Although she is just 17 months younger than the Queen Mother, Princess Alice, who celebrates her 100th birthday on Christmas Day, tends to be overshadowed by her fellow centenarian.
The last remaining aunt of the British monarch enjoyed her moment in the spotlight yesterday, however, with an early celebration of her centenary. Friends and family, including the Queen, Princess Margaret, the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal, gathered at Kensington Palace for a “Highland” birthday party.
While frail, the women referred to as the “forgotten royal”, remains in good spirits and waved her hands in time to the music as the pipes and drums marched past playing a special birthday melody composed especially for her. She was later presented with a framed copy of the music. The band also played Happy Birthday in the Duchess’ honour, to which the guests sang along.
After the 20-minute military parade the royal party and their guests moved inside Kensington Palace – the Gloucesters’ home – for canapés and cake.
It was a rare public appearance for the Dowager Duchess of Gloucester, who was perhaps the most reluctant member of the royal family. She managed to put off marriage to Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, until she was 35 – in those days an uncommonly mature age to enter into wedlock for the first time.
Until then she had lived a life of action and adventure which few of her peers could even dream of, hunting, shooting, fishing and travelling extensively in Africa and India. She once described herself as “a kind of pre-Beatnick”, but following her marriage she quickly settled down within “the firm”.
“I was 34 so I felt I had had a very good innings. Apart from my great happiness in getting married I felt, too, that it was time I did something useful with my life,” she wrote many years later.
For Alice, her new role offered an opportunity to fulfil a vow made during her childhood. As a 14-year-old she was almost swept away by a freak wave while wading in the sea and made a covenant with God that if her life were spared she would make good use of her it. “So when, through a set of unforeseen circumstances I one day found myself allotted a life of public duty in the service of my country, a very secret pledge was honoured,” she said.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
