The Duke of Edinburgh’s ‘ Expectations.'

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 436, 11 January 1890, Page 3

The Duke of Edinburgh’s ‘ Expectations.'

The Duke of Edinburgh’s visit to Berlin may, it is thought ( writes the London correspondent of the ‘ Manchester Guardian ’), result in some definite arrangements as to the succession to the Grand Duchy of Coburg. His uncle, the reigning Duke, is an aged and inactive man, and the rumours that upon thedtabhof the sovereign there was to be a transaction by which the duchy would cease to have separate government, have completely died away. The Duke of Edinburgh is received at Coburg, as the coming ruler, and there is now reason to suppose chat in a few years at the utmost the rank he holds as Major-General in the Prussian army will assume greater importance than that which he has in the British navy. The Prince of Wales has long since formally resigned his rights to the Grand Duchy in iavour of his brother, who, as the second son of the Queen, holds Clarence House, by far the best London residence in her Majesty’s gift after that occupied by the Prince of Wales. This the Duke will give up if he goes into permanent residence in Germany. There is a provision in the Act granting his Parliamentary pension that with the consent of Parliament her Majesty or her successors may revoke or reduce the annuity on his * succeeding to any sovereignty or principality abroad.’ There have been personal reports lately as to His Royal Highness which are utterly unfounded, but it is true that he was displeased at the statements that Prince Albert Victor or Piince George of Wales would be created Duke of Kent, seeing that he is_ himself Earl of Kent, and that such, a creation as was suggested has never been „ thought of by those in authority.