The Press SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 1935. The Duke of Gloucester

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21376, 19 January 1935, Page 14

The Press SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 1935. The Duke of Gloucester

To-day the citizens of Christchurch will unite in giving a warm and loyal welcome to his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester. Even if he were coming unannounced the Duke of Gloucester, as the son of his father, the King, could be sure of a spontaneous and vigorous reception from King George's loyal subjects in this city. The affection, esteem, and loyalty in which the Royal Family of Great Britain is held in the Dominion of New Zealand have already been effectively and enthusiastically demonstrated to the Duke in the many centres which have had the honour and privilege of entertaining him. To say that any member of the Royal Family would be similarly welcomed is not to detract in any way from the personal tribute that will be paid to-day to his Royal Highness. That he has, by his unaffected and gracious manner, made a personal impression that emphasises and encourages our feelings of loyalty and respect for him adds another reason for our desire to do him honour. For as the son of our King he represents to us a tradition that touches and nourishes the very roots of our life as a nation and as citizens of an Empire in which outpride is even stronger to-dav than it has ever been before. The occasion for the visit of the Duke of Gloucester to this part of the Empire—to represent the King at the Victorian centenary celebrations—is only remotely connected with his visit to this Dominion. It is a notable occasion, giving cause for 'great rejoicing in the progress and attainments of British peoples in a land far from the islands of their origin. To that extent it is an occasion with which we as New Zealanders, with a similar history of pioneering endeavour and successful settlement of a new land, may associate ourselves in the pride of common achievement. But any occasion that brought to our shores a son of their Majesties the King and Queen would be an occasion for sincere joy on the part of loyal subjects, and as such, we find the keenest pleasure in a happy day. Royal visits to the various British dominions have in recent years become something in the nature of a duty that circumstances, conspiring with improved means of transport, have thrust upon members of the Royal Family; and it is a duty that the King's sons have welcomed with pleasurable anticipation and carried out with every credit to themselves. It is our task to respond by making their duty as happy and memorable as possible. Already it has been our privilege to welcome among us two of the King's other sons, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York, the latter happily accompanied by his charming Duchess. No doubt they have informed the Duke of Gloucester of the warmth of Ihc reception that he could expect. But the duties of Royalty are by no means j easy; on the contrary, they are oxacting and must sometimes be nerve-wracking and exhausting. Our present, visitor has stood up manfully and solidly to a most strenuous tour and he owes it to his line vigorous habits and personal fitness that it has made apparently so little physical impression upon him. It is to be hoped that the strain of his Christchurcn engagements will be lightened by the consideration of the city's residents for his comfort and well-be-ing. May we express the hope that the Duke of Gloucester's all too brief stay in this, his last official calling place in New Zealand, will be such as will inspire in him the pleasanlest and happiest of memories when ihp time conies for h.irn I (o return to hi.s native land.