Mrs Ronnie by Siân Evans

Author:Siân Evans [Evans, Siân]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Biography & Autobiography, Historical, Military, Political, History, General, Europe, Great Britain, Ireland, Social History
ISBN: 9781909881006
Google: aE4mEAAAQBAJ
Publisher: National Trust
Published: 2013-09-17T04:11:10+00:00

The newly married Duke and Duchess of York, relaxing on their honeymoon at Polesden Lacey, 1923.

Cruising in the 1920s

“A fellow passenger, on one of the ships that Mrs Greville cruises on, told me she starts her journey by congratulating the captain on his fine ship, praising the steward on the excellence of his cuisine and complimenting the cabin stewardess on the freshness of the bed linen. On this particular occasion all these items were far below standard, but so ingratiating was the London society hostess that a special effort to improve was made by all the ship’s company. Dame Margaret’s amiable travelling might well be copied by all of us when we venture from these isles.”

(The Daily Chronicle, 5 May 1928)

Mrs Greville spent a large part of the 1920s travelling the world, often by ship, usually in the company of one of her trusted personal maids. She was well connected with the upper echelons of the Foreign Office, and also cultivated specific ambassadors so that she would be afforded every courtesy when she arrived at her destination.

She set off on 14 December 1923 via Toulon on the SS Osterley for Colombo in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Burma and Japan. While in Burma she was provided with a private train carriage containing a bedroom, sitting room, bathroom and maid’s room, courtesy of the State Railways. She followed Lord Curzon’s suggestion that China was not safe to visit, and returned on the SS Naldera, leaving Singapore in March 1924. The following year she opted for South America and sailed on 12 December 1924, not returning till April 1925. Mrs Greville and the Duke and Duchess of York met on a tour of Australia in 1927, but the visit soured Mrs Greville. She set out on the SS Osterley, a lengthy voyage, which did not begin well due to bad weather, delaying her planned meetings with the Aga Khan at Toulon and Osbert Sitwell in Naples. Her trip was timed to overlap with that of the Duke and Duchess of York, and after spending a period in New Zealand she travelled extensively throughout Australia, having been provided with the use of a private carriage by the Chief Commissioner of Railways between 18 and 23 March 1927. However she was back at Admiralty House in Sydney Harbour on 26 March to witness the arrival of Bertie and Elizabeth.

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