THE DUKE'S SUITE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10999, 24 June 1901, Page 9

THE DUKE'S SUITE.

HOME INTERESTING PERSONAGES. When, as Prince George, the Duke of L'ormvall and York, with h'm brother, last rams to Australia, hja "suite" chiefly coniisted of Canon Nettie Dalton, who acted as jovwTior and general mentor. This time the suite embraces; a numerous md distinguished company, composed of nembers of their Royal Highnesses , pernanent household, with special additions :hosen with great care for this great occa;ion only. Never before have they had so urge a personal following. The members of the staff have been seccted with a view to their desirableness as personal companions to the Royal couple, md to their usefulness in a purely official ir diplomatic way. A glance at the names vill show how happy the choice has been. In the first place, the Duchess is fortunate n having, in Lady Mary Lygon, the comlanitmship of one who has been not only a ifelong friend, but one who has also had i prior acquaintance with many people in Australia. The Duke, on the other hand, has he support of such an experienced Court ifficial «v Sir Arthur Bigge, and the idvice of Sir John Anderson, of the Colonial Jflice, in matters of who's who and wbat'.e vhat. LADY MARY LYGQN. As Lady-in-Waiting and particular peronal companion of the Duchess, Lady Mary -»ygon returns to Australia an old friend, Maty, long a close associate of the Duchees. ban been a member of her hoaseiold since her marriage, and it is said that t was only with the very greatest relucance tliat )xer Royal mietren' gave her the leceaaaiy leave of absence when she came a preside over Government House, Sydney, luring her brother's term of office ac Goparttnent of "The Times." Hβ is rernor. SIR JOHN ANDERSON. The Duke's secretary for official business » a Scot—Sir John Anderson, of the Coloiial Oflice. He was secretary to Mr Gham>erlain at the conference of colonial Preniers, four years ago, has edited the l 'Colo-iiii-1 Office List," a<nd is credited with a more borough acquaintance than any other offi-

