KING'S ECONOMIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 99, 23 October 1936, Page 7

KING'S ECONOMIES

CHANGES AT BALMORAL

The King, while spending a happy and energetic holiday in the Highlands, effected many changes and economies in the running of Balmoral Castle, says the "Daily Telegraph."

King' George's former bedroom had been pre;ja_red, for his use. When he arrived at the Castle he decided that it should be left empty. Saying that the best rooms must be left for his guests, he chose a very small room near the pantry, looking out on the poppy beds.

Plumbers and electricians were at work fitting bells in- the room and installing a bath in an adjoining room. Until this summer the room had been occupied by one of the major servants.

There were formerly three canteens on Balmoral estate—one in the stables, which sold beer only, and two in the back premises of the Castle. At the order of the King two have been closed, and there is now only one canteen in the stewards' quarters.

This year eighty-four servants of the Royal Household travelled to Balmoral —little more than half of-the staff which King George and Queen Mary took with them. The chief reason for this economy in numbers was that King Edward did not take the carriages and the royal greys.

Hitherto there have been about forty grooms and coachmen looking after the Balmoral stables. Now these contain only a few ponies for the hills.

Balmoral, like other great estates in the north, has its Highlanders, workers on the estate, who used to line the Balmoral avenue on the arrival of the King. This year King Edward sent instructions that they were not to gather for his arrival.

The six Balmoral pipers, led by PipeMajor. MacPherson, newly fitted out in the Balmoral tartan in place of the Boyal Stuart, normally pipe in dinner at 7.30. On his first day at Balmoral the King asked them to appear at 5.30 for a rehearsal; when he took a hand at the pipes and instructed them in the airs they were to play.