PRINCE RUPPRECHT IN ENGLAND

Evening Star, Issue 22783, 4 May 1931, Page 9

PRINCE RUPPRECHT IN ENGLAND

DINNER WITH OLD FOE RECONCILIATION WITH KING NOT SOUGHT. Bitter enemies on the field of battle during the war —one black-listed by the Allies as a war criminal, the other, a British 1 general—have just met again, facing each other at a dinner party in’ London. . The famous German Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria was the guest of honour. The former enemy who sat opposite him was Sir William Robertson. . The Crown Prince was on a private ten-day visit for the first time since the war. He went back by aeroplane from Croydon. His host during most of his stay was Mr F. B. Bradley-Birt, of Birtsmoroton Court, Worcester, who said that Prince Rupprecht came to tliis small Worcestershire village in return for the hospitality which he had shown to Mr Bradley-Birt in Bavaria. AT (XFORD. The Crown Prince, after spending a few days in London, went to Oxford, lunched at St. John’s College, and visited the Christ Church buildings. From Oxford he went down by car to BirtsmorCton Court. During his residence there he was taken by Mr Bradley-Birt to Tewkesbury Abbey, and made a special journey to Stratford-on-Avon to see _ Shakespeare’s birthplace He also visited th® village school at Birtsmoreton Court, and the children were informed who their distinguished visitor was. ‘ He walked round the gardens and was introduced by his host to a number of workmen on the estate. Among these workmen was one who fought: near Ypres during 1915 —a soldier opposing the Crown Prince’s corps. A WOUNDED SOLDIER. “ The Bavarian army were in front of us at the time,” he said, “ and when I was introduced to the charming greyhaired gentleman I did not tell him that it was one of his own shells which had given me several wounds.” On Wednesday the Crown Prince went to Windsor and visited the castle, afterwards returning to London, where the dinner party was held. Lord Ncwborough had lent his residence in Hill street to Mr Bradley-Birt' for the party, and many distinguished people were guests. Sir Austen Chamberlain and Sir William Robertson _ were there, but Mr Winston .Churchill, who had been invited, was prevented from being present. NO REQUEST TO SEE KING. Official denial was given to statements that the Crown Prince Sought a reconciliation with the King. The ‘ News-Chronicle.’ was authoritatively informed at Buckingham Palace that no invitation was given to the Prince to meet the King, and that the Prince made no request to visit the palace. The Prince, who is the Jacobite “ Pretender ”, to the throne of England, indulged in a good deal of “ hate ” during the war. “ These cursed islanders must be driven into the sea ” ; ” Troops of that cunning, bloodthirsty British' enemy ” were sentences from the orders of the day.