Honeymoon's End

The government suggested -L-50,000 as a likely figure for the consort's annual allowance. Joseph Hume, the radical member for Kilkenny, thought it was too much. "Are you aware," he asked his Tory colleagues, "of the danger of setting a young man down in London with so much money in his pocket?" The House of Commons took a vote and decided that -L-40,000 a year was ample for Victoria's Prince Albert.

That was in 1840. Last week, as Britain's Princess Elizabeth and her husband returned from their Scottish honeymoon, members of the House of Commons were once again deep in debate over royal allowances. A special committee recommended raising Elizabeth's income from -L-15,000 to -L-40,000 a year and granting Philip an annual -L-10,000 of his own. Laborite after Laborite decried the extravagance, protesting loudly that the royal couple should share the nation's austerity. But as the wrangling proceeded, Philip and Elizabeth found an unexpected champion in the arch-champion of Laborite austerity himself.

"So Rarely that It Pleases." "It is essential," Sir Stafford Cripps told the House sternly, "that he [Philip] should have an adequate income . . .not only to provide for his personal staff, charities, and matters of that kind . . . but also that he may enjoy a proper degree of independence. The figure of -L-10,000 . . . is customary for the younger.son of a king." Sir Stafford doubted that Britons would want to economize on royalty. One might as well, he concluded, suggest dispensing with the royal horses because "they Cost -L-15,000 or whatever it is . . . but I venture to think if someone were to say, 'Here is an easy economy, let us do away with all the horses,' the public would be up in arms against the loss of this sight which they have so rarely that it pleases."

When the matter came to a vote, 164 Laborites were against the allowances, 100 more abstained, but the rest (122) joined the Tories in passing the government's figures.

A Party Missed. Meanwhile, Philip, on his first day back from his honeymoon, reported for duty in the Operations Section of the Admiralty, using a side door to dodge the mobs of curious women thronging the front entrance. Next day he drove his bride over to examine Clarence House, their 32-room London house, where workmen were still clearing up blitz damage. Until Clarence House and Windlesham Moor, their country house, are ready for them, Elizabeth and Philip are staying on with the family at Buckingham Palace. Late in the week, they ducked the annual Christmas Party for the Palace servants, to dine quietly with the Duchess of Kent. For a dancing partner Elizabeth's maid, Margaret MacDonald, had to make do with King George.

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