ROYALTY AT PLAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 116, 17 May 1924, Page 17

ROYALTY AT PLAY.

UNCONVENTIONAL EVENINGS. ENJOYED BY PRINCE OF WALES (By "A COURT HISTORIAN.") TTlir public vends ninrh of the ceremonial life of the Prince of Wiilps, but how does he spend liis Mule leisures which falls to his lot'/ He Ktronply inherits his Royal grandfather's love of London, and in this article is shown the human side of. the Prime—his slipping away to enjoy the freedom possible wli.u etiquette is relaxed.] In the 'eighties'' and "nineties" Londou life was vitalised by the presence of Jiis Royal Highness, afterwards King Edward Seventh of revered memory., Those who moved in the select circles of London Nocturnal Life w r ere often aware that a personage was among them. ' Royal history has a trick of re petition, and thus to-day another rrincc of Wales is a familiar figure to tlrose who move at night, in certain exclusive {and fashionable bohemian circles. The Heir-Apparent is very hard worked and i the conscientious manner in which he I performs his duties is worthy of all praise. It is therefore, natural that he should prize the brief hours he is able to snatch from the ceremonial side of Loyal life. "A Night Off." W bile his days arc always full up with engagements made months ahead, so also are. many of his evenings. There are dinners to attend, a speech to be thought out. for in making his speeches the Prince devotes considerable thought to their composition. There are evenings which he spends with his Royal parents at Buckingham Palace. Again, sometimes he is at "At Home" to certain privileged friends at York House—or perhaps it would be more correct to describe bis bachelor apartments in a retired coiner of the old Ambassadors' Court as being in St. James' Palace. On such evenings there is a dinner which is a model of simplicity. Here is a recent menu— Clear soup: grilled trout; Toast duckling; Peehe Melba; fruit and coffee. Occasionally there are evenings when the Prince has nothing on his engagement book and no plans ready made. He has a real boyish delight in a "night off" when he is at liberty to indulge in any form of amusement which'"may occur to him. Only his intimates know how eagerly the Prince seizes one of these evenings. Dinner is usually served early in his household, but after that not "even his persona] attendants—Sir Lionel Halsey, Lord Louis Mounbbatten; or his equerry, Major Hugh Watkin—are informed of his movements. Like Prince Florizel he will go "wherever he listcth." "No Seats, Sir." Recently he decided on the spur of the moment to visit a famous music hall. A picture, showing life on the Western Plains, was advertised and he felt attracted to it. He was quite alone, and the box office attendant did not recognise the young man dressed in conventional evening dress who inquired for a stall. "Sorry, sir, we have nothing!" he was told. The Prince turned and went out. It was not until a minute or two later that the attendant was informed by an observant policeman tbat the Prince had been turned away. Had his identity been made known, however. it is certain the Prince would not have allowed anybody to be disturbed. His evenings off are intended to be entirely incog, so far as he can manage to escape observation, and he was furious with a theatrical manager some time ago who spotted him in the stalls and fussed round him like an excited blue-bottle. When turned from the music-hall the Prince entered the fashionable Piccadilly Hotel, and a nod to the house detective from the following "shadow" led to a whispered conference. "H.R.H. has gone to the ballroom," said the former. "Good!" was the response from the six-footer with the big stick, "then what about a game of chess?" (So while the Prince was enjoying himself at dancing with one of two personal friends, the detectives had their game. But a close scrutiny followed everybody who entered the hotel that night. Thoughts of Supper. For a couple of hours on end the Prince will dance without showing any trace of weariness. Then without warning he will suddenly decide that, be bas bad enough. Sauntering out of tbe hotel, followed by his "shadow," be is driven to one or another of bis clubs. It maybe the Marlborough—that favourite haunt of King Kdward, or possibly the Guards. Sometimes he will look in for a whisky and soda, at the Bachelors'. Whichever portal he. enters, liis "shadow" lollows, and telephones the information of the whereabouts of the Prince to Sir Lionel Halsey at St.! James' Palace. -in hour at the club and thoughts of i supper will begin lo obtrude. If he decides to go to the. Berkeley, tbe Prince and bis attendants usually stroll up £it. •Tames' Street on foot. Should his inclination be towards Kettncr's, in famous Soho, the parly go by car. The first intimation that H.L'.H. is i ailing for supper is when he strolls through the door. He invariably selects a corner seat in Kettncr's famous establishment, preferring the main salon, and usually orders a dozen oysters, half a lobster, and it bottle of Graves. A grape fruit cocktail is never missed. Haunt of King Edward. Kettncr's has long been famous as the haunt of the late King Edward and other crowned beads wnen in London— King Carlos, King Leopold, Ferdinand of Bulgaria, tiie Crown Prince of Germany, and many o the Archdukes of the House of Hapsburg. The late British Monarch often declared that he enjoyed supper more at Kettncr's than anywhere else, and this sentiment is echoed by his grandson. After supper there is usually a private dance, in which the Prince joins. A large oak-panelled room, with a parquette floor is available for the "light fantastic, and is known as the Tudor Room. It has but one entrance and is sound proof. There is also the Chinese room, much in request for private parties, and here the Prince sometimes entertains his special friends. Leaving Kettncr's, or any of the other restaurants he patronises, the Prince will usually go to the house of some special friend or drop in to one of the big Mayfair mansions where dancing is in progress. It may be noted that no matter how late he is between the sheets he is invariably up betimes for a cold plunge, a trot round the Green Park, or a game of squash racquets. By ten o'clock the next morning the Prince will have breakfasted and is in the writing room, adjoining the smoke room, where he transacts his corresnond-