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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12070, 13 September 1902, Page 4 (Supplement)

The Treasurer of the. Queen's Household is Earl de Grey (the eldest son of the Marquess of Ripon), a nobleman also well known for his wonderful skill at shooting and his unfailing support of the opera. He fulfils towards Her Majesty much the same part that the Keeper of the Privy Purse (Kir Dighton Probyn) does towards the King, There is this important difference, however, that Lord de Grey's province is not so large. The King's account*! include the whole of tlie expenditure on the maintenance of th? Court, the Court ceremonials, the general domestic household, the stableu and their staffs, the general board, and some other matters. The Queen's accounts include very little more than her own personal expenditure and the payments to her own personal attendants. All these accounts pass into Lord de Grey's hands, together with the vouchers submitted in connection with them by the Private .Secretary (Mr. Sidney Greville), Permanent Lady in Attendance (Miss Charlotte Knoll or the Lord Chamberlain of Her Majesty's Household (Lord Colville of Cuirass). it is a mistake to suppose that the Mistress of the Robes ever sends in vouchers. She issues uo orders on behalf of the Queen, in fact never resides at Court, and has really nothing to do with Her Majesty's wardrobe. When the Treasurer has verified all the accounts it is his business to draw the necessary cheques to pay them with. To enable him to do this a private account has been opened at Messrs. Coutts' Bank, in the Strand, on behalf of the Queen, and on this the Treasurer can draw by his own sigaature, without troubling Iter Majesty. These, cheques are always crossed.