HOW THE KING ARRANGES HIS HOLIDAYS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 213, 29 August 1908, Page 3

HOW THE KING ARRANGES HIS HOLIDAYS

It may be said at once that when the King has indicated the portion of Europe—almost invariably Germany— h-. desires to visit, tlie length of time he proposes to be away, and the probable date that he will be ready to start, he has no further concern with the mattir until the time arrives for him to travel, though, naturally, he takes a considerable amount of interest in the arrangements that arc lieing made for his comfort and entertainment. It is to Lord Knollys, the King's private secretary and right hand, that all the details are left, and he at once puts the machinery of his department into motion. Royal couriers are first of all dispatched to the places his Majesty has indicated as having some desire to visit, in order to ascertain how far the places arc likely to meet with the King's requirements, what society there is in the neighbourhood—for the King likes plenty of company and entertainment when he is abroad—and. what accommodation there is available. As showing the importance that is attached to our monarch's presence among them for even the briefest holiday, there is scarcely a modern hotel to be found in any German spa that does not contain a Royal suite of apartments especially designed with a view to his possible occupation should he ever visit the place. Once he has occupied these rooms, they assume a value to the fortunate owners they would never otheruise possess, since there are many people, American millionaires and ethers, who will cheerfully pay any sum demanded for the privilege of staying in the same suite that Ims shelt'cri*! King Edward. The task of these couriers is no easy or particularly thankful one, since it is upon their shoulders that will fall the greater part of the blamo if there is any hitch in the arrangements, or the accommodation is not exactly what his Majesty would desire. There are .four of these officials about the Court,-and each has been in the Royal service for several years, so that they are we'd acquainted with the King's requirements. ■Needless to say, neither the hotel proprietors nor anyone else with whom these couriers find it necessary to get into communication are allowed to suspect upon whose behalf they are making their inquiries, since the fact that the King was thinking of paying the place a visit would cause a rush of those undesirable visitors that his Majesty ij most anxious to keep at arm's length when abroad. When those inquiries are concluded, very detailed reports are suomitted to Lord Knollys, often containing elaborate plans, measurements, etc., of the apartments available. His lordship goes through these carefully and submits the gist of them to his Majesty, who then determines whether he will visit the place in question or not. Tlie work of these couriers then commences afresh, and the necessary accommodation for the King is secured, Tho proprietor of the hotel chosen is then bound to secrecy, and the name of his august visitor is revealed to him in order that he may make his necessary arrangements. A considerable amount of refurnishing of the King's rooms is always necessary, since his Majesty likes to have as much of his own furniture about him as possible, and large quantities of this are accordingly dispatched, principally from Sandringham. It is also necessary for the local ! police authorities to be informed of His Majesty's impending visit, for, though the King is far and away the most popular of monarchs with all classes on. the Continent, it is imperative that all precautions for his safety and protection from annoyance shall be taken. Whenever His Majesty travels abroad he is accompanied by special police officers from Scotland Yard, who seldom permit him to be out of their sight. These men are well accustomed to this work, which they carry out with so much skill that the King himself is frequently unaware of their presence. These officers make themselves known to the local police and work in conjunction with thein, but no one else in the town probably suspects that these officers are there for anything beyond a pleasant holiday. Though His Majesty is usually attended on his Continental holiday by only one equerry—as a rule, Colonel F. E. G. Ponsonby—he requires a considerable staff to minister to his requirements. All the King's food, for instance, is prepared by his own cooks, who have come to know his particular tastes. M. Menager, His Majesty's 'chef de cuisine,' does uot, as a rule, travel abroad on these occasions, save in very special circumstances, when the King desires to give a banquet to some exalted guests, but two or three of his principal assistants are sent. His Majesty's rather considerable staff of body servants are also present ou these visits. ' In all between twenty and thirty persons travel in His Majesty's suite in one capacity or another, while two large motor-ears are also sent for the King's use, while he takes a very large amount of personal luggage. Six weeks arc not too long a time for all the arrangements that have to be made, and it is only by dint of a thoroughly thoughtout system that has been severely tested by experience and much hard work that these preparations can be concluded in that time.

All His Majesty's Continental holidays are taken in the strictest incognito, and he travels either as the Duke of Lancaster, or, more usually, as the Earl of Chester. By thu3 dropping temporarily his Royal status His Majesty has much greater freedom of action than would otherwise be the case, and all necessity for ceremonial salutes and other formalities is done away with.

It is no secret that he abandoned bis annual visit to Homburg, for many years his favourite Continental resort, on account of the distasteful " mobbing" to 'which he was subjected by ill-behaved tourists who sought to bask in the Royal presence for a while, and who, despite strong hints that such conduct wa3 most annoying to His Majesty, persisted in, dogging his footsteps wherever he went, until at length he became practically a prisoner in his own rooms. Much of his time when abroad His Majesty spends in taking walking exercise, going for considerable distances every morning, while he greatly enjoys shopping, buying large quantities of quaint charms and other curios, lie drinks the waters with great regularity., and according to the prescriptions drawn up for him by his physicians. Motoring usually takes up his afternoons, though of late years he has played an occasional round of golf with his equerry or friends. In the evening he is a constant patron of the theatre or concerts, special programmes being as a rule put on ■ n his honour, and he retires for the night at a comparatively early hour. It is by following this regular plan of life that the King keeps himself in lit condition to carry out the lengthy round of State duties lie is called upon to perform year by year.