Fairy Tales?

No sooner was Belgium's new Cabinet installed (see above) than Belgians were startled to learn last week that their King had again gone to England, where he had only just made a State visit (TIME, Nov. 29), following his treaty-making visit a few months before (TIME, April 5). This time handsome young Leopold III, 36, traveled with his mother, Queen Elisabeth, and both got bad colds, sore throats on a cold, rough Channel crossing. In strict incognito they went to stay at Welbeck Abbey with their friends of many years, the Duke of Portland & family.

Twenty-four hours later the King's handsome young brother, Prince Charles, 34, arrived in England, did not go to Welbeck Abbey. In 1932 Prince Charles was rumored engaged to the Duke of Portland's fair-haired granddaughter, the none-too-beauteous Lady Alexandra Margaret Anne Cavendish-Bentinck, now 21. World-wide rumors that Lady Anne is about to become either Queen or a Princess of the Belgians were met by official denials carried on British Press Association wires and at Brussels the King's Secretary, Baron Capelle called them "childish fairy tales."

There were urgent reasons touching the Belgian Congo sufficient to bring His Majesty to England (see p. 19). Both the King and Prince Charles studied at Eton, have many English friends. Traditional practice in impending royal engagements is for all concerned to issue lying official denials right up to the last moment.

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