AN UNPOPULAR PRINCE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2233, 30 October 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

AN UNPOPULAR PRINCE.

The growing unpopularity of Princa Albeit Victor is giwng both the Queen and the Prince of Wales serious anxiety. The young nun will take no pains to propitiate people. He is dense, apathetic, short-tempered and sulky. The Marlborough House set make him their butt. His lather alternately scolds or exhorts, while liis mother pets and protects him. The young Princess of Wales openly <lei ides Viotoi'a "stolidity,"' and even "brother (.iyorge " must feel a certain imountof contempt for his elder's lack of sacoir ftnir, Tlie Queen alone treats the heir-piesumptive with consideration. At Windsor or B <lmur.il the young- Prince is ihvays sure of a cordial welcome, though Ht-r M.ijf-sty n.akp.s uo secret of her disappointment at his repeated failures in public. Couriering how well mo.st of the Royal Family deliver common-plane sp< e>-hes, Alb' re Victor's utter inability to string to<r< tier half-a-doz.'ii sentences ( oherently seeing inexplicable. For years pa^t the chief woik of his life with C<inon Drilton lias been studying' this very art, yet he h<>* iv>t oven m ts^ered ilie ABC of public «.pe ikin^r. E\en if it is merely a cha of returning thanks after dinner, th»' speech has to be written out for him. When he icpeits it he does so like a panot, without ft thug or expression, and then, plumping doAii m his chair, takes no fiirthei merest in the proceedings whatever they may !»•. At se\cjal public diuners lately his llo)al Highnesa has giveu olLmilc i)y chitting loudly to his ntighboui whilst speaking was going on. Tlis guttrnl icjucst 100 : "Where can I line my s i jyuietU ?"' comes as oft' n as ins piiicnt'a " I r-'illy must ha\o a cigar"; and at Edinburgh, not long aco, he completely disoiganK-cd a whole day's arrangement*, — Dunedin Stir correspondent.