PRINCE OF WALES.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1921, Page 9

PRINCE OF WALES.

HIS BUSY LIFE.

TO TAKE A REST. Until July 31 the Prince of Wales’ engagement list is full (says an English paper just received). After that date public engagements will cease, the reason being that not only has he been suffering from a cold, but his advisers realise that he needs a rest and a good holiday at the end of the summer, whether he goes to India in the autumn or not. But, as a matter of fact, the Indian visit is now fixed. Lord Derby, speaking after the Prince’s strenuous Lancashire visit, said he felt he would like to say to His Royal Highness: “Look here, young man, yonr spirit is willing. You are giving up the whole of your leisure to fit yourself for the task which will some, day be yours. You have no right to give up your health, which is of so much value to the nation.

“You have got a strenuous month before you, and after that take a holiday till April. Do nothing. Knock out even the voyage to India.” WHAT HIS SECRETARY SAYS. As to that proposed eight months’ holiday, Sir Godfrey Thomas, H.R.H.’s secretary, said to a. Press correspondent:— ‘lt can’t be done. There is no question of the Prince cutting our his trip to India, but it has already been arranged that he shall have a rest before he goes. “His Royal Highness is full up with i engagements until the end of thia month: but, starting on August 1 he will take a holiday until he starts for India. “It is necessary that 'he should have as complete a reat as possible before setting out on the tour, which will be very long and strenuous. "He has had an extraordinary heavy summer, having had very few spare days.” ■SAMPLE OF DAY’S WORK. It is not generally known that a twelve or'fifteen hour working day is by no means unusual for the Prince. Usually ho rises at seven o’clock, and has a half-hour run before breakfast. Then he haa to deal with his correspondence, and as often as not he has one or more public engagements in the morning. If he is lucky in having a free afternoon, a game of polo, or an hour or two of some other sport, helps to keep him fit. More often than not, ho has a dinner or some other function in the evening. When really busy—as, for example, when he*is on one of his tours —he has hardly a moment in the day. to himself. Swift journeys from point to point, and a continuous round of ceremonies and handshaking, are his lot from early morning to the close of day. Besides all this, he prepares his own speeches, and much of his time is taken up by study and in supervising the affairs of his estate. SOME RECENT WORK. During the past few months he has paid official visits to:—East-end of London, Scotland, Christ’s Hospital, Sandhurst, Devon, Cornwall, Scilly Isles, Cambridge, Cardiff. Bristol, Lancashire. It hardly needs saying that his last three months of hustle have been carried op in a heat wave in which most people have felt “washed out.” Such has been the effect that he had to cancel his engagement to attend the inspection of the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, his doctor advising him to remain indoors.

He has»also been compelled reluctantly to abandon his visit to the West Riding of Yorkshire next week.

Similarly, ho was unable to attend the garden party at St. .James’ Palace for the chief workers of the League of Mercy, of which he is Grand President.

According to Reuter’s Agency, the Japanese Government have invited him to visit Japan after his Indian tour.