THE PRINCE OF WALES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10596, 10 November 1897, Page 4

THE PRINCE OF WALES.

The Prince, whose birthday was yesterday honoured With as close a holiday as that of Her Majesty, herself is honoured with, who decidedly shares with . in the genuine loyalty of the people, occupies in some respects a unique position in British history. That history has, if not uniformly, at least'as a f'Y* f*ii'""hi P .J u i'v i*■ rule,; sjipvpi; previous occupants of the same high position as a divisive. and disturbing element the felicity of the Royal. circle. Too often the party of thePrinco of Wales has been "a set" in opposition Jo. the , Government, .and mixed _up 7 with intrigue : against the Sovereign. Flattered and spoiled ,by sycophants with their own interests to serve, the ■ eldest son of the Royal House has traditionally been a"disc9m ; fdfct and :an : anxiety, and the contrast in the character and conduct of the present Prince of Wales is one of the interesting and remarkable, features in an altogether " remarkable reign. It-is true that: in his time he lias had {die experiences and the faux, pas '. that are the lot of young men. in. thousands and tens of thousands ' of families of less distinction; but it can be said of him with' perfect'' sincerity' and f. truth' that' never once does he appear ;to have shown i the smallest tendency to waver in his ; respect'• and reverence and obedience to 1 the '[Qufeeri.'*' 3 When "one considers the trying, position: in 'which; he has stood ever since he was deprived of the wise guidance and control of his father the 'Prince Consort, .'"and the unvarying loyalty with, which - lie' has sustained the authority and wishes of the, Queen, the uniform care with'which helms carried out whatever duties were imposed on him through Her Majesty's ■ retirement from a great "many formal | pnblic'fUhCtiote/ and the way in which 1 he', has utterly subordinated ( his oyyp position, his • own : , interests, Ins-very, ' personality to those ofthe'. Queen, it iis impossible •to withhold a feeling; of admiration of; the tact and prudence, as well as the entire good-will with which/he. has deported himself in every relation ,'of his' exited 'position. ; '''As' the heir; to. the throne it would have ; been reasonable for ' him to, Jiave in- ' dulged some personal ambition, ! aiid\to' have rat 'least showii a disposition tp. put' himself in evidence and in prominence before the people as the coming power.' But so far is it from this, ; that' : if, lie had beeu many degrees • removed : from the throne he i could not have ; shown''' a less' disposition to anticipate i future eminence; and whether or not a , hope or desire as rto occupying . the throne ever does enter his : mind, . certainly conveys the impression;. that he is ' perfectly contented in ir his present : position, and that !'! it .••is' his ''sincere'desire 'that the Queen's :life and yreign" should .be, indefinitely prolonged, even lif : .the' .reversion of the Grown should never come 'to him. In the late Jubilee proceedings it is known 1 : that the Prince of 'Wales was Mr. •Chamberlain's right hand, and while studiously avoiding anything like prominence in the proceedings, ■ he; was the life of the whole arrangements, and palpably .with only one desire that all i the glory'and all the happiness of the occasion.'.should ; be directly reflected on ; the Queen herself. It is this absolute and affectionate loyalty of the'Prihce to his 'mother and Queen that' has endeared the Prince of Wales to the hearts of tls popple ofthaßi'itish Empire, and ■though no :i one over wishes to see him on Hie* throne, 'for the reason that every one feels that no change from our present beloved .Sovereign, could possibly lie better, yet it wills be: with: absolute confidence, and with genuine allection that lie will be welcomed to the throne, from end to end , of' the empire, when that , regretablc . change does occur. The thoroughly constitutional spirit in which he has discharged : the duties devolved on him as Prince of Wales is a guarantee that h'e. wijil be'; a constitutional Sovereign on the lines on which Her Majesty has bcen.soJong and. so wisely travelling, and it is felt ; that' the mantle of the Queen, as well as the. wealth of tlie affection pf the nation t which she has so richly,.enjoyed, will all pass by inhere imicn - equally with tho Crown to "the new. King.