THE PRINCE OF WALES

Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1920, Page 1

THE PRINCE OF WALES

(By an Australian). He passed through the gates of Buckingham Palace, a slight, boyish figure; briefly acknowledged the salute of the sentry, and then .crossed the wide road into Green Park at a half-run. Not one of the passersby recognised in hint tiie Prince of Wales. He wore a neat navy serge suit, a bowler hat, and fawn spats, and Iris fresh-coloured complexion and fair hair gave him an extremely youthful appearance. That was the boy—in 1914. I saw him next five years later. He rode at the head of the triumphal victory march of the Guards in London.

There was no trace in the easy mien and smiling acknowledgments of the soldier-Prince of the almost nervous modesty which had made him move so quickly across into Green Park. Five years of warfare, of association and comradeship with fighting-men, had made the boy into a man, though ho still possessed much of that same youthful appearance. Somewhere high up iu the tall building of a Government office girl clerks banged vociferously on typewriter, covers, clamorous in their enthusiasm -_a boyish smile and a smart salute was given in acknowledgment. Somewhere down below, in the front rank of the twelve-deep crowd of spectators, sat a limbless Australian, clad in hospital blue. There was gravity and silent respect in the Prince’s salute here. To the ordinary observer, the man-in-thc-street, Edward, Prince of Wales appears to have much of the tact and ready sympathy- of his grandfather, King Edward VII. At the front his popularity with all types of overseas troops was well known. With Australians, he seemed Australian, with Australian ways and interests. With Canadians, South Africans, and New Zealanders it was the same. Their interests were his. I asked a Canadian north-west mounted policeman, serving with the colours, how he liked the Prince. “He came down to review us,” said the “mounty.” “And he talked to us like a brother. Just as he was going, lie was about to mount his horse, when it shied. The language he used to the animal was—well, good, round Canadian.” Australia will like him, this Prince, alien lie arrives. With men lie is a man. He is typically British —and that speaks for itself.