WITHOUT PREJUDICE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 50, 23 November 1926, Page 8

WITHOUT PREJUDICE

NOTES AT RANDOM

(By

T.D.H.)

Italians are still free to think what they like, provided Signor Mussolini’s agents don’t hear them talking m their sleep.

A reader inquires what privileges the Dominion Prime Ministers actually receive when they are given the Freedom of the City of London. —This interesting ceremony simply means that the City of London has honoured the visitors by making them honorary freemen or burgesses, and the burgesses of the City of London appear to have about as many privileges today as those of Wellington.

Once more the British Sovereign has changed his title, and the present change follows more closely on the event than many that have taken place in the past. For instance, away back in 1558 the English lost their last foothold in France, but for nearly two and a half centuries -after that British Sovereigns continued to style themselves Kings and Queens of France. William the Conqueror began by calling himself bluntly “King of England.” William Rufus, a -.hade more humbly, used the style “By the Grace of God King of England.”. Then Henry II asserted his rights in France by adding to his title “Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine.”

Ireland made its first appearance in the royal style in King John’s day, that monarch describing himself as “King of England and Lord of Ireland.” Edward 111. in 1340 added "King of France” to the list, and Henry Vl.—for the only time during the four and a half centuries the above title was used—made it a reality by being crowned King of France in the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris in December 17, 1431. In the twenty-fifth year of his reign Henry VIII. launched out with a new style of things. Having been declared King of Ireland by an Irish Act of Parliament, and, having before his divorce court career, been given the title “Defender of the Faith by the Pope, the King procured from Parliament an Act declaring it high h»ason to style him other than “Henry VIII., by the Grace of God, King of England, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, and of the Church of England and also of Ireland on earth Supreme Head.”

The bestowal of the title “Defender of the Faith” had been cancelled by Pope Leo X after Henry VIII turned Protestant, but in order to be as offensive to the Pope as possible the Kipg caused Parliament to confer it on him again, and it has ever since remained in the Roval stvle. Originally it was a reward for Henry’s early pronouncements against the doctrines of Luther. Britain’s" Bluebeard made another change also in the Royal titles, for he was the first British monarch to be styled “Majestv”; prior to that the British King, was addressed as ' Sovereign Lord Highness.”

Bloody Marv, after her marriage with Philip of Spain, had a rigmarole ot titles that took half a morning to recite. She was Queen of Eng and, France, Naples, Jerusalem, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Princess of Spain and Sicilv, Archduchess of Austria, Duchess of Milan, Burgundy Brabant, and so on, and so on, with the Roval herald panting for breath long before the end was in sight.

Queen Elizabeth reverted to her father’s styles, and James I. added the title "King of Scotland. ’ Uu the passing of the Act of Union, in 1707 Queen Anne introduced the phrase “Great Britain ” . while the further, and now abandoned, addition of “the United Kingdom of” was i nserted bv George 111. on Ireland coming into the Parliamentary union m 1801. In 1877 Queen Victoria, after her proclamation at Delhi, added the title “Empress of India,” and “ie late King Edward VII. introduced the reference to the “British Domimons beyond the seas.”. ~ It is interesting to note that the amiable King Alfonso of Spam is still King of Jerusalem, but, apparently, he is obliged to share what tLere is of this throne with the little Archduke Otto son of the late Emperor o Austria. King Alfonso is o twenty-four other places besides, his realms, theoretically, inc lading such spots as Gibraltar, the East Indies, the West Indies, India,. Navarre m France, the two Sicilies, etc., etc. Curiously enough, one of the few places of wWclfhis Spanish Majesty does not claim to be king is Morocco.

Mr Cornelius Vanderbilt, jun., who is laying down the law about how Miss Consuelo Vanderbilt came to nlar^ ff tI ’g Dake of Marlborough m 189 a, sitilers slightly from a lack of first-hand knowledge of the events, for he was not born until several years after the marriage had taken p ace The sole impediment referred to by Mr. tan derbilt as alone preventing a member of his faniilv from sitting on the throne of Britain is presumably the Royal Marriage Act of 17'2. Under this Act no descendant of George II (except princesses married into foreign families) can contract a valid marriage without the consent of the Sovereign signified under the Great Seal If the Sovereign refuses his approval, notice of intention to marry may be given to the Privy Council and if at the end of twelve months no resolution against the proposed marriage has been passed by Parliament it can be validly contracted

This law was passed after the Duke of Gloucester and the Duke of Cumberland had kicked over the traces and distressed their Royal parent, King George 111, by their goings on. So far, the only American lady to liecome a member of a European royal family has been the widow of the late Mr. W. 'B. Leeds, the tinplate-king, who became Princess Anastasia of Greece and aunt by marriage of the erstwhile King George of that country.

The first thing needed to put the world right seems to be to find some way of cheering up Dean Inge.

He (reading paper) : “Here s a note about an accident at White’s house. Ine servant put some gunpowder in the fire, and she was blown through the roof.” She (sympathetically) 'Poor Mrs White has so much trouble with her ’ girls. That makes the fourth that s left without giving notice.”

Emily: “I had the most terrible dream last night!” Marcia: “Tell me about it. Emily: “I actually suffered in my sleep with the embarrassment of it. I dreamt that I suddenly walked right on to a crowded floor and I had a lot of clothes on!”

A TALISMAN. Take temperance to thy breast, While vet is the hour of choosing, An arbitress exquisite Of all that shall thee betide: For better than fortune’s best Is masterv in the using, And sweeter than anything sweet The art to lav it aside I —Louise Imogen Ginne-