KING GEORGE V.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10040, 10 May 1910, Page 3

KING GEORGE V.

SKETCH OP HIS CAREER. King Goree V. was born at Marlborough House in 1865, seventeen months after his brother "Eddie," as he always called tae lata Dulce of Clarence. The two boys were educa • ted at home, and afterwards passed into her Majesty's training ship Britannia, where they were under the tuition of Mr Lav less, once a well-known naval instructor. They were taught to handle boats, aad as much of the art and mystery of seamanship as was necessary to prepare them for entering a cruising ship of war. The two cadets spent two years on the Britannia, and, as they had to obey the discipline of the ship like the rest, their live 3 were not altogether strewn with roses. Prince George, however, found some compensatiun for the rigid discipline which a lad would consider oppressiva in taking the opportunities provided for "larks," and thus threw a little more pleasantry into his life aboard ship. The Princes had no indulgence except that they were allowed a cabin to themselves.

After two years' service in the Britannia, Prince George and his brother made their way into H.M.S. bacchante, a steam corvette under th 6 command of Lord Charles Scott, and here again they had to "rough it." They did their duty in all weathers and at all hazards, like the other young "reefers" on board. Indeed, Prince George was voted an excellent fellow by the other middies in the gun room mess. The lads toured the world with Lord Charles Scott, and Prince George gained quite a reputation on his return for the racy humour with which he used to speak of his adventures. The Bacchante went to the Mediterranean, thence to the West Indies and back, arriving at Barbadoes on Christmas Day, 1879. VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD.

In January, 1880, Prince George was promoted to be a midshipman. The two brothers next visited Maciecra, the Canaries, and Monte Video, Falkland Islands, Australia, China, returning to England by way of the Suez Canal, the Princea making a tour of Palestine en route. This memorable cruise served to open the eyes of the boys as to the real value and importance of the British possessions beyond the seas, and young as they were the loyalty shown to her Majesty's Throne and person in every ; colony and dependency they visited struck them as being most remark* iable. On their departure from Queensland, the youngest of the Australian colonies, an address was presented to them. It may be interesting to quote the reply made by the youog Princes: "Our present is, it is true, but a passing visit. But we assuredly hope, as does our father, the Prince of Wales, that opportunities may hereafter occur, Doth for \ himself and for us, again to come amongst you, and to further witness the development of this very extensive and promising portion of the Queen's dominions." Of Prince George it is recorded that wherever he went he brouhgt away with him reminiscences of boundless hospitality and cordial welcome. On his hosts he left the impression of being an outspoken, lighthearted lad less shy and dignified than bis brother, but full of the liveliest interest in everything that was going on, and bent on learning as much as he could from his travels. Prince George was promoted Sub-Lieutenant in 1884, and joined H.M.S. Canada on the North American Station, and in the following year, after passing his examinations with great credit, he became a lieutenant. EARLY TRAINING. When he went to collage he was found to be bright and intelligent, though not particularly well trained. It is said that he had to be specially trained to make Dp for deficiencies, and his mother the Princess, visited him very often to encourge him to be dilligent. Attached successively to various ship?, he wa3 appointed in 1886 to H.M.S.- Dreadnought, and afterwards to H M.S. Alexandra, flagship of the Mediterranean, of which his uncle, the Duke of Edinburgh, was then Commandsr-in-chief. In 1889 he, was presented with his first command, that of turoedo boat No. 7-9, for the period of tne naval manoeuvres, and while in charge of this little craft he was able to afford

very efficient help to a vessel in distress. The Prince qualified himself for the command of her Majesty's gunboat Thrush, In which he sailed with a staff of officers and a crew remarkable for being mostly all very young, like himself. He spent a year on the North American Station, visiting Canada and Jamaica. He was promoted to be commander upon his return to England in 1891, and while staying with his brother in Dublin in the same year he contracted a dangerous fever. In the following year he commissioned the first class cruiser Melampus, and took part in the naval manoeuvres. He was promoted captain in the Royal Navy in January, 1893. tHis latest command was H.M.S. Crescent, and during his commission in 1898 he visited many seaport towns of England and Ireland. The title of Duke of York waß bestowed on him in 1892, and he was also created Earl of Inverness, and | Baron Killarney. \

An invitation tu the Duke to visit Australia ",was conveyed to him through the Governor of Victoria in January 1894, but his Royal Highness was compelled to decline. In November of the same year he visited St.Petersburg to attend the Czar's funeral. In 1897 the Duke and Dueness paid a visit to Ireland, where they were received with the utmost enthusiasm in all parts of the country. MARRIAIiE. Just before the deatth of the Duke of Clarence it was announced that he was engaged to the Princess May, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Teck. The Duke of Clarence had not long been dead when it was rumoured that the Duke of York had a great attachment to the Princess, and the subsequent announcement that the Duke of York was engaged to the Princess, therefore, created no surprise. The marriage was celebrated on July 6th, 1899, in the Chapel FoyaJ, St. James'. It was a brilliant ceremony. All the members of the Royal Family were present, with the Czar, Czarewitcb, and the King and Queen of Denmark. A son and heir was born to the Duke and Duchess on June 23rd, 1894, and was christened after the patron eaints of the British Isles, nnd hi? grandfather, Edward, Albert, Christian, George, Andrew, Patrick, David.

On the accession of his father to the throne the Duke of York became also Duke of Cornwall. His Royal Highness holds the grand cross of the Sultan of Turkey, and the grand cross of the Orders of the Black and Red Eagle of Germany. He is also Colonel of the Koyal Sussex Hussars Yeomanry Cavalry, and Colonel of the 3rd Artillery Volunteer*. In 1894 he was elected an Elder Brother and Master of theCorpor&tion oi Trinity House, and is annually reelected. He is also a Bencher of Lincoln's Inn, an LL. D. of Cambridge, and a Fellow of the Rsyal Society.