KINGS OF EUROPE

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 3278, 12 March 1931, Page 7

KINGS OF EUROPE

ONLY ELEVEN REiVIAIN.

POPULAR SENTIMENT FOR

ROYALTY.

How firmly are the kings of Europe seated on their thrones? What of the anti-monarchical sentiment in other European kingdoms besides Spain? What likelihood exists that the cry of “Down With the King” may arise in their kingdoms? There are 11 kings in Europe Alfonso, King George V., Victor Emanuel of Italy, Albert of Belgium, Haakon of Norway, Christian of Denmark, Gustaf of Sweden, Carol of Rumania, Alexander of Jugoslavai, Boris of Bulgaria, and Ahmed Zogu of Albania.

In addition to the countries of these kings there are five others in Europe still under monarchial form of government —Holland, where the reigning queen’s consort is not called king, but prince consort; Hungary, whose Government is headed by a regent; the two principalities of Monaco and Lichtenstein and the grand duchy of Luxemburg. In the 11 countries where there are still kings the popular sentiment regarding the institution of monarchy varies considerably. BRITAIN AND ITALY. In Great Britain the desire of the vast majority of the people to remain the subjects of a king is unmistakable. The British have fought their kings at every step of their history; they have so curtailed the royal power that it is no better than a shadow; they have shorn their monarch of practically everything except pomp and pageantry. Yet the fact remains that the British insist upon having a king and are resolved to have one indefinitely, though thrones may crash elsewhere and those who occupy them may fly ignominously across their frontiers to live as exiles ! in foreign parts. In Italy—next to Britain the most important monarchy of Europe—there is an extremely-interesting clash just now between the monarchical tradition ingrained in the nation and the new governmental theories arising out “of the war and post-war crisis.

Towering as he does high over all his fellow countrymen, Dictator Mussolini has tended to make many forget that Italy has such a thing as a royal throne with a king seated upon it. Yet, despite the spread of the Fascist idea, Victor Emmaneul 111. still commands loyalty from Italians, still keeps from being swallowed up by the Fascist flood. CONDITIONS OF BELGIUM. Across the English Channel, within a few hours of English shores, is another kingdom where the people feel towards their king a deep and abiding affection. This is little Belgium. Albert, King of the Belgians, already well liked in the years before the war, inspired in his subjects a mixture of love and admiration unprecedented in our day by the stand he took against the Germans when they demanded his sanction for the march of their armies through Belgian territory, and later when he led his army in the one corner of the country that remained to him.

Since the war Albert has conducted himself quietly and wisely, going much among his people—often unrecognised, so modest are his ways and garb—listening to their grievances, devising means for bettering their lives.

And recently he has improved the chances of his family of continuing to reign in Europe by marriage his son to a royal princess of Sweden and his daughter to the Crown Prince of Italy. SCANDINAVIAN KINGS.

As modest and conscientious as their royal colleague of Belgium are the three Kings of Scandinavia. They occupy thrones in countries which are essentially democratic and firm believers in constitutional government. In Norway, Denmark and Sweden monarchs are tought, as in England, that they are far more ornamental than anything else.

Haakon of Norway, more than six feet tall, goes about his capital, Oslo, almost as unostentatiously as his humblest subject. Gustof of Sweden, now 70, is an enthusiastic tennis player, and Christian of Denmark is the tallest king in Europe. The position of the royal family is none too secure in Rumania, amid all the political turmoil into which the country has been cast. But the other three eastern monarchies of Europe—Jugoslavia, Bulgaria and Albania —give an impression of instability beside which the situation in Rumania seems firmness itself.

In Jugoslavia affairs grew so critical recently that King Alexander, following the example set by Mussolini in Italy, Pilsudski in Poland and the late Primo de Rivera in Spain, placed himself at the head of dictatorship. In Bulgaria King Boris manages to stay on the throne, but his position is sometimes precarious.

They were talking tobacco at the Travellers’ Club (London), when somebody just back from his travels chipped in. “Tobacco?” he said; “I can tell you something. I’ve smoked pipe tobacco in half the countries of the world, but the finest I ever struck was in New Zealand. Grown and manufactured there. It owes its outstanding merit to being toasted, and the toasting rids it of its nicotine so that it’s safe to smoke to any extent. Tell me of any other tobacco of which that can be said. The toasting gives it its incomparable flavour and delicious bouquet. Got the brands—there are only four—jotted down in my pocket-book here: Riverhead Gold, Cavendish, Cut Plug No. 10, and Navy Cut No. 3.” Here he dived into his bag and produced a tin of Navy Cut which he handed round. Those who sampled it were enthusiastic in its praise. And no wonder. New Zealand toasted tobacco is the purest and most fragrant manufactured. Don’t forget there are only four brands—also that there are imitations about. (155)