HUMAN ROYALTY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 511, 14 November 1928, Page 13

HUMAN ROYALTY

PLEASING ENCOUNTERS MR. LANSBURY’S ADMISSIONS Some interesting admissions regarding his relations with Royalty are made by Mr. George Lansbury, M.P., in a readable volume of his adventures and experiences, "My Life.” Mr. Lansbury, who is nearly 70, ha 3 learned that the Royal Family are very much like everyday men and ■women, and he frankly records regret at having behaved toward them ns he would not have behaved to his friends and fellow Labour leaders. He recalls that many years ago he was one of those who joined a branch nf the old Social Democratic Federation in censuring Mr. Harry Quelch because he met the Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward. He now writes: “It was very childish. . . . Quelch appeared in what is known as morning dress, a high hat, white waistcoat, etc. One would have imagined from the indignation this provoked that he. had deserted and gone over to the enemy. “He was upset that I joined in the censure, and-later so was I. What did it matter if he met a prince? Perhaps they could both teach the other something. . . .” Royal Cigars Later, Mr. Lansbury was a witness before the Poor Law- Commission on which the same Prince of Wales sat. There was a luncheon: “After lunch we all stood round talking, and I found myself looking over the head of the Prince, who was offering round cigars. “I just ignored them, because I am a non-smoker, but I have always felt a bit ashamed of myself for not being courteous enough to notice the case coming round. I had rather steeled myself not to be impressed by Royalty. “I can see this was all very nonsensical. because there is no doubt in my mind that everybody, from the Prince to Henry Broadhurst (a trade union member of Parliament), was willing to hear anything I had to say about the Poor Law. and to give it as much consideration as other people.” The Prince, too, was impressed by Mr. Lansbury. and sent him a letter saying his evidence was the best he had heard from his side. After the war the writer was pleased to take the present Queen and Princess Mary around the Poplar school at Saenfield. He records: “Like the rest of people, queens and kings, princes and princesses are all very human, and in going round the school the things which interested the Queen and her daughter were not the buildings, but the children. T think they were both surprised and delighted to see so many bonny, healthy, happy children In what is a Poor Law school.” In this case the writer himself was criticised for walking round the Wounds as guide to the Queen with his hat on, and thus acting in “a grossly disloyal manner.” .."I had uo thought of anything of the kmd,” he comments. “I walked with *>' hat on bemuse I should catch cold “ I left it off.”