CROWDED CAREER

Evening Star, Issue 24283, 26 August 1942, Page 4

CROWDED CAREER

MANY CHARMING QUALITIES COMRADESHIP WITH THE PEOPLE The Duke of Kent was of a retiring disposition, hut his prepossessing manner ingratiated him with those with whom he came in contact. He inherited his father’s love for the sea, and while fallowing that calling allowed no differentiation of station to intervene, being primarily a man rather than the prince, and was known to his shipmates as “ P.G.” It was the realities rather than the “ frills ” of life which appealed most strongly to him. He was tactful and charming, dutiful, and, among people he knew, a gay companion, for he loved music and dancing. At the period of the last war Prince George, as he was then, was a boy of 12, and still in the schoolroom. After studying at Osborne, the school for naval cadets, he went to a naval station in China. He was to have been the Sailor Prince of the Royal Family, neither Prince Henry, nor the then Duke of York, nor the Prince of Wales earing for the sea. But Prince George, for health reasons, was obliged to retire, much to his disappointment ami to that of his sailor father, the King. Thus balked, he decided to play his part in a civil government department, where he gained experience which was calculated to fit him for diplomatic work. EARLY LOVE OF FLYING.

The Prince, however, had a common bond with his elder brother in fast motoring and'flying, and it is said that ho learned to fly in an old Blue Moth, because, having crashed his brother’s—the Prince of Wales, afterwards King Edward Vlll.—Rolls Royco motor car, the latter refused to lend him his new Gipsy Moth, “ I lent you my ear, and you crashed it, and I’m _taking_ no chances with my plane,” said David. _ With the world becoming “ air minded,” the Duke developed a strong leaning towards aviation, and he con tinued this development along the years and-flew many thousands of miles, and his service with the Royal Air Force

during the present war speaks for his thoroughness and enthusiasm. COMRADESHIP WITH PRINCE OF WALES. Though, as mentioned, the Duke was of a retiring nature, his community of interests with the Prince of Wales existed so long as they were associated together. Their similarity of tastes was particularly emphasised when, as Prince George, he accompanied his brother on his South American tour. He also throw his weight and influence behind the National Council for Social Service, which owed its inception to the Prince of Wales, and his sympathies were always with the needy and less fortunate members of the community. He mixed extensively with working men and women, and actually undertook the duties of a factory inspector attached to the Home Office.

There is a little story which affords a glimpse of his comradeship with the peoiple. Some years ago he proceeded to a town to open a hospital wing and inspect a boys’ club. It was sunny in London, hut down by the sea a rainstorm had blown over, and the dense crowds waiting to see Prince George drive by were getting very wet. The Prince was astonished when he saw the crowd under the driving rain. He had neither greatcoat nor umbrella with him. The motor car was a coupe, but the hood was up and the windows closed. Prince George asked the police chief to find him a raincoat quickly. The only one handy was an old stained trench coat. The Prince put it on and ordered the motor car to be opened. In the open car, in the old stained coat —which did not keep all the rain out—he drove through the downpour, waving acknowledgments to the cheers. A little thing, but in statecraft, as in life, such little things make an indelible impression. AUSTRALIAN. VISIT ABANDOnIeD.

In 1934 the Duke arranged to visit Australia to represent the King at the Centenary celebrations. At that time he was touring South Africa in an ambassadorial capacity. Much to the disappointment of the people of] the Commonwealth, it was decided on his return to England that the possible strain of the longer and more exacting visit justified postponement of the engagement His brother, Prince Henry, took his place on a memorable tour.