GERMANY: Bertie, May and Elizabeth

Last week Wilhelm, ex-Kaiser of Germany, celebrated his 79th birthday. In the glittering uniform of a field marshal in the nonexistent Imperial German Army, the snowy-bearded Wilhelm dined more Hohenzollerns than had assembled at his Dutch villa for many years. Among his guests were:

Four sons, ex-Crown Prince Wilhelm, Prince Eitel Friedrich, Prince Adalbert, Prince August Wilhelm.

Ex-Crown Princess Cecilie and Princess Adalbert of Prussia.

The Duchess of Brunswick, his only daughter.

The Princess of Hesse, his sister.

Prince Friedrich and Prince Louis Ferdinand, his grandsons (sons of ex-Crown Prince Wilhelm).

Grand Duchess Kyra of Russia, whose engagement to Louis Ferdinand has just been announced.

The engaged couple were honored guests at the birthday banquet and the old gentleman beamed at them from the head of the table. Proud as Punch was the ex-Emperor at two telegrams of congratulation—so proud that he let his equerry tell the press about them. Both came from Britain. One was from the officers of the 1st The Royal Dragoons, whose honorary colonel he was till the War.* The other was from relatives who 22 years ago scorned him as unworthy of chivalry by having his banner, surcoat, helmet and sword removed from the chapel of the Order of the Garter at Windsor. The text of this message was not revealed but its signature was announced with pride: “Bertie, May, and Elizabeth” (i. e., George VI, Queen Mother Mary, and Queen Elizabeth).

* London announced simultaneously that the Kaiser’s portrait still hangs in its accustomed

place in the officers’ mess.