The Prince of Wales Enters a New Home

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 234, 22 December 1927, Page 13

The Prince of Wales Enters a New Home

MARLBOROUGH HOUSE, to which, as the traditional Loudon home of the Heir to the Throne, the Prince of Wales will remove within the next few months, was built by Sir Christopher Wren in 1711 for John Churchill, Ist Duke of Marlborough. The cost was astonishingly small, as the total figure was under £50,000. The site, too, was

The well-known author of “The Nineteen Hundreds ,” “Trials Retold,” etc., writes this article specially for SUN readers.

leased by Queen Anne for a term of 50 years at an annual rental of only 5/-. Altogether a distinct bargain in house-property. Daniel Defoe was much impressed by a visit of inspection he paid to Marlborough House soon after it was completed in its original form. “The palace,” he wrote, “is in every way answerable to the grandeur of its master. Its situation is more confined than that of the Duke of Buckinghamshire, but the body of the house is much nobler, more compact, and the apartments better composed. . . Its court is very spacious and finely paved; the offices are large; and on each side, as you enter, the stairs, mounting to the gate* are very noble.** Past and Present. Since it was first erected, Marlborough House has undergone a good many structural changes. Originally, the top story was finished off with a 3tone balustrade. The mansion itself was then only half its present height, with long narrow windows, and no entrance portico. The third Duke added a second story, and also enlarged the

ground floor rooms; and his successor still further increased the existing accommodation. Very little more was done until the late King Edward, as Prince of Wales, went into residence there, on his marriage in 1863. Much of it was then remodelled, a fresh story being built at either side, and the east and west wings were considerably lengthened. The result is, Marlborough House is now a really commodious establishment, for, includthe domestic offices, it has a total of about 120 rooms.

The architectural plan of Marlborough House is more or less that of a square, the ground floor of which is given up to the principal State apartments. These consist of the “saloon,” or big drawing-room, the main diningroom, and the “Indian Room.” The Prince of Wales’s own quarters are on the first floor, overlooking the gardens. Here he has his study and library, with his bedroom and dress-ing-room adjoining; and, in close proximity, is a small dining-room which he will use when he is entertaining a few personal friends without ceremony. The State apartments are reached through a glass-covered portico, which also serves as a smoking-lounge. This leads, by way of a conservatory, into the drawing-room. At one time this room, which is 65ft long and 25ft broad, consisted of three separate rooms divided by pillars. The general scheme of decoration is white and gold, the walls being panelled with crimson silk hangings. The “Indian Room,” where are still kept a portion of the collection of gifts presented to King Edward during his visit to India in 1574, is at the western end. Originally, this room also served as the

(Written for THE SUN by Horace Wyndham.)

library, and was then fitted up in walnut and gold. When, however, the majority of the books were removed to Sandringham, the shelves and cabinets were adapted to other purposes. The State dining-room is a very commodious apartment, nearly 60 feet in length, with silk-hung walls lit by seven long windows. The furniture is of solid mahogany, and the chairs are upholstered in scarlet morocco. On the massive sideboard in one of the recesses is a magnificent service of gold plate, together with a valuable collection of cups and salvers and other sporting trophies. For many years, beginning in 1885, King Edward gave an annual Derby Day Dinner in. this room to members of the Jockey Club. With so much valuable plate on the premises in constant use, Marlborough House is, of course, provided with a special plateroom. All round the walls of this apartment (which is fire-proofed and steel-lined) are glassfronted mahogany cases, in which are stored the gold and silver dinner-ser* vices, salvers, fruit stands, bowls# cups, and flagons, etc., used when dinner parties are being given. The collection requires the services of four skilled men to keep it clean, and in good order. Besides its gold and silver plate# Marlborough House possesses a very valuable collection of pictures and tapestries and furniture. Much of this was acquired by Queen Alexandra# and the Prince of Wales has given orders that none of it shall be moved. The Prince’s own private sittingroom is situated on the first floor immediately above the office of Ms Comptroller. It is comfortably fitted up, and has the appearance, with its

workmanlike pedestal desk and profit sion of books and papers, of being, essentially a business apartment. And : this is precisely what it is, for it is here that the Prince spends a con-j siderably proportion of each day in: dealing with his correspondence and in conferring with his private secret tary. The numbers of letters which he receives every day averages 500# and as he is most punctilious in attending to them it will readily be seen that the task of dealing with this mass of correspondence is no light one. By the way, it may not be generally known that all communications intended for Royalty snail be folded only once. Domestic Offices. The domestic offices of Marlborough House are singularly complete, and in their internal arrangements leave nothing whatever to be desired. The kitchen, for instance, could rival that of many a large restaurant that has to cook for three or four hundred people daily. It is under the charge of a famous chef who is assisted in his work by a small army of cooks and kitchen maids. On the occasion of a large banquet or ball additional help is imported. No less worthy of note are the stables, which are inferior only to those of Buckingham Palace in point of accommodation afforded. Erected at a cost of £25,000, they contain 12 loose boxes and 45 stalls. In the coach-house, which has now become a garage, are kept the Prince’s cars. Authors’ Club, Whitehall Court, London.