GOSSIP ABOUT ROYALTY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 154, 20 June 1908, Page 4

GOSSIP ABOUT ROYALTY

e TIIK KlN'd'S FDUKKi.N UdN'Ol lis. The King's promotion to the rank ol (o'lleral iu tin l Danish army adds vet" another to the kaleidoscopic changes ot uniform which His .Majesty has to°iuake when on a visit to a ioreign Court, lie is already Colonel of the J-ilth I'nissjan ■ oi ilie Prussian tiuanis, of the 12lti Austrian Regiment of Hussars, ot' the :i7th l.'egimeut of the Dragoon, at Ixicll', ami also lion. Cen.'i-al of tln, Sorwcian Ai niv. Ilis is, besides, an Admiral in the tlermau, Swedish, Creek, and Spanish navies. On certain occasions the King linds it necessary to don the uniforms of each of these "honorary positions.

yUFOK CHAN'(IKS. The Kaiser has an abhorrence of the evening dress suit, but with this exception Ins wardrobe comprises practically every uniform worn by ollicer.s of rank i:i Kurojie. lie completely mystified a patty ol Knglish olliccrs on one occasion, when Visiting England, by appearing <lll the deck ot his yacht, the llohenzollern, in a (lerinan (icneral'.s uniform, but. when lie stepped ashore in an Knglish Admiral's uniform he was not readily recognisable, and all but missed receiving the prescribed honours. On the journey Jjouiloii these oflicerwere invited into the Kaiser's private | saloon, and were considerably surprised io find him in the uniform of the Kirst Dragoons. Later they were amazed when he stepped on the platform in lioudon. attired iu regulation black frock coat, and light grey trousers, and wearing a tall hat. Most inonarehs find these constant changes of dress somewhat irksome. Mot so tile Kaiser, who has been known to change his uniforms a dozen times in one day.

PREPARATION'S KOI! ROYALTY. During his northern tour lite King's gastronomic influence has been exerted in favour of smaller and lighter dinners. His .Majesty's preference lor Trench cookery has also been in evidence, but the servants in the lloyal households took a delight iu the extra trouble caused them, tor His Majesty, iu accordance with his usual kindly'thought, has not omitted to remunerate them handsomely. While the apartments occupied by their Majesties have undergone complete renovation, the preparations for the advent of the Queen were more elaborate than for King Edward. Her Majesty's aj>artments had to be decorated in an essentially English way, and the coloured hangings, which the Queen prefers in pale shades, had to be selected with great care and forethought. Hric-a-brac, llowers, books, and other odds and ends also were chosen with a special 'knowledge iof her Majesty's requirements. THE (JI'EEN AND PHOTO! 11!Al'lIY. Tu Denmark the Queen indulges her passion for photography to its full extent, and she carried her camera with her continually during her recent visit. Her .Majesty's artistic taste has frequently been shown in her exhibits in London photographic salons, and her predilection for marine subjects is evidenced by her great, success in that direction. That art can be instrumental in ipreventing disaster was proved by a snapshot was proved by a snapshot taken by Her .Majesty of Wolvcrton railway bridge some time ago. When the Queen developed the negative she noticed a peculiar curve in the bridge. She showed the picture to the King, who immediately ordered a thorough overhauling of the bridge to ensure itQl KEN MAID. The Queen of Norway is no less enthusiastic than her mother in photographic art. although most, of her snapshots are of that idolised child, Prince Olaf. Queen Maud—' - Mode," the Danes used to call her—has a horror of Uoval ceremonies, and nothing pleases her more than to don a plain sailor hat and a walking skirt, and to slip out unobtrusively for a long ami solitary walk. THE lIAlii)Y NORSEMAN". Prince Olaf is devoted to the little donkey which King Edward presented to luin, and has become an expert rider. He *has, too, the antagonistic spirit of the hardy Norseman. A visitor to the palace at Christiania. who was very bald, one day (bore away with him several bruises and scratches oil his cranium as a result of an encounter with Norway's future King on the lloor of that young gentleman'; nursery, olaf does not generally take kindly to old people unless they are relatives. At a reception one day, when the rooms were full of people, the young prime suddenly appeared. walking gravely up to his mother, said: "I hope there aren't many old ladies here, j main ma." ALFONSO XIII. AS SI'OUTSIIAX. (ireatlv to his regret. King Alfonso ha- bccu obliged to issue instructions i that the preparations which were going I forward for his visit to (.'owes regatta niu.-t remain in abeyance for the pre- | sent, as Ili* -Majesty finds that the many important .engagements which he has already entered into probably will I>re vent him from visiting England until late iu the year. The King was specially desirous' of altending the regatta, as'his intercts iu all forms of sport was increasing more and more, lie is undoubtedly the cleverest pigeon-shot among ltoval sportsmen, ami his wonderfully steady aim is the mole remarkable iu view of his excitable tempeialiient. He also excels at golf, v.-hich he plays left-handed. .His Majesty .preleithose pastimes in which excitement is found bv incurring a sporting risk. He once insisted on a fencing bout with one of his courtiers, with the buttons oil' the foils, and was badly scratched in the encounter.

TIIH QUEEN'S '-SISTER." It is difficult to define the exact position held by. Lord Knollys' sister, the Hon. Charlotte, Knollys, in regard to her Majesty the Queen. The designation of " Bedchamber Woman " supplied 1)V Court directories is altogether wide of the mark, for Her Majesty treats this valued friend of lovtv years a- a Sister lather than as a servant Miss Knollys is the only person oiilsii.e the Oucen's imineiliate relations who is pelin it ted to call Her Majesty by her Christian name. She accompanies her lloval mistress everywhere and is b> lier side practically every hour ot the day.