THE NEW KING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 827, 27 May 1910, Page 3

THE NEW KING.

CEORCE V AS PRINCE OF WALES. SOME OF HIS COMPANIONS. "M.A.P." of April 9 states the following interesting facts regarding the life of George V while Prince of Wales, the article being, of course, written before his accession to tho throne:— The Princo of Wales is not, and has never been, as fond' of Society as tho King; yet though his Royal Highness is naturally of a somewhat reserved disposition, ho inherits tho King's wonderful facility for recollecting faces, and has always a courteous greeting for those whom he has even met ouly oneo before. The Prince's circle of intimate friends is, comparatively speaking, small. Two of his most intimato companions aro Mr. Derek Kcppcl and Mr. Wellington, both members of his JRo.val Highuess's household. Mr., Wallington takes a great interest iii cricket and football, and, indeed, in all athletic sports, and is usually in attendance oil the Priuco when the latter goes to a football match. , It was, indeed, his equerry's suggestion which induced his Royal Highness to attend a football match at the Queen's Club some years ago, with tho result that the Prince, whose sporting instincts are of the keenest, has since been present at most of the important matches about London. Mr. Wallington is, by tho way, an old cricket blue, having played for Oxford in tho inter-'Varsity crickct match in 1877. Mr. Derek Keppel in some respects is the very opposite in disposition to his Royal Highness. He is avowedly fond of Society, and at social functions is almost invariably the equerry in at- , tendance on tho Princo of Wales. The bond of sympathy, however, between his Royal. Highness and his equerry is their mutual love of sport. Sir. Keppel is a good shot and enjoys a day's shooting as keenly as the Prince. A story is told that at the end of a day's shoot tho host who was entertaining the Princo said something to his Itoyal Highness about Mr. Keppel's shooting. "Oh, yes," replied the heir to the Throne, _ "Keppel is as useful in a, covert as lie is ornamental iu a draw-ing-room." Sir Arthur Bigge is another great, friend of tho Prince. Like his Royal Highness, ,he is not very fond of Society, and is a somewhat taciturn individual. He was a frequent guest of tho late Queen, and a story is told that oil one occasion when tho Prince was sitting next to him at a State banquet given by Queen Victoria, his Royal Highness remarked- to him: "I lilco sitting nest to you, Sir Arthur, for you prefer thinking to talking." Canon Dal ton has for many years been held in tho highest esteem by the Prince. He is, of course, his Itoyal Highuess's senior by several years and was onco his tutor. Hcj is chaplain in the Prince of Wales's household. Outside tlio Prince's household, biß Royal Highuess's most intimate friends aro Lord Mount Stephen, Lord lierelstokc, Lord Iveagli, and Lord Derby, all of whom havo frequently had tho honour of entertaining tho Princo. ■ Lord Rovelstoke stands much in the same relation to the Priuco of Wales us Lord Farquhar does to the King, and might bo described as the financial adviser. Lord Revelstoko is a man of immense wealth, and is a partner in tho firm of Baring Brothers, bankers. Ho is Receiver-General of the Duchy of Cornwall, from which tho Princc draws now an income amounting to closo on £90,000 per annum, though twelve years ago the revenue from tho duchy was only £00,000. Lord Derby has entertained the Prince very frequently at Knowslev. Lord Derby, by tho way, takes a great interest in stamps, of which tho Princo has a most valuablo collection, and, although the former is not a collector, his knowledge of tho subject is considerable. The Prince's dislike of ceremonial is well known, and ihoso who have the honour of entertaining his Royal Highness have to bear this fact in mind, and to receive him as far as possible very much as an ordinary guest. *Tlio Princc prefers to be addressed as "Sir'" and not "Your Royal Highness," and he does not like the repetition of the "Sir" more often than is necessary. • The Prince when be stays with a friend is seldom accompanied by moro than one equerry, who also acts as', secretary. A private sitting-room and writing-room aro usually provided for his Royal Highness, who generally gets through his correspondence before breakfast, for the Prince' is an early riser, and when on a visit likes to have the day free from work. The Princo is far less a club maii> than was the King when his Majesty was heir to the Throne. The only club tho Prince of Wales frequents is tho Marlborough, to which institution nearly all tho members of the Royal Household belong. A characteristic story is told of the Princo, who, when he was asked to become president of a, new service club that was in tho process of formation some years ago, replied: "Oh, certainly, but don't you think the Army and Navy could get along all right without another club?" The club lin question, foivwhich there was certainly no need, was never' formed.