Grand Dame, Grand King

Stately Queen Mary attended a function of state last week for the first time since the death of King George. Her eldest son had just reached the age of 42. He celebrated by creating Queen Mary a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order founded in 1896 by Queen Victoria. Her Majesty received this decoration from His Majesty for her "personal services to the reigning sovereign."

Further to please Queen Mary, Baron Dawson of Penn, the physician who pulled George V through pneumonia (TIME, April 8, 1929) and attended him in his last hours, was created by Edward VIII last week a Viscount, the highest rank figuring this year in the King's birthday honors. Baronies went to Chairman J. B. W. Pease of Lloyd's Bank, to the Indian United Provinces' retired Governor Sir

Malcolm Hailey, to an influential Conservative M. P., Sir Henry Cautky, and finally to that British automobile tycoon who got his start making sheep-shearing machines for Australians and grew rich building the "Baby" Austin car. Every step of the way Herbert Austin has had to buy and pry his honors from the snug ruling class, his latest expense having been $1,250,000 presented to Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, for "physics research." That charity reputedly clinched the barony, upped the Baby Austin's maker into the House of Lords.

King Edward on his 42nd birthday morn looked out on a London in which almost every one of his male subjects wore a daisy, buttercup, pansy or garden rose in his buttonhole to honor His Majesty. These simple flowers were worn by Edward VIII's express wish that his birthday should not become a "florists' racket." It was more correct to wear a posy plucked in one's own garden than the costliest gardenia.

As usual the King was awakened by his valet bringing a cup of tea and his more intimate mail. After breakfast he donned the scarlet & gold of his rank as Colonel-in-Chief of the Grenadier Guards. A thunderstorm threatened, the morning was muggy-hot and to wear a busby was to be almost drowned in sweat, but His Majesty's duty was clear. Clapping on a great, hot bearskin busby, King Edward swung onto his chestnut charger, rode off to observe his birthday by a ceremonial trooping of the color followed by booming salutes.

Luncheon was a family affair at Buckingham Palace. King Edward and Queen Mary there decided that when a British warship soon tows the Royal Yacht Britannia's hulk out to be sunk in the. Channel, this will be done in secret, lest yachtsmen and seafarers congregate unduly. The beloved yacht of King George, "The Sailor King," has now been stripped of its best things which were sold at auction in 344 lots last week at East Cowes.

After saying good-by to the Queen and Dame Grand Cross, the King turned from official birthdaying to celebrate in the intimate circle of his friends. Dinner was at St. James's Palace, but this time there was no announcement in the Court Circular (TIME, June 8) of those who supped and sipped with Edward VIII.

In the judgment of British editors, as reflected by the space devoted in their columns, highlights of King Edward's reign thus far have been:

Jan. 31 held first Privy Council and assumed rank of Field Marshal, Marshal of the Royal Air Force and Admiral of the Fleet.

Feb. 4 sent first message to Parliament, promising to "promote the welfare of all classes of my subjects."

Feb. 10 showed leaning toward Germany by chatting longest (30 min.) with Foreign Minister Baron von Neurath at first diplomatic reception in Buckingham Palace.

Feb. 20 decreed no mourning at Ascot.

Feb. 27 first public appearance of the reign, His Majesty visiting the British

Industries Fair and pulling up his trouser leg to reveal that he wears British garter-less, elastic-top socks.

March 1 first broadcast as King, in which he spoke of "radio" instead of the traditional British "wireless."

March 4 inspected the Queen Mary at Glasgow and visited the city's slums.

March 5 first British sovereign to order an automobile not made in the United Kingdom, a Canadian McLaughlin-Buick. March 18 first levee of Edward VIIIth reign, held at Buckingham Palace. April 2 spent two hours instead of the customary two days receiving the Privileged Bodies of Great Britain, the Clergy, university officials etc. April 9 revived the disused custom of personally distributing "Maundy Money" to the poor in Westminster Abbey. April 20 cabled congratulations to Adolf Hitler on the Realmleader's birthday. April jo on the death of King Fuad of Egypt received his successor King Farouk, a youth in school in England, prior to the new King's departure for Cairo. May g encouraged the Covent Garden Opera season by leasing a box, though he attended no operas up to last week. May 16 saw privately his first stage performance since he came to the Throne, the last act of Storm In a Teacup presented in the home of Lady Cunard. May 20 inspected the Coldstream Guards at Aldershot, shouting in at the mess hall door "Any complaints?" May 25 inspected the Queen Mary prior to her maiden voyage, flying from his snuggery, Fort Belvedere at Sunningdale, to Southampton and back to Sunningdale, while Queen Mary went by train. May 28 proclamation that His Majesty will be crowned May 12, 1937. June 7 gifts of $5,000 each by King Edward and Queen Mary to head subscriptions to the King George Memorial Fund for children's play places. June 13 surprise visit with Minister of Labor Ernest Brown ("The Man With the Loudest Voice in the House of Commons") to training centres at Slough and Acton where jobless British men are being taught to become mechanics, painters, hotel waiters and hairdressers.

June 23 the birthday of His Majesty occasioned feature articles throughout the world, the conservative New York Herald Tribune dubbing him "The Streamlined King" after alluding respectfully to His Majesty's "flat stomach" and weight (146 lb.).

Meanwhile Dominion subjects noted that the only one of the King's numerous premiers to figure in the Birthday Honors was Australia's ebullient Premier Joseph Aloysius Lyons, upon whose advice His Majesty acted last week in appointing Mr. Lyons to the Order of Companions of Honor. Popular was a posthumous gesture by King Edward toward the late Rudyard Kipling, who repeatedly refused a knighthood. The doctor who operated upon Poet Kipling in his last hours (TIME, Jan. 27), Surgeon Alfred Edward Webb-Johnson, received a knighthood.

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