THE CHANGE FROM PRINCE TO KING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11620, 6 April 1901, Page 6

THE CHANGE FROM PRINCE TO KING.

AN EXACTING ) MONARCH.

A cable to the New York World from London says :—The personal transformation which King Edward has undergone is astounding to everybody. Society is asking itself/ Can it possibly last ? Since Henry V. ascended the throne ", and incontinently cast off his light companions there has been nothing like it. . Edward's friends-are still waiting, hoping against hope, to be summoned to the Royal presence, but there is no sign so far that Edward is aware even of the existence of the boon companions : and baccarat cronies of the Prince of Wales. ' < Lord Marcus Beresford is the only one of his old pals whom he has summoned. As the Prince of Wales, Edward was very familiar with Marcus, who comes of a family that stands no nonsense, even from Royalty. It used to be, " Well, Marky my boy." This time Marcus was ushered in with the utmost state, while ; the King assumed the loftiest possible manner ' and addressed him formally by his full title, and communicated his Royal wishes like a stage king. In the same fashion he freezes off everyone, and extorts to the last drop the homage due to his position by Court etiquette. Not only the Court officials find him an inexorable taskmaster. The Household ■ Cavalry officers are bored to death by having constantly to provide escorts;for his going about. Even the Ministers are getting sore " over his interference in matters which the Queen never touched. He has been having long reports direct from General Kitchener, whom he plied with questions about the state of the army and conduct of the war. It is suspected that this has been inspired by his nephew, the Kaiser.