THE SPORT OF THE KING

Evening Star, Issue 23377, 21 September 1939, Page 12

THE SPORT OF THE KING

Canadian and American sports folk, welcoming King George and Queen Elizabeth, on their New World tour, appreciated that one of the strongest ties binding the Royal Family to what old-style history hooks used to describe as “ the common people ” is a fondness for sport, said a writer in the ‘ Christian Science Monitor.’ It is not a simulated interest, put on when appropriate as a King might put on a ceremonial uniform from his dazzling wardrobe. It is a personal, spontaneous, and effective interest. Lawn tennis, golf, cricket, Soccer football, squash rackets, swimming, riding, pony polo—those aro the diversions in which King George has raven a good account of himsmf. But in bygone days the sports of kings were not such simple, democratic things as these. They were affairs of pomp and ceremony.: In which “ the common people ” had no share of interest whatsoever—except to touch a respectful forelock as the, cavalcade rode by. In early times, in fact, the populace must have taken an extremely poor view of the most publicly-conducted sport of kings. For this sport was hunting, and the kings wanted all of it for themselves and. their, nobles. So much so that dire penalties were inflicted upon any of the said populace who tried to do a little hunting of their own, on the quiet. Apart from, hunting and falconry, the big sporting thrill of the. Court, right, through the Middle. Ages, was the tournament of joust,. indulged in by armoured knights amid scenes of superb pageantry. Several kings took part themselves in these-drastic pursuits.. Others ; preferred to look on, at what must , have been indeed a .very stirring spectacle. ' . Henry VU. (1485-1509) ’was a tenm* player-:—as witness an entry in his expenses register: ‘ ‘ Item, for King s loss at tennis, twelve pence ; for the loss or ball, three pence ” —and ms son, “ Bluff King Hal,” who. was also no mean performer in the tilt .yard, took to the game with, the. greatest enthusiasm. This jovial gentleman played an “ away ’’ match against Frances J. at the Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520 and it seems that he made tne French king look like a long-handicap man. , , - King George is essentially a practical sportsman. With athletur capability that is a real and tested thing—not just one of the pleasant fairy which tend to endow fabulous versatility upon remote and distinguished personages. With h s close fnend Sir Louis Greig (who played football for Scotland in 19Q6, and 1903 j he won the lawn tennis doubles championshjp of the Royal Airforce iu 19*0, and sis years later he played at Wimbledon, being defeated with bir Louis'in the first round ,of the men s doubles by two ex-champions 1M King plays left-handed, and has a ser vice better than the average. ■ Although the- fact not bs generally appreciated, King George is a better natural golfer than that mor earnest player, his brother, the Duka of Windsor. He has a free swing and. when he could devote time to toe game, he played "down to a handicap around IG, . , . . Queen Elizabeth, too., is keenly interested in sport. Especially m ds application to youth welfare. She was the first Royal lady to hold office at captain of a woman s golf club, (bunningdalo Ladies’), and, like, her busbaud, she is fond of lawn tennis, riding, and dancing. She herself trained » troop of Girl Guides at Glamis, Scotland, subsequently becoming a district commissioner, and now she *i» patroness of the movement. . “ A real sporting couple, that s whai I call them,” said one man m to® street to another as the King and Oueen passed by in their glittering Coronation procession two years ago. And, having regard to the English vernacular, . thlt quaintly prosaic remark can be considered a. Handsome and happy way of describing King Georg® VL and Queen Elizabeth, whose simple snorting tastes make such a striking contrast to those of many predecessors on the Throne.