rial with the personnel ot tbe variona ooloni&l Gorfcrnmente, When in the Colonial Office, Australasian affairs are his special charge. . His present appointment brought with it his K.C.M;O.-ship. SIR DONALD WALLACE. Sir KouttJd Mackenzie Wallace, K.C.1.E., is a Scotsman, a bachelor, ft traveler, a journalieb, an official, and is distinguished in all departments. His official life was covered by the period when he acted as private eecretary to two Viceroys of India —Lords Dufferin and Lansdowne —and when he was attached as political officer to the staff of the Cfearewrtch during his tour in Ceylon and India ten years ago. For some years he has been Editor-in-Chief of the Foreign Department of "The Times." Hβ k » member of the Athenaamn Club, and also the Marlborongh and St. James , . SIR ARTHUR BIGGE. , Sir Arthur Bi?<?e, who occupies the very important post of private secretary for personal affairs to the Duke, has the distinction of having learned his business in the very best school, havine served in a similar capacity to the late Queen. The son of a north country clergyman, he entered the Royal Artillery in 1869, served in the Zulu War, and was A.JJ.C..to Sir Evelyn Wood. His Court Ufa began in 1880, when, at the age of 31, he was appointed. Groom-in-Waitingi rising step by step to the private secretaryship. When 'the household of the late «4ueen was disbanded at her death, the King, having bis own private secretaries already about him, suggested Sir Arthur for his present position. , LADY KATHERINE GREY COKE. As the chaperone of Lady Mary Lygon I comes Lady Catherine Grey Coke (pro- ! nounced Cook), daughter of the second Earl 'of Wilton, and wife of the Hon. Henry ; John (Joke, to whom she wa« married in I 1861. Lady Katherine was Lady-in-Wait-i ing to the 'Duchess of Teck, and hae seen as much of "Princess May" almost from the time of her birth as if she had been her own daughter. Lady Katherine is posseteed of very considerable' dramatic talent, which she has apparently transmitted in full measure to her one daughter, Sybil Alary {wife of Lieutenant-Colonei Charles Crutchley) has the reputation of being, perhaps, the beet amateur actress alive. Lady Katherine is greatly devoted to mueio. She was one -of the earliest friends of Sir Arthur Sullivan, and, perhaps, the sincerest mourner at his funeral. PRINCE ALEXANDER OF TECK. Prince Alexander of T«ck, G.V.0., is the popular and agreeable brother of the I Duchess, and is acting as A.D.G. to his' brother-in-law. Hβ is a captain in the Ith Hussars, aSnd served in Mataboleland and South Africa, whence he returned last year. From an article on Prince Alexander, by "Banjo" Paterson, the well-known war correspondent, we take" the following:—Alexander of Teok is about 28 years of age, tail and well set up, with the swarthy complexion of ft Spaniard. He quite yon the hearts of the New South Wales troopers ■with whom lie was associated, nmd wjben he left the Inniskillings to go to Mafeking, the men of the New South Wales squadron turned out on their own initiative to give him a cheer on his departure—a, thing that was not known t<) happen to any other officer in the campaign. While on the march he roughed it as nraoh us' anybody. Hβ and some other young officers shared a small cart, which earned their belongings, i.e., their canvas sleeping valises, • cooking pots, tinned meat, etc., and if, as often happened, they were sent out on outpost duty and got separated from their carfc, he ana the others were quit* prepared to roll a blanket round themselves and lie down on the wet ground' among the men . without anything to eat. If young Teck found himself cartless at night he did not stand on his Royal dignity or expect to have things brought to him because be was a Prince; no, he hustled round with the rest to raise a spare blanket-or a. hnrKerug to keep himself out of the bitter cold, or the leg of a. fowl or a half-tin of bully beef to eat, and when he had his goods at hand be was always ready to lend in his turn. He had previously seen active service, and in, in fact, very well up in his profession. Hβ has a fair share of humour, too. One day, near Blaemfontein.. a troop of Australian* horse were oa outpost oo a hill in eight of the Boer position. The next hill was occupied by Teck with his troop of Inniskiuings. and when the Boers began to move about on their hills tho Australian Howe officer galloped over to Teok in a great state of excitement, and asked for advice. He was only a young volunteer officer, and felt the responsibility very keenly, and was anxious to get some approval of the way-he had placed the men. because if the men were cub up he would bo responsible. He was starting to explain how he had placed them when Teck interrupted, "Tell each man to gel; behind a rock and shoot for all hoe worth ; that's all you can do." "Well, I've done that," said the Australian officer, "but what should I do myself while the attack is ant Yvhat would you do if you were mc?" "I would lie flafc on my face till the danger was over. Then, when you're quite wire the Boers are running, get up and have a shot at them" ; and. as anyone who knows him will with the beet results. HON. DEREK KEPPEL. The Hon. Derek Keppel is the Duke's equorry. Handsome, and very much of the exquisite, he nevertheless, like his elder brother, the Earl of Albemarle, is a, type of the best sort of sporting Englishman. One of the principal functions of an equerry is to wear a multitude of uniforms (net all al< the one time, of course) and to look well in each of them; and, as everyone who knows him vnll tell, the Hon. Derek Keppel has ability in this respect which amounts i<) positive genius. The family has "colonial" traditions, Mr Keppel's mother having been the daughter of the Hon. Sir Allun INapier McNab, Bart., one time Prime Minister of Canada. Hβ is 38 years of age, was educated at Charter House, and married, three years ago, the youngest sister of Lady Carrington. For one rest, he in credited with an absence of "side" which is bound to ensure for him a large and important share, of popularity. snt chables ctrsr. Commander Sir Charles Cust, R.N., served as equerry to fch* Duke of York for nine years. Hβ is the eldest son of Sir Cust, Bart., was born in 1864, and succeeded his father at tho age of fourteen. He is a popular member of the Naval and Military Club. LORD CRICHTON. Lord Crichton, one of the A.D.C.'s, is the eldest son of the fourth Karl of Erne. RLe is captain in the Royal Horse Guards, is a "bachelor, and a good sportsman. He is Irish. LORD WENLOCK. Lord Wenlock possesses all those qualities which should make him an ideal Chief of Staff—suave, smart, socially alert, abundantly tactful. Aβ the brother of Sir Arthur Lawley he has already ft tie with Australia. He"wa« himself Governor of Madras for five years, and has had a certain amount o? Parliamentary experience, having sat for Chester as a Liberal. In 1872 he married Lady Constance Laacelles, daughter of the fourth Earl of Harswood. H-β is connected with the Grrosvenors—his mother was daughter of the Hecond Marqniit of Westminster. That he stands high in favour with the King is evidenced by his elevation to the Privy Council a few days before th* Ophir sailed. OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SUITE. The fact that the Hon. v MrB Derek Keppel is a sister of Lady Camngton is ample introduction to Australians. She has at least one thing in common with the Duohews—-ahe has bad to say good-bye to a very young baby. The Rev. John Neale DaAton, M.A., C.M.G., Precentor and Canon of St. (ieorges, Windsor, like Sir Arthur Bipgp, has had a long association with Royalty. His first post was that of tutor to Prince Albert Victor and Prince George of Wales, whose "governor" he was on board the Bacchante. It will be interesting to contrast the account of Sir Donald Mackenzie Wallace, on this occasion, with, the story which Canon D«.Uon supplied of the cruise, of the Bacchante. Tbe canon, who has now passed his threescore years and ton, was one of the three divines who recently assisted m the funeral rites at the funeral of the late Queen at Frogroore. The Duke of Roxburghe i« a young Scottish, nobleman, who us a soldier.taken ly* •profession seriously, awd did some ex«Flent work in South -Africa.

Two other notable membere of the party are Mr Sydney Hall, the well-known artist of .the "Graphic, -who was with the Prince of Wales on his Indian tour, and Chevnlier de Martino, a distinguished artist, vrhp

lor mm time vu marine painter to Queen Victoria. ,; • The £>culapiua of the tow is Dr. Alan Reeve Manby* a physician of experience and ■kill. For some yean past he has held the position of surgeon apothecary to the King and Queen and the Duke of York at Sandringham. Major Bor n»nre*ents the marine*.' He has a distinguished service record, and i« Awintant Deputy Agent-General of the Marine Forces. Like Lord Crichton. he nails from Erin. The other member of the utaff is an Aue-trnlifin—Lieutenant-Colonel J. J. Byron, of the Queensland Permanent Artillery. Selected for service in South Africa, he eerved •with the First Division in the advance on Kimberlf v, end was present at the battles of (iraspan." Belmont, Modder River, and Magerslonteiu. In the last disastrous affair ho wav wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Byron was appointed on Lord Roberta's staff, and was invauued home, when he received his present appointment.