THE KING'S SHADOW

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21377, 21 January 1935, Page 17

THE KING'S SHADOW

UNKNOWN DETECTIVE RETIREMENT AFTER FOURTEEN YEARS IriiOU OU» OWN eOXBMPOXDWT.) LONDON, December 29. A man who has guarded the King for 14 years—Superintendent William George Cole —retired last week-end. The King and Queen said goodbye to him at a special audience at Buckingham Palace, before they left for Sandringham. The King invested Mr Cole with the M.V.O. Mr Cole has shadowed his Majesty on every occasion that he has been out of doors since 1920. Few people outside Court circles have realised that the tall distinguished looking man with close-cropped moustache who has been so constantly but unobtrusively near the King was a police officer. . Immaculately dressed, with a soldierly carriage, Superintendent Cole's task has been to be on the spot always, but to keep himself from public attention as much as possible. The fact that he is unknown means merely that he has done his job well. When the King paid a private visit or attended a public function, Mr Cole first planned the journey and then followed his Majesty closely. Because of his careful arrangements he has never had to deal with any untoward incidents while in attendance on the King. As a youth of 19 he joined the police force at Islington in 1901. He was transferred to Scotland Yard the following year and gained rapid promotion.