A SPECTATO R'S NOTEBOOK
THEIR MAJESTIES' Silver Wedding ,Day is an occasion for congratulations to others than the King and Queen themselves. It is the country that is to be congratulated most. It is well to be reminded now and then of the influence exerted on the country, an influence none the less effective for being experienced half- unconsciously, by the existence in the royal palaces of the type of simple and unaffected family life for which every cottage and every suburban villa would be the better. We take that, I think, a little too much for granted. It is worth remembering what Kings of England could be and have been—George IV and his amours, for example, or William IV with his paternity of Mrs. Jordan's numerous brood. Queen Victoria in her heavily cultivated widowhood stood ,for much of her reign rather far from her people. Edward VII did not lend himself as a pattern as his second son after him did. It is the two second sons, both Georges, both (and this may not be quite immaterial) with a naval career as preparation for the throne, who have lifted the tradition of sovereignty in Great Britain higher in some respects than it has ever stood, higher at any rate in the sense of adapting it most effectively to the circumstances of a changing situation. That is the reason, and reason enough, why, when thrones have been toppling all over Europe, there are probably fewer republicans in this country today than there have ever been. Certainly there is no Diike nor anyone comparable to him. For all, that we are infinitely indebted to the King and Queen—and to one other honour-1 figure, who as wife of George V and mother of George VI had a part not easily estimated in maintaining the dignity of the throne and enlarging its hold on the affections of the people.
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