A Dane explains
Sir: Like your correspondent, Mr Samuel- son (Letters, 25 April), I also miss dear Aunty Alice (née Schlieffen). Alas, I am not myself a character in fiction, though there have been periods in my life when I have had my doubts. Mr Samuelson seeks enlightenment from the Almanach de Gotha, the reference book whence my friend Taki found both of his successive wives. But, as any one of Mr Samuelson's fellow residents of Pevensey, East Sussex, can tell him, the Almanach only covers peo- ple of princely or ducal birth (not poor lit- tle Danes like me!). However, his local librarian will no doubt have a copy of the Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, (Deutschen Adelsarchiv) vol. XI, where I feature on p. 188 (Danish branch). But, if Mr Samuelson is just looking for a mean- ingful relationship, he may find the corre- spondence columns of journals other than The Spectator more helpful.
Claus von Billow 109 Onslow Square, London SW7
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