WHEN ROYALTY JOKES

Shannon News, 15 June 1926, Page 4

WHEN ROYALTY JOKES

KING EDWARD’S GRANDSONS INHERITS HIS WIT.

Those who know both brothers well are at a loss to decid e whether it is the Prince of Wales or the Duke of York who may be considered as the humorist of the Royal Family (says a London writer). What could have been funnier than the impromptu of the Duke when he was asked about the ability of a certain orchestra. “Can it play?’’ he exclaimed in mock astonr ishment, “Why, it can play anything from jazz to Aston Villa.” Thos e who remembc r the dry humour of King Edward will realise that his grandchildren will have their work cut out to gain a reputation equal to his. A Superhuman Deed.

King Edward was essentially a man of the world,, good-natured and tolerant, but quick to resent either impertinence or hypocrisy. It is related of him that one night after a particularly heavy official day at Buckinghame Palace he remarked to a friend: Tve done something today which God couldn’t have done.” “What was that, sir?” said his host in amazement.

“By knighting Blank I've made liis wife a lady,” was the answer. Another good story dates from the Diamond Jubilee year of Queen Victoria. That was a great event in the history of the Royal Family, and the then Prince of Wales, having to deputise for his aged mother on most occasions, was overworked. It was nothing unusual for him to' attend three religious or semi.religious ceremonies in one day, and it was following upon a series of these that he gave currency to a witticism which is still remembered. “They’ve been singing ‘Eternal leather’ all day,” he said with a smile, “but what about me with an eternal mother?” A Derby Wag. King Edward was a wit, and therefore could appreciate a good joke, and it is doubtful if p he ever laughed so heartily in his life as he did on the occasion of his last visit to the Derby. There was a tremendous crowd of spectators eager to catch a glimpse of the most popular monarch in the World, and, to prevent His Majesty’s being mobbed, a strong force ,of police was mobilised to escort him from the regal stand to his car. Now, arrests are very frequent on Derby Day, and it is nothing unusual to witness an unlucky mah fight in the grip of the police. When, therefore, Edward V-11. appeared between two tiles of uniformed constables, a wag in the crowd called out: “Cheer up, Teddy; I’ll come and bail . you out.’’

The incongruity and absurdity of the remark tickled everyone, but no one more so than His Majesty. The Offending Order.

Wit can be applied to other uses than merely making people laugh, and King Edward was fond of adapting it to convey a mild reproof. He objected strongly to womenfolk decorating themselves with the ribbons of orders or medals gained by tlicir relations. Thus, when at a private ball he came across a beautiful debutante wearing the South African ribbon he was an T noyed, to put it mildly. “You don’t look old enough to have fought in the South African War,” said the King, gravely.

“I don’t understand, sir,” she faltered, vaguely conscious that she had offended.

"I see you got the medal for it, at any rate," said the King, with the politeness of studied gravity. “Gli, that,” she exclaimed, “that belongs to my. father.” The King turned' to speak to an acquaintance and less than a minute later glanced towards the girl, the shadow of a smile flitted across his face when he saw that the “offence” had been removed.

Queen Victoria had no reputation as a humorist; but she had a very human wit, and, like her eldest son, she sometimes used it as a correc. ' tivc. One of the best stories ever told of the Royal Family concerns Queen Victoria and her eldest daughter. Princess and Lady. In the days when her late Majesty's family was in the nursery Princess Victoria had a certain amount of pride, which was, of course, quite harmless in a little girl. It happened one morning that she was rude to her music master, and wlien he remonstrated with her mildly she loftily reminded him that she was a princess. “Yes, my dear,” said the Queon gently, “you are a princess, but you must toll the gentleman that one day you hope to be a lady.”