWS OF THE WEEK
THE birth of Princess Elizabeth's child turns the mind back as well as forward. It is fifty-five years since Queen Mary, whose gracious presence and wise counsel still make their contribution to the honour in which the Royal House is held, was married to a Duke of York who in due time became George V, as the Duke of York of the next generation became George VI. Through the half- century thus spanned, at a time when crowns were falling and thrones tottering all over Europe, the Royal Family in Great Britain has progressively strengthened its hold on public support and popular affection. If that is in part because monarchy fills a valuable place— as valuable as ever it did—in our constitution it flows equally from a record of unostentatious public service so freely rendered by kings and queens, princes and princesses, through the reigns of the last two Georges. The outburst of popular acclamation that greeted the marriage of Princess Elizabeth a year ago testified to the peculiar warmth which both the prospect of the accession of an English Queen, however far in the future, and the promise of the extension of the line to yet another generation, kindled. That promise is now fulfilled, and that the child should be a boy, one day to succeed his mother as King, gives general and manifest satisfaction. So four generations stand linked, generations of men and women completely human and completely simple, yet filling admirably their allotted place in history and offering to the people of this land an inspiring example of how family life in any and every station should be lived. As another link is added to the chain, prayers for the happiness of the Princess and the welfare of the young Prince will be universal. What the world, or this land, will be when he ascends the throne we can hardly come near imagining. But we can be sure at least that he will face that unknown future strong in the heritage with which his forbears, from Victoria onwards, have endowed him.
