THE PRINCE OF WALES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20058, 22 September 1928, Page 10

THE PRINCE OF WALES.

lIAPPY DAYS IN FRANCE. VISIT TO FRENCH FLEET, AN IMPORTANT BIRTHDAY. OFFICIAL MAJORITY ATTAINED. DT WALTER AND LEONARD TOWN SEN D. (All IliKht3 Reserved.) No. XV. Prince Edward's stay in Franco was filled with numerous activities, and possibly he saw a great deal moro of the country during his three months' absence from home than did King Edward in his frequent visits. The late King confined his attention almost exclusively to the capital itself, down whose sunny boulevards ho so loved to saunter on fresh spring mornings, and to tho beautiful plages of the liiviera, where ho was almost an annual visitor. Despite the long list of engagements which the Prince managed to fulfil ho continued his studies assiduously though under very congenial circumstances. M. Escoffier, his French master, was delighted with the way in which his Royal pupil assimilated the lessons set. him. It was a very happy Prince who took his daily ride in the Bois, and strolled after breakfast with the companionable Sir. Hansell across the Pont Neuf to the left bank of the Seine, and so up toward the Latin quarter, where the Prince loved to buy little etchings and pieