THE KING’S HOLIDAY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19472, 6 May 1925, Page 12

THE KING’S HOLIDAY.

FOUR COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED. PRINCE HENRY’S NEW DUTY. (From Gob Own Correspondent.) LONDON, March 19. The King and Qu'een left London this morning for their cruise in the Mediterranean. Their Majesties crossed the Channel in one of the regular steamers, but destroyers accompanies the vessel across. Two destroyers have been detached from the fleet to act as escort to the Royal yacht throughout the cruise. The journey overland through France is being marked by none of the ceremonies that would be observed in ordinary circumstances. For that reason the courteous offer of the French President of the use of his official train for the journey to Genoa, illustrating the friendly ties between the two countries, was declined. Their Majesties intend travelling through France and Italy in the utmost possible privacy in accordance with the wishes of the doctors. Detraining at Beaulieu, the King and Queen will motor the short distance to the Duke of Connaught’s residence at Cap Ferrnt, They will embark in the royal yacht from the little harbour of St. Jean, a stone’s throw away from the Duke’s residence. THE KING’S ILLNESS. The bulletins which have been issued from Buckingham Palace have enabled the nation sympathetically to follow the course which the King’s illness has taken. Some weeks ago the King felt compelled to abstain from attending the Rugby football match between England and Ireland at Twickenham. What was originally regarded as merely “a feverish cold” soon developed into an attack of influenza, and then into bronchitis. Happily, this yielded to treatment, but on account of the cold winds that have prevailed the Royal patient did not get even into the palace grounds until last Saturday. For the first time since ascending the Throne King George will now be able to enjoy a complete rest from the many responsibilities of State that he hat borne year in and year out without respite. At a meeting of the Privy Council four Councillors of State were constituted as a commission, any two members of which can summon a meeting of the Privy Council for the transaction of the necessary business which must bo done if State affairs' are not to bo delayed. The Councillors selected wore Prince Henry, +bArchbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, and the Prime Minister. MOST FAITHFUL .COUNSELLORS. The Royal Proclamation appointing the Royal Commission is rather a quaint-doeu-ment. After naming subjects in order of rank, the Proclamation proceeds;— Whereas We shall shortly be absent from Our United Kingdom in Foreign parts, know yo that for divers causes and considerations concerning Us and the tranquillity of Our Realm Us hereunto especially moving, We, having entire confidence in the fidelity of Our Most Dear and Entirely Beloved Sou and Most Faithful Counsellor His Royal Highness The Prince Henry William Frederick Albert, Knight of Our Most Noble Order of the Garter, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order; Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Counsellor the Most Reverend Father in God Randall Thomas, by Divine Providence Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England and Metropolitan, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Ofder; Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Cousin and Counsellor George Viscount Cave, Knight Grand Cross of Our Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Ixrrd High Chancellor of Great Britain; and Ou!r Right Trusty ' and Well-beloved Counsellor Stanley Baldwin, Our Prime Minister and First Lord of Our Treasury; Of Our most especial grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion do nominate and appoint Our said Counsellors The Prince Henry, Archbishop of Canterbury, Viscount Cave, and Stanley Baldwin, or any two of them in Our said absence To summon and hold on Our Behalf Our Privy Council, and to signify thereat Our approval of any matter or thing/ to which Our approval in Council is required, and to approve apt! Sign on Our behalf any document requiring Our signature other than a document which is by any Act of Parliament required to bo signed under Onr own hand, And further to do on Our behalf any matter or thing which appears to them necessary or expedient to do in Our Irehalf in the interests of the safety and good government of Our Realm.' The remainder of the text is taken up with the reservations that the Commission shall not dissolve Parliament nor grant any rank, title, or dignity of the peerage dining the King’s absence. Prince Henry, on his first appearance at a Privy Council meeting, was not “sworn” in the ordinary way. It is the custom for the sons of the Sovereign to bo ‘‘introduced,”' and this was done yesterday. Prince Henry is the second of the King’s sons who are now Privy Councillors, the Prince of Wales having been introduced in 1920.