PRINCE COMMONERS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XX, Issue 2063, 6 January 1925, Page 7

PRINCE COMMONERS.

I ROYALTIES AT THE UNIVERSITIES. The news that Prince Olav, heir to the throne of Norway, has entered Oxford University as an ordinary student would have caused much more surprise some years back than it does now. Ln bygone days, when a. royalty entered Oxford' or Cambridge University he lived as an undergraduate in a much more ceremonial way than does the Royal undergraduate of to-day. When King Edward, at the age of 17, went up to Oxford as undergraduate (if Christ Cluu'ch he entered as a nobleman. Krewen Hall, a fairly spacious mansion outside the university, was rented for him, and ho lived there in considerable state with his private tutors and equerries. He took no part of any kind in the ordinary social life of an Oxford student. He never attended a '"breakfast" or a "wine" or any of the social gatherings for which Oxford is famous. The few undergraduates ho met personally were "presented" to him with some ceremony at Frewen Hall. THE PRINCE MAKES A CHANCE, The late Duke of Clarence, when he entered. Cambridge University, lived almost, as ceremoniously as his father had done at Oxford. At his earnest request he was allowed to matriculate as a commoner, and as such he became an undergraduate at Magdalen College. He was shown no favour of any kind, and was as much subject to the usual university discipline as any other graduate. He entered freely into the social life of the Oxford undergraduates. Ho attended "wines" at the Buillingdon Club—the most exclusive of all Oxford Clubs—and "breakfasts" at the rooms of several of his fellowgraduates. ROYALTY THEN AND NOW. By his tutors and the College authorities he was addressed as "Sir." This was the only difference made between him and any other ordinary student. But for the example of the Prince of Wales it is extremely probable that Prince Olav would have had to enter Oxford as a nobleman. A student must enter as that or a commoner. He cannot enter a university as a prince. Like the Prince of Wales, Prince Olav will have to havo an equerry in attendance on him while ho is in residence in Balliol, buC this individual will remain as much in the background as the late Hon. Major l William Cadogan did when be acted as equerry to the Prince of Wales at Oxford. Prince Olav's equerry will simply act as his private secretary and treasurer, and will pay all the Prince's bills. He will never be in attendance on him at any social function. Presentday princes have, as undergraduates, a Vastly better time of it than they had in a bygone age.