KING GEORGE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 396, 23 May 1910, Page 5

KING GEORGE.

SOME INTERESTING FACTS. The following interesting article ap)eared in a Unulon paper of April 9th late:—The Prince of Wales is not, and icver 'lias been, ns fond of Society as lie King; vet though Ilk Koyal Hi<rhless is naturally of a somewhat reserved Imposition, 'he inherits the King's wonleri'ul facility for recollecting faces, and las always a courteous greeting for hose whom lie lms even met only once >efore. The Prince's circle of intimate friends s, comparatively sneaking, small. Two >f his iino.4 intimate eonip mions are Mr. Derek Kepju-I and Mr. \\ .Hngton, both members of his Koyal li .imess'' household. Mr. Walling ton ta.. s a great interest in cricket and footi.. . and, indeed, in all athletic sports, anu .s usually in ittendian<.e 011 the if'irince when the latter goes to a football match. It wia.% indeed, his oquerry'-s suggestion which induced his Royal Highness to attend a football match at the Queen's Ohio some years ago, witih the result that, the Prince, whose sporting instincts are of the keenest, has since been present at most of the important matches about London. Mr. Wnllington is, by the way, an old cricket 'blue, having played for Oxford in the iater-'Varsity cricket match in 18/7. Mr. Derek Keppel in some respect® is the very opposite in disposition to his Royial Highness*. He is avowedly fond of Society, and at social functions is almost iuviiW'iably the equerry in attendance on the Prince of Wales. The bond of sympathy, however, between his Royal Highness and his equerry is their mutual love of sport. Mr. Keppel is a good shot and enjoys a day's shooting as keenly sis the Prince. A story is told that at ,the end of a day's shoot the host who was entertaining the Prince said something to 'his Royal Highness about, Mr. Keppel'» shooting. "Oh, yes," replied the heir to the throne, "lveptpel is as useful in a covert as he is ornamental in a draw-ing-room." Sir Arttar Bigge is another great friend of the Prince. Like his Royal Highness, he is not very fond of Society and is a somewhat taciturn individual. He '\vas a frequent; guest of the date Queen, and a story is told that on ione occasion When the Prince was sitting next to iliim at a State banquet given by Queen Victoria, his Royal Highness remarked to ihim: "I like sitting next to you, Sir Arthur, for you prefer thinking to talking." Canon Dnlton has for many years been held in the highest esteem by . the Prince. He is, of course, his Royal Highness' senior by several years and was onee his tul.'w. He is chaplain in the Prince of "Wales' 'household. Outside the Prince's household, his Royal Highness' most intimate friends are Lord Mount Stephen, Lord, Revelstoke, Lord Iveagli, and Lord Derby,.all of 'whom have frequently had the honor of entertaining the Prince. Lord Revelstoke stands much in the same rotation to the Prince of Wales as Lord' Farqu'iar does to the King, and might be described as the Prince's financial adviser. Lord Revelstoke is a man of immense wealth, and is partner in the firm of Barling Bros., 'oankers. He ia Receiver-General j)f the Duchy of Cornwall, from which the Prince araws now «in income amounting to close on £90,000 per annum, though twelve years ago the revenue from the ducy was only £00," 000. Lord Derby lias entertained the Prince very frequently at Knowsley. Lord Derby, by the way takes a great interest in stamps, of which the Prince has a moat valuable collection, and, although ■the former is not a collector, this knowledge is considerable. The Prince's disliike of ceremonial is welil known, and those who have the honor of entertaining his Koyal Highness ihrive to bear this fact in mind, and to receive 'him as far as possible very much like the ordinary guest. The Prince prefers to be addressed aa "Sir," and not '"Your Royal Highness," and he does not like the repetition of the "Sir" more often than is necessary. The iPrince when he stays (with a friend is seldom accompanied by more than one equerry, who also acta as ihig secretary. A private sitting-room and writing-room are usually provided for his Royal Highness, who generally gets through his correspondence liefore breakfast, for the Prince is an early riser, and when on a visit likes to have the day free from work. The Prince is far less a dub man than wns the King when his Majesty waa heir' to the throne. The only club the Prince of Wales frequents is the Marlborough, to which institution nearly all the members of the Royal Household belong. A characteristic story is told of the Prince who, when he was asked to become ipresident of a new service eluo that was in the process of formation some years ago replied: "'Oh, certainly, .but don't you think the Army and Navy could get along all right without another dwb?" The club in question, for which there was certainly no need, was never formed.