KING’S WORKING DAY

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 October 1939, Page 2

KING’S WORKING DAY

LONG HOURS’ OBSERVED LONDON, September .19. According to the “Sunday Dispatch,” the King is so busy dealing with war-time documents and State papers that he and the Queen meet only once a day—at breakfast. Very occasionally they are able to have dinner together. All the meals are as simple as possible, for .the household lias been placed on a war-time basis of thrift and economy. To save the King’s time a new room has been arranged adjoining his study. He receives his numerous callers there, and is still within reach of the three private telephones on his study desk. He has increased his “office” hours from 10 to 16 hours a day. The King’s cherished “family hour” at tea with the Queen has had to bo cancelled. Now a tea tray is brought to his desk and one of his secretaries pours the tea as they continue working. Besides attending to State and official correspondence, which has more (han doubled in quantity, the King has to sign hatches of officers’ commissions and similar service documents. Three times a day come detailed reports from the War Office, the Admiralty, and the Air Ministry, and at least six deliveries of Government, papers arrive daily. At noon comes a special ease which the King unlocks himself, for he possesses the. only key. The. Queen spends long hours in her own little study, following the progress of women's work.