ROYAL SECRETS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 281, 22 July 1932, Page 7

ROYAL SECRETS

KING'S WOMEN SECRETARIES' KNOWLEDGE QF STATE MATTERS. Six women who arrive at Buckingham Palace at 9 o'clock evei'y weekday morning know more of the secr§ts of politics and diplomacy than any other women in Britain, says a London newspaper. They never tallc about their secrets not even to each other. These women are the secretaries to the King's advisers and the, high officials of the Court. One woman comes every morning across the Park from Piccadilly, one from a women's club in Buckingham Palace road, and another from Victoria' Station. They .type documents that begin with words sueh as: "Secret and confidential: For Cabinet use only." "Personal and private : For the use of the Prime Minister only." Every morning at 9 the six women settle down to their desks in the little offices of the Palace, cheerful with white paint and srarlet carpets. The business of the d' y begins with, the first ring of a beil summoning one of them to Sir Clive Wigram, the King's secretary. Seven or eight at night often finds them still busy, acknowledging some important Government despatch that has just come in by King's Messenger, or turnlng some message into code.

Some Compensation. j These women worked hard in the darlc days of the King's illness, when a common bond of anxiety united every one at Court; they stayed on night after night until midnight and after, waiting sometimes with dread in their hearts for the doctors to send down the next bulletin. The women work hard, but there are compensations. Wherever the Court goes, they go, too, travelling i with the King and Queen in the j Royal train, to Sandringham, Balj moral, Windsor, or Cowes, living in the Castle with the freedom of the I lovely grounds at Sandringham or the Great Park at Windsor. Their names must not be revealed. They are unknown alike to the public and to many of those who profess an inside knowledge of the Palace. Their photographs do not appear in the newspapers, but they work quietly behind the scenes, a vitally important part of the delicate organisation that is the modern Court of St. James. This year, in the Honours List, the name of one of the women appeared against an O.B.E., with the simple explanation "for services," but only rarely does recognition like this come their way. Kindly Words and Smiles. More frequent, and just as much appreciated, is a kindly word from the King, or an encouraging friendly smile frorn the Queen. Most appreciated of all are the yearly Christmas gifts — a jewelled brooch with the Royal cipher from the Queen, a signed photograph from the King. All the women are unmarried, one or two saw war services with the women's organisations, others have family links with the Court. One quality they all possess in the supreme degree — tact. At the head of the six workers is the tall, quiet personal secretary to Sir Clive Wigram. With her dignified personality, her neatly shingled hair, her air of capable efficiency, she looks, and is, the perfect private secretary. For several years she was attached to the late Lord Stamfordham, the King's friend and confidential adviser, and when Sir Clive took his place last year she remained. Away from her work, she is happiest play golf at a London club happiest playing golf at a London club or Balmoral.