SMILING PRINCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1924, Page 1

SMILING PRINCE.

RECORD POPULARITY: DAREDEYIL ESCAPADES. HIS DEMOCRATIC SYMPATHIES. It is probable that in the history of the Royal Family of England there lias never been an heir to the Throne so popular as the present Prince of Wales, writes the London correspondent of the Sydney “ Daily Telegraph.” \\ henever the Londoners know that the Prince will he at any particular spot about a certain time they gather in hundreds, just to stand and cheer him its he passes. They never fail to receive a merry wave of his hand and bis charming smile, and they go away delighted—or wait for an hour or two, perhaps, for him to come out again. “The Smiling Prince,” they call hilt!. The Prince is constantly among the people. Ho somehow gives them the impression that he loves them, and that, for that reason, he sincerely values their expressions of goodwill towards him. lie does not seek their adulation, blit lie receives it gladly, in the spirit in which it is ottered. Whenever lie comes among the people they cling around, him in demonstrative masses; hut the more iliHieiilty he finds in moving, and the more demonstrative they are, the happier he seems.

The manner in which lie meets old men and women and crippled soldiers leaves no doubt of his sincerity, lie insists on hearing all of the tale of the quavering veteran who fought in the Crimea or Indian Mutiny. His eyes fill with tears when he grips the hand of the straightshacked young man, permanently blinded in the (treat War. It is this quick sympathy and understanding which form so remarkable a bond between the young Prince and the masses. DARE-DEVIL ESCAPADES.

Emotional, exquisitely dressed, remarkably good looking, small in 'tature— there i> nothing namby-pamby about the heir nppnnrent. Everyone knows, as a matter of fact, that his dare-devil escapades keep his unhappy personal attendants, who are responsible for his safety, always on lire jump, lie is an early riser, being out for a gallop before most of Loudon is awake: he nlays games strenuously, and, as his numerous fall- testify, he loves it wild and dangerous steeplechase. lie is an excellent and enthusiastic dancer, and he is by no moans insensible to feminine charm. Yet he has, so far, escaped matrimony. They say he takes a certain devilish glee in defeating the careful malrimnnisil plans which have boon drawn, with hiln the cent nil figure.

The Prince, it appears, hates pageants. When l.e must tako part in a’ public ceremonial he does so with dignity and credit: but whenever he can dodge, he dodges. The people tell with amusement, of cite recent ceremony. The King and Queen nml the Duke and Dttehess of York drove if. state through lanes of people. The Prince, who also had to lie on the platform, slipped coyly through a hack gate in a closed carriage, lint the crowds caught him, (lushed and smiling for all that, and lie got more cheers than all the rest put together. Tie made a splendid sprerli. The Prince by the way, is naturally an orator. Ilis voice and delivery ate as good a.the matter of his speeches, and, more and more frequently, it is 'aid. ho speaks without notes or preparation. REMARKABLE STORY

The known democratic sympathies of the Prince, and the fact that so far he has not sought a bride have given rise to a curious story, which i' heard everywhere here. It is that the Prince does not wish to lieeome King, preferring the greater freedom and independence enjoyed by those who are not kings, and that he has urged that his brother, the Duke of York, should he regarded as the heir to the Throne. This story has been given some colour bv the fact that the Duke and Duchess of York this year have been as much in the public eye as the Prince, and are constantly seen at State functions with the King and Queen.

The story is much discussed here, and is mentioned only for that reason, hut should not he given credence. The extraordinary personal popularity of the Prince makes it in the highest degree desirable that he should he the next King, not only that the stability of the Throne may continue, hut for tin' sake of the unity of the Empire, ol which the Throne is the symbol. To day, in it world of tottering thrones ami aggre'sive republicanism—to say nothing of Socialism and Comm.'inism and similar modern growth.'—one hears not a single voice raised against the kindly, well-beloved King of England. To-day the liriti'h Court is a blaze of glory—literallv today, for this afternoon Their Majesties are entertaining thousands of overseas vi'itors in the grounds of Htiekinghain Palace—and tin, Labour Government looks complacently on. There is no doubt that, if the Prince succeeds, the personal popularity of the monarch will continue to protect the monarchy, (luring hi’ lifetime at least, lie is a' popular in the outer dominions ii' he is with ardent, simple-minded Londoners. None of his I, rot hot s appear to make the same appeal to tlm ma-es. WIDESPREAD POPULARITY.

The Prince’s popularity i' universal. Apart altogether from the fact oi his Royal blood, there is no guest more sought niter by Mayfair hosies'O®. Down in iln- Potteries the oilier day, where he was nil an official lour, the factory girl' made a most embarrassing demonstration. lie i' beloved ol that most cynical ol all classes ol men—the Press photographers. Press photographers know that their ceaseless attentions irritate notable people, and thev are alwavs grimly ready lor the worst. For that very reason, probably the Prince, with that peculiar iimight of Ids. is always courteous to the photographers, and will help them.

••Let’s have the Prince's smile, sir.' - they will say and the smile i' promptly forthcoming.