HUMOURS OF ROYAL VISITS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 105, 1 May 1909, Page 3

HUMOURS OF ROYAL VISITS.

WHEN MONARCHIAL TRAVELS MAKE FOR MERRIMENT.

There is scarcely a visit of His Maiesty that does not provide some humour owing to the enormous amount of attention he receives when abroad. King Edward has only to spend a day or two m a Continental town to make it a fashionable resort, while the tailors of Europe loos, to him to set the fashion. Competition is, therefore, keen tor his patr°Tw)B> tailors created considerable amusement three years ago by following the King all over Manenbad, sketching his Majesty's clothes from all sorts of angles. The detectives were able to keep off the usual crowds, but the two tailors were not to bo denied. Even when the police compelled them to be less obtrusive, they brought telescopes into play. Dr Ott. the King's physician, has something' of the build of his august patient, and more than once the astonished doctor has been the recipient of demonstrations intended for the King.

MELODY BY THE HOUR. A ludicrous incident is associated with a visit of King Edward to Germany. He was said to be coming to Berlin at ten in the morning, and a regimental band was sent ott to play "God Save the King" as a compliment to the visitor But Ins Maiesty did not arrive at the appointed time. However, that did not embarrass the band, which had been ordered to begin playing at ten. It started on " God Save the King," and played it steadily for two hours. At last Sir Frank Lascelles, the British Ambassador, was able to get himself heard, and the band was induced to return home, after being informed that the King was not comin|hortly after his accession the King went to Berlin, where, on his round of courtesy visits to European Courts, he found himself in a waiting-room at a railway station. His companion was the Kaiser, and they discussed international affairs whilst they waited for -the train. When it steamed in, the delicate question arose as to which monarch was to leave the wait-ing-room first. The Kaiser was, clearly the senior monarch, Having reigned since 1889; but King Edward was his uncle, and that left the matter open. But Wilhelm tried to solve the puzzle in his own inimitable style. Taking King Edward by the arm, he led Mm towards the door. Here, however, they could not emerge arm-in-arm, for the doorway was too small; and it was King Edward who eventually solved the problem .by gently pushing his nephew in front of him.

ROYAL TICKET-PUNCHER

But the "most unconventional holiday the British Royal Family enjoys is when its members go to Norway or Denmark. These Courts are noted for their democratic simplicity, and King Edward can "do things in Christiania that he dare not do in the more 'correct' capitals. When he paid a visit to King Haakon that monarch took him for a. ride in a,n ordinary tramear, which was hired for the occasion. Queen Alexandra, Queen Maud, and Princess Victoria of Wales—her two daughters—were amongst the passengers, and the excursion started by King Hadkon ringing the bell, and going to each person and demanding the fare! The precautions taken to ensure his Majesty's safety are very elaborate, although the public sees little of them. At Marienbad, eighteen months a-o, a heavily-veiled lady walked up to the King, and handed him a Inigo envelope. His Majesty quickly transferred it to an equerry, who gave it over to a detective with a celerity with which one usually handles a hot brick. The detectives gathered round, and very carefully opened the envelope. It contained a tract!

The' Kaiser's stay at Highcliffe Castle aroused muck excitement amongst the youngsters of the district, and they followed him about with such persistence that not all the King's horses and all the King's men could keep them off. It was amusing to see, the Kaiser h: ading a procession of more or less grimy infants, who followed with awe-inspired faces. Finally, the war lord rewarded their worship with a high tea. Custom demands that a small child shall present the Queen with a honquet whenever she accompanies the King to a ceremony. This part of the proceedings is not a little trying., for often, the children forget their parts, and the Queen has on several occasions saved the situation hy her ready tact.

A SURPRISE FOR THE QUEEN. At one of the ceremonies performed

by the King during a recent visit to Ireland, a tony dot of four or five summers was sent forward with a bouquet. She reached the platform all right, and then paused and looked about her. Siie saw the King in frock-coat and silk hat, and Queen Alexandra dressed quietly in black. But, standing near the King, was a magnificent equerry, dressed in blue and gold, . wearing the medals of many campaigns, in addition to the orders and decorations of Roj^alty. The child decided that this person deserved the bounuet; so, ignoring the King and Queen, she astonished the veteran by gravely presenting him with the bouquet!