TASKS OF HIS MAJESTY’S VALET

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 19 November 1932, Page 14

TASKS OF HIS MAJESTY’S VALET

King’s Wardrobe Fills Several Rooms

ryNTE of the most important jnenibers o i! the Royal Household is little known to the British public. Ho is Richard Howlett, “superintendent of the wardrobe” —in other words, chief valet to King George. The King has nearly 500 changes of dress; Howlett is responsible for all of them and is answerable for the correct appearance of his Majesty on every occasion. Howlett never knows which uniform or which ceremonial garb will be called for next; they must all be ready, the uniforms from “undress” to full, according to the need. Medals, decorations, insignia—there must be no mistake about any. of them. But Richard Howlett would not be King George’s chief valet if he were prone to make mistakes. He knows more about uniforms, probably, than any naval or military tailor. The London season- is the busiest time in the year for Howlett. Bor with courts, levees and investitures to hold, garden parties to give, fashionable race meetings like Ascot and Gooctwoocl and public functions to attend, the King has to wear many varieties of dress. The royal wardrobe fills several rooms in the north wing of Buckingham Palace. There are air-tight boxes, safes for regalia and insignia, and a 100 m foi the storage of the robes and mantles of the orders of chivalry—including those of the Garter, the collar of which contains 20 ounces of pure gold, and is jewelled as well. Military uniforms form the bulk of the wardrobe, their being two—full dress and undress —for each regiment of which the King is Colonel-in-Chief. Naval uniforms and no end of special civil costumes, among others the Trinity House dress, add to the task of the chief valet and his three assistants. King George’s favourite uniform is that of Admiral of the Pleet. He w r as brought up as a naval officer and never has lost his love of the sea and ships. In the military section the Field Marshal’s uniform is most often used. The ful dress is a gorgeous affair with scarlet tunic, buckskin breeches and cocked hat adorned with feathers. Besides, there is the corresponding “service” dress of khaki, the uniform worn by the -King w r hen he visits his troops. At Windsor Castle King George wears the historic “Windsor uniform” of blue coat, gold buttons and red collar. At Balmoral Castle in Scotland Jie w r cars the kilt and in the evening he dons the full dress of the Stuart clan, with jewelled silver buckles.

Large and variegated as the wardrobe is, it is Richard Howlett’s boast that he can produce any costume required within a few minutes, Avrites

Hayden Church in the “New York I Times.” He lias been in attendance on the Sovereign for more than 25 years. He is elderly and distinguished-look-ing, with a quiet, grave, kindly manner. He is trusted absolutely and has , certain confidential to peiform outside the scope of his official job. His rooms in Buckingham Palace are filled with souvenirs of ropalty; the walls are hung with signed portraits that would fill most millionaires with envy. Mr HowTett is also lucky enough to occupy one of the small official residences at St. James Palace. He is married and his daughter Elaine is a god-child of the King. Outside court circles Howlett is virtually unknown. Once a year, however, on the King’s birthday, he attends a luncheon given by the Royal Warrant Holders’ Association, whose members arc the firms that enjoy the royal patronage. When the court moves to Balmoral in August, the chief valet arranges to have the royal wardrobe thoroughly gone over. The orders and decorations are cleaned and any flaws in the uniforms are rectified. The monarch’s private w r ardrpbe is not extravagant, for dress moans comparatively little' to King George. He never has been such a leader of Then’s fashions as was his father, Edward VII., or as is his son, the Prince of Wales. If anything, the King is inclined to lie old-fashioned in his Until comparatively recently, for instance, Vie kept- up the old custom of passing his tie through a gold ring. Like the late King Edward, lie lias his trousers creased at the side instead of in front, and lie has a fondness for black points on His gloves, whether the lat-tei aio white or tan. Like many' lesser men, England s King likes old clothes better than, new ones, and, wdienever he can, sacrifices appearance to comfort. A member of a royal shooting party, for instance, noticed with interest that one of King George’s shoes had been patched! The King likes to wear tweed breeches and a rough shooting coat when out with a dog and gun. He always prefers shoes that are “easy,” and one of the first things he does when he gets to Balmoral is to buy a pair of Highland brogues. He rides into on his poriy and enters a shop where the proprietor, an elderly Geot, still makes shoes by hand. After his foot has been measured the King stays smoking and chatting with the old man, wha invariably remarks as liis royal visitor leaves: “Weel, I’ll • do ,ma best for your Majesty, but I’m making no promises, mind.”