YORK HOUSE

Evening Star, Issue 20586, 11 September 1930, Page 4

YORK HOUSE

COMFORT, PLEASURE, AMD BUSINESS The London homo of the Prince of Wales is at York house, Ambassadors Court, St. James’s Palace Contrary to what has been said on the subject, he shows no inclination to give it up for the greater splendours of Marlborough House. But tho reason is simple H.R.H. is not im. eased by mere “ splendour.” Ho much prefers com fort, and this is just what he gets to special degree at York House. Perhaps what tho Prince hkos boat about Ins quarters in this historic old mansion is the atmosphere of homeliness ” with which he is surrounded. He has his books and his pictures and his private possessions there, as well as his treasured souvenirs of the many trips he lias made to all parts of the Umpire , , “ While I’m here I know where to put my hand on things,” he says. “ 11 1 moved it would take me a month to find them again.” BACHELOR DINNER PARTIES. The Prince likes to play the host to his men friends, and nobody plays it better. His dinner parties and receptions are planned by himself, even to the menu and music, and everything '• goes with a swing.” Recent structural alterations have made it possible to entertain a bigger number of guests than formerly, and have also added dancing room to tho other amenities of York House. The dining room is a pleasant room, furnished in “ English ” fashion, with old mahogany and a Turkey carpet, with sporting scenes on tho walls and sporting trophies on the two sideboards. It is not a very large room. Still, this is not a drawback, for the Prince prefers “ small parties and plenty of them.” As he often gives two a week it is possible for him to have a considerable number to dine with him during t' o course of a month. At these “ intimate ” parties the guests are all men, and the majority of them are bachelors. They are representative of various sections. The one rule is that they shall be “ interesting ” or else shall have “ done something.” No humdrum drones sit round the Prince’s table. Instead, the company will be found to consist of distinguished officers (young captains and lieutenants as often as generals and admirals), actors, authors, barristers, composers, playwrights, sportsmen, and travellers. The result is laughter and talk and a cheerful flow of reminiscence. These “ intimate ” bachelor parties are very often followed by a reception. This is a more formal affair, and means a considerable number of guests who belong to another circle. They are by way of being “ big-w T igs,” chosen from tho worlds of diplomacy and politics, of art and literature, and “ society.” Everybody is on his or he (for women r.ro also bidden to these gatherings) best behaviour. Gold lace and frocks and frills; medals and orders; purple and lino linen. THE “ BUSINESS ” SIDE. York House is a place of “ business as well ns of pleasure In fact, there is a great deal of “ business ” to be done there, for the Prince has an immense and ever-increasing number of public engagements to fulfil Sometimes he ruefully looks over tho list presented him by his private secretary and discovers that every day is “ hooked up ” for weeks ahead and often tho greater part of each day. “ One luncheon two public meetings, a dinner, and a reception all in one day is a bit thick,” lie says, running a

finger down a typical page. “ Can’t you let mo off some of these?” “ Quite impossible, your Royal Highness,” is the answer. “ The appointments were made months ago.” The library at York House is a room in which the Prince spends many hours. This is because ho there gets the *' material ” for the numerous speeches lie is called upon to deliver. He prepares these himself, merely relying on Jiis staff for a few “ pointers.” At one time he would write out a contemplated speech and learn it by heart, often practising it beforehand on his brothers and sisters. Princess Mary, who is something of a critic, would pull him up promptly if anything sounded incorrect to her ears. “ Cut that bit out,” she once suggested, “ or else they’ll laugh.” “ Then I’ll keep it in,” was the ready reply. “ You see, I’d much rather amuse people than bore them. ’ An admirable decision, and one that might be adopted with advantage by all who make public speeches. The Prince’s correspondence is naturally very large, and a bulging sack is delivered bv the postman every morning. All rorts of people (including “cranks ”) write to him with a request to do something for them. All the letters are answered, but not necessarily by the Prince himself, for they are subjected to a preliminary “ weeding out by the secretarial staff. Still, there is always a considerable number requiring his personal attention. FOR HOURS OF RELAXATION. Although there is plenty of real work at York House thoiu is also a certain and well-merited amount of “ play.” The Prince is fond of the theatre, and makes a point of attending all the new pieces of which he hears good reports, tie is not much of a “ first-nighter,” but prefers to wait until the success of a piece is established. Similarly he prefers a stall to a box. Nor does he approve of fuss and ceremony. If there are awnings and red carpets and managers bowing and scraping he shows wliat ho thinks of it by avoiding that theatre until a considerable interval has elapsed. “ When I go to the theatre I m one of the public,” he says, “ and not the Prince of Wales.” Like tho late King Edward, the Prince is punctilious about arriving sharp on time. He generally leaves, however, a couple of minutes before the curtain falls. It is then his custom to look in at a dance club or cabaret. But it has to be one of the best sort and one where both membership list and programme are beyond reproach. He is quick to note anything that is not precisely as it should be. When he does so ho says nothing. Instead he merely orders ins car, steps into it, and leaves the premises. A dance or cabaret left in this fashion never sees him within its walls again. . While he is fond of music, the Prince is not a concert-goer or much of an opera patron. Nor does he play any instrument. “ The pianola is more in my lino,” he once declared, “ and I am a dab at turning on a gramophone. What, however, he is fond of is “ wireless,” and he has recently had an elaborate installation fitted up at York House. As a “ listener-in ” he has become quite an adept.