KENSINGTON PALACE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 131, 4 March 1940, Page 3

KENSINGTON PALACE

QUAINT STORY OF ROYALTY The rooms and gardens of Kensington I'ulacc are full ot Royal associations. Queen Victoria's father, Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent, lived here and Queen Victoria was born in the Palace. It was down the "lost staircase," that the young Princess Victoria walked . in her nightgown to receive the news that she had become Queen. A less famous but amusing scene oncc took place in the garden of Kensington Palace, where George 11., the present Duke of Kent's name sake and ancestor, was in the habit of walking each morning. On one occasion, he was suddenly confronted by a man who jumped over the garden Avail and addressed the King determinedly, but very respectfully Having unfolded the sad story of his poverty, the thief —for a thief he was—told the King that he must ask him for his watch, his shoe buckles; and any money he might carry in his pocket. All these valuables were handed over to him. The King then said that there was a certain seal on his watchchain that he valued for purely sentimental reasons and would dearly like to keep.. The thief was touched; he would like, to grant this Royal request. "Your Majesty," said the thief, "if you will give me your word not to say anything of wiiat has passed for twenty-four hours, I will place the seal at the same hour to-mor-row morning on yonder stone." Not only did the King promise, but the thief kept his word.