THE KING’S CAMP

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 12823, 18 August 1939, Page 8

THE KING’S CAMP

ROYAIi FAMILY JOINS IN HAPPY SONGS The King, Queen and Princesses had an enthusiastic welcome when they took part in the activities of the King’s annual boys’ camp. This year the camp is being held at Abergeldle, three miles from Balmoral, where the Royal Family is in residence. > The annual camp is attended in equal proportions by bojrs from public schools and youths from factories, and was inaugurated many years ago b$ the King when he w'as Duke of York. The 200 boys were entertained at tea at Balmoral Castle. The Royal visitors found the campers singing “The Chestnut Tree.” They sat down and joined in, the Princesses enthusiastically applying the appropriate gestures. They also visited an entertainment where rehearsals were proceeding for, the evening entertainment, and heard a schoolboy reciting Stanley Holloway’s monologue, “Sam’s Medal.”

The Princesses were delighted by the description of Buckingham Palace as “all marble busts and plush,” and the Queen was amused when the reciter, apologising for Sam’s language, had to say “Beg pardon Queen,” at which he turned to the Queen. The camp has now, by the King’s wish, been renamed the “King’s Camp.”, In this connection the King is exploiting the possibilities of ensuring that the campers acquire a better acquaintance with each other by walks in twos and threes, instead of team games. Accordingly, he has personally planned numerous walks and prepared maps which, he believes, will enable the campers to appreciate the Balmoral countryside and learn mapreading and compass work. The King, wearing the Balmoral tartan and kilt, a tweed coat and a blue open-necked shirt, spent the afternoon leading the boys about the Royal estate.