Royalty Digest

The Greeks get a rather poor showing in Miss Gray's cuttings and interpolations. She quotes Sir Charles Petrie, from Chapters of Life, on the subject of George II: "He was reserved and the first approach of a stranger to him was generally difficult: this mattered a good deal more in Greece than it did in England. Nor was he one of those who talk whether or not they have something to say. He learnt his lesson of kingship in a very hard school and the tragic events which had marked his earlier years undoubtedly did much to drive him in on himself. Had he made a happy marriage, or had children, things might have been different, but to the end of his life King George remained a lonely man." Ciano thought in 1938 that he showed signs of mental instability and was "in the hands of two spiritualists, whom he consults before any decision. He claims to be protected by the 'Red Cloud' and to be in direct communication with it!"

Stelios Hourmouzios, in his No Ordinary Crown, mentioned that George II's marriage to Queen Elizabeth had "disintegrated" and that "during the latter part of his exile he had developed a strong attachment towards an English woman J…. whom he had met while on a visit to India ……[His] sentiments were reciprocated by this extremely attractive and intelligent lady." There is a written extract here from a book by James A. Frere which reveals that, when Edward VIII and Mrs. Simpson saw King George in Corfu, a Mrs. Britten-Jones acted as the King's hostess, the only other guests being two senior British officers who were staying with him." This quotation appears opposite what I suspect is an unidentified illustration of the lady opposite page 61 of Gould Lee's The Royal House of Greece. Another unattributed cutting quotes Duff and Diana Cooper's views on the same visit. They thought Edward was charmed by Mrs. Jones and that King George liked Wallis's wisecracks. Back on the boat, the latter criticised the English King's behaviour in an extraordinary manner and the Coopers did not think their relationship would continue long, since "the truth is she's bored stiff by him". Mrs. Jones had just been divorced by her husband. Robert Bruce-Lockhart also mentions the Crofu meeting in his diary and says he saw Mrs. Jones sitting with the King in Quaglino's in November, 1937, very lovely and well-dressed - "she is the Mrs. Simpson of Greece".

King George II and
Queen Elizabeth
on their wedding day

Violet Stuart-Wortley, in Grow Old Along of Me, is quoted as being part of the reception line-up in India where King George came up against Mrs. Britten-Jones, whom he had apparently met once in London and come halfway across the world to find. "Clad in white satin, her dark hair coiled Greek-fashion round a beautifully poised head, pearls about her throat, seen against a background of Vice-regal splendour, she presented a notable picture. For a few moments I felt the atmosphere tense and held my breath, half expecting chords of music …."

Eventually, King George made plans to join Mrs. Jones permanently in London and bought and furnished a house in Chester Square for her. When he returned to Greece later in 1946, he left the car he had bought in London there for future use. His lover was, however, suffering the first signs of Parkinson's Disease, which soon overtook her completely. The King himself did not long survive his restoration. At his funeral, the new Queen Frederica insisted on leading his mistress to his grave.

Added to one chapter in ink is one of the few quotations I have seen concerning Princess Asphasia of Greece, from James Lees-Milne in The Prophesying Peace: "10.0.1946. She drove a large, black glassy car, bringing with her Lady Patsy Ward, whom I like because she is so outspoken. Princess Aspasia is tall and dark and what is called very well-preserved. She is easy and gay and seems intelligent. We talked of anarchism, communism and fascism. She makes no distinction between them."

Bernard Berenson noted in January 1955 that he had been to lunch with Helen, the ex-Queen of Romania, "singularly devoid of nonsense, a good sense of humour and beautiful eyes". They seem to have renewed the acquaintance, for he latter says that he enjoys "Queen Helen's warm friendliness and the pleasure she seems to take in my company. She walks as lightly as if floating. Fascinating eyes, cannot make out their real colour, look like dark amber." I have long been familiar with Mrs. Maude ffoulkes's autobiography, largely concerning her activities in ghosting many books of royal reminiscences in the period 1900-1920, but Miss Gray adds a note to one book here recommending Lady Violet Powell's book A Substantial Ghost on the same subject. I must keep an eye open for it.

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