Where the King is a Laird

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 6, 8 January 1936, Page 12

Where the King is a Laird

The King has been among the Aberdeenshire hills for the restful holiday to which he and tho Queen always look forward, writes James Milne in the “Daily Telegraph.’' There is probably no precise record of his Majesty’s earliest visit to Balmoral, but it must have been mere than 60 years ago, when he was very young. His father and mother were accustomed to pay an autumn family visit to Abergeldie Castle, which Queen Victoria too: into her Highland estate. Naturally ho and his brother and sisters were often with the Queen, just as, in turn, his own children, holidaying at Abergeldie, were in constant contact with King Edward and Queen Alexandra at Balmoral.

Balmoral has, therefore, a Itoyal association of four generations, since 18-18, when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert first took up residence in what was just a pretty little place in the old (Scottish style. Before long they built the present castle, the Prince inspiring its architecture, and now its comfortable Victorian simplicity has been made modern aad elegant. With out there have not been many alterations.

King Edward and Queen Alexandra changed a good deal within, and Queen Mary’s artistic and domestic tastes have achieved tho rest. Balmoral’s atmosphere is that of a private home,, where peace and rest from the busy world are sought and won. King George might be the (Bcots laird looking round his estate with his commissioner, or planning a day’s shooting for his guests. Himself one of the finest shots of our time, he has also been genuinely fond of the rest to be found in the daily life at Balmoral. Similarly, Queen 'Mary is the Lady of Balmoral, keenly concerned in the welfare of the local people, saluted by them as she drives or walks about, and noddir o back, the laird’s kindly wife rather than the Queen. Into the quiet, intimate family life of Balmoral Castle the Duke of Kent, when he became engaged last year, brought liis bride for the blessing of his father and mother. Not a Highland serving man, not a farmer in valley or glen, but saw in this a happy compliment to tho Deeside Highlands, and for that reason, and in common sympathy, rejoiced exceedingly.

Old men and women—and there have been centenarians on Deeside—recalled another Itoyal romance which also had its chapter among the heather hills. It was that of the Emperor Frederick of Germany and Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter. He proposed to her while on a visit to Balmoral by plucking a sprig of the rare white heather, on which they happend to light, and asking her to accept it and its declaration. King George has been more the countryman at Balmoral than was King Edward, and sometimes his very loyal subjects about thero have said to themselves, “Perhaps, some day, he’ll adopt Queen Victoria’s way of coming north twice in the year, in June, as well as in August.” It has been a prayer rather than a hope for the traffic of national affairs has increased enormously since the Victorian day, and distance means the telephone, the telegraph, and the King’s Messenger. These occupy the King's morning and often his afternoon when he is at Deeside, but he is left leisure enough to be the Laird of Balmoral.