Duke Is Centre Of Romantic Interest

Chronicle (Levin), 13 August 1949, Page 4

Duke Is Centre Of Romantic Interest

Because fair-haired, tall burgh, is battdsome and- attrac band of Princess Elizabeth— interest throughout the world. More stories are being told about Phi.ip jusfc now than about any two other membefs of the Royal Fami/y put together. Here are some of the .atest stories they are teliing about Philip. • * * * , . » Shortly after Prince Charles 'was born, a visitor to the Palace nurSey said; "He's the image Of his father." "I know," said Philip, "but maybe he'll improve as he grows older." (The long noses on Philip's mother's side are an old family joke). * * A thing that worries him is loose talk which Oceiir's When he fulfils eiigagements with Princess Elizabeth. Gossips are apt to criticise him for not' paying enough atten•fcion to his wife.

' : Philip in public deliberately refrains from little acts of courteSy oecause he does not waht people to think he is "playing to the gaJery" by cosseting the Princess, and because he is always trying to keep fche limelight on her and not on himself. . * * * # The Duke has no inhibitions about his- Royal rank. if the phone rings in an office and he is there, he will pick it up and answer. Once , he did this when a journalist rang for further details of a slight car crash in which he was invol'ved. He gave the reporter the details he wanted — without revealing his identity. What Philip likes more thafi anything is to stroll about unrecognised. ■ He frequently walks from Clarence House to Buckingham Palace, unnoticed by the home-' bound evening crowd. And he often baffles the police by driving himself over to Clarence House in a small green Austin belonging to his equerry. At the Royal Automobile Club, too, where he has been a memb^r for several years, he -walks in unrecognised for a swim or a game of squash. - -

P— ; Prince Philip, Duke of Edintive—^as w.ell as being the hushe is the centre Of romantic [ The first time Philip aecepted an invitation which invo1ved making £ short speech In public, he was horrified to discover that the Palace officials expected it to be foased t on his own notes and "approved" by him, but actually writfcen by someone else. This 'fcegah an argument, which ended by his saying that no one WOUld write his speeches in advance but he would guarantee to avoid anything which would cause embarrassment to his in-laws. That is why, whefi Philip speaks at a dinner, he jots down a few words on the menu .while iie's eating, but otherwise uses no ho'tes. * * .. * y

People at the Palace are us^d to Phi'ip now, but they got a few Shocks when he first went there to live. He was in -the private aparfcments, on the fitst floor, when he wanted something from his room upstairs. He was half-way up the stairs (two at a time) before .anyone could suggest ringing for a footman to fei.ch' it. ! * * Philip is fond of driving fastsports ° cars. One member of the Household, hearing a great racket in the Palace "quadrangle," was just about to send out a reprimand when he decided to investigate'for nimself. He found that Philip had got a new car and was just seeing how good the brakes were. * . * # One of the latest stories about Philip shows him in a very human iight, At the Playing Fields Ball at the Dorchester Hotel, a Well- , known Society photographer was (snapping him, and his wife, assist- * ed by a young man. "Is that your son, Schwaebe?" asked the Duke. I To the astonished and delighted 'young man, the Duke held out his hand. "If you're as big a rascal as your father is," said Philip with a smile, "I hope you will also be as good a photographer."