The Duchess of Glouncester was obviously a keen country-woman, and clearly a safari in the wilds of Kenya held no fear for her.
“The vision of the Duchess of Gloucester, clad in slacks, khaki blouse and topi, perched in a shelter on tree-tops at night, watching big game come from the jungles in East Africa to drink in the pools, is in strange contrast to her dainty appearances in this country. Since she arrived in Kenya she has accompanied the Duke on two shooting expeditions and has spent several nights on safari. While the Duke has been shooting, especially in search of the rarer types of antelopes, the Duchess has been busy with her sletch-book, for she possesses artistic talents above the average. She has already held two exhibitions of her pictures of Kenya Colony and landscapes around her old Northamptonshire home, Boughton House, at a West End gallery. Some of her water-colours adorn the rooms at Boughton House and the homes of members of her family.
While the Duchess is away, Queen Mary is acting on her behalf in giving advice concerning the final touches to the re-decoration and furnishing of Barwell Castle, which the Duke purchased recently. The Duke and Duchess are expected to take up their resicdence there two months hence.
Contrary to expectation, the Duke will continue to hunt from Melton Mowbray, where his stud of hunters is still being kept, but with the easy transport facilities that exist to-day both the Duke and Duchess are likely also to be seen out with the Fitzwilliam and Lord Burghley’s Hounds, this season, as the Duchess shares her husband’s zest for the chase.”
The Stamford Mercury, 30th September, 1938.