PUBLICATIONS ON ROYALTY

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28133, 23 November 1956, Page 21

PUBLICATIONS ON ROYALTY

Position of Palace Servants (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON. November 21. The Press Cpuncil chairman. Sir Linton Andrews, today defended in principle the publication of stories about Royalty by servants in Royal palaces. In a foreword to the council’s third annual report he said that a complaint had been received about the publication of articles by a former valet of the Duke of Edinburgh. The council had replied that it had long been the custom for members of the staffs of Royal households to write books about life in these households. No objection had usually been taken to such books provided they did not betray intimate confidences or cause distress to the members of the Royal Family concerned. “This view was challenged by Commander Colville, press secretary to the Queen, yet it was, in fact, correct.’’ the report said. “English literature is enriched by the writings of Royal servants who. through personal glimpses of the great, have made an invaluable contribution to the history of this country.”

The report said: “The private lives of public men and women, especially Royal persons, have always been the subject of a natural curiosity. That this is so is one of the consequences of fame or eminence or sincere national affection.”

But therfe were plainly limits beyond which Royal tolerance or endurance should not be asked to go. said ;the report. Some newspapers had descended to the - lowest levels of bad taste and worse manners over their references to Princess Margaret and Group Captain Peter Townsend.