AT COWES

Hokitika Guardian, 1 October 1930, Page 7

AT COWES

LIFE ON THE ROYAL YACHT

THE “V AND A.”

Cowes conies but once a year, and for a ;brief space the royal yacht Victoria aiid. Albert (named in the Fleet affectionately, but not. without awe, the “V. and A.”) comes to life for a few days of. regal glory while the Royal : Standard proudly flutters at her maininast.head. The red flag .. and golden anchor of the Lord -High Admiral at the fore and the Union ‘Flag of an Admiral of the Fleet -at,'-, the mizzen complete the Royal Insigna of the King’s Navy: Crown .ownership, Constitutional Arministration, 'and Supreme Executive Authority.,Nor are these phrases idle; for the King; was -.a seaman ere he wore a croivn, and will ever remain a deepwater saildfman. On board ,every man-o’-war, in company vyith the yacht, to one signalman is' Assigned the duty of never taking his :eye,' even for wink or blink, from the ,: “V. and A.” lest one be caught napping and even for a second the blue . and white semaphore flag or the twinkling pendant, sign by “Morse” receive 'no answer. :

To serve/on board the royal yacht is a-privilege dearly, prized by officers and menT; Generally, service in one ship is limited to two or three years; exceptions,< however, are made in ’he yacht, to .gratify'the King’s dislike of changes/unless; esesntial for the “good of the Service.” THE OLDEST OFFICER, ' • i,; ' i The current Navy List shows the oldest inhabitant of the yacht, the Keeper arid Steward of Royal Cabins. Mr Samuel'M.,Hammond. The appointment dates' fyom 1911, but bis service in the 'yacht ’counts' 'from, fifty -three years agoj an ’ toria. :cjldebt, pffir. cer serving A at^sevenfy-two,, die, is a privileged; friend and'servant' 1 ofthe King,,: | , ■ ‘ V ' Like a biitlejr4o|jng 'off surface <of {liis| master’s dMingifitable; seaman h'aye /ihfejiictei ‘find/ bilges of. the BbaM'’ ' tlie' davit-ii'eadiP until they . gleam like patent, leather On each'bow of every boatis'displayed the royal.: coat, The . linoleum -covering the decks' is spotless ; the red morocco .cushions of the .royal ante-room have been dressed and cleaned, -"t , ... This is-where guests are received; from this, room the King and. Queen lead the way ,by separate passages on each side of the slpp to the long table under the,; spacious skylight in the dining room.

At' tliß.fforo’ v cnd of the saloon, on bulkhead} ' are two silver megaphones on. a silver telescope, inherited, I believe, /froin’ the original "V, and

A.” of Queen Victoria. The after end of the table is broken by the mast wliicliPpentrates the saloon.

At dinner parties the King and Queen sit vis-a-vis in the middle of t]jre table, one on either side. For breakfast the Kng helps himself from the side table; at other meals waiters are in attendance. The Queen’s bedroom, with bathroom next door, is new as a pin. A picture of the Madonna an.d Child, hanging on the ship' side, .catches the eye ol passers-by.

pver the King’s narrow bed bang portraits of Nelson and Lady Hamilton. On the dressing table is a photogbaph of King Edward VII. In bis day cabin over the writing desk bangs another portrait of Nelson.

THE QUEEN’S CRETONNES

The. sycamore parmelling is polished to look like satimvood, the carpets are crimson or a royal blue. Cretonnes,, all chosen specially by the Queen, with a marked preference for blue poppies, fit like kid gloves. The baby grand piano in the drawing room has been tuned to concert pitch; every cushion punched and put in place. Iff the pantry, aft, has been counte.l and checked the Crown Derby cnina green and gold and white, stowed in drawers. Every cup in its own nest, like balls on a bagatelle board. The heavy glass, each goblet with tile royal cipher, is, ranged in racks on the dresser'; each wineglass in its spiral slot to hold it when at sea. In the serving room, immediately abaft the saloon, electric toast racks and hot plates' ae tested; for the galley ie a long way off and down below., All these preparations are made by the yacht’s crew, who turn over the actual table serving to the royal staff, in black coats and red, according to their grade. ?isvlu the royal smoking room is more morocco: leather to- be examined, electric radiators to be tested. Everywhere are pictures'of the King’s racing 'yacht, Brittannia, and various men-o’-wai\

the state rooms of the King amhi-dQueen : are the apartments for othdr, royalty. Foremost of those on tlie port side is the suite of the Prince oi-j Wales;; farther aft that of Princess Mary.. ... - wherever possible, while i^i^Kdng'’is ion board,-the yacht is con.ip&jf&lMo the telephone system ashore, magic words “Royal yacht jssj?aking,” all private business 1 passing "'through ,the shore exchange must give royal requirements. ' The ' be' a call from ' his Majesty to the Prime Minister; at least as likely, it may he one of the yacht’s officers placing 2s each way on a Goodwood racehorse. ’■ The crew of the ' royal yacht may easily be recognised ashore by their old-fashioned blue cloth trousers, which they wear outside their jumpers—more accurately “frocks”; also by their silver and white badges instead of the usual gold and red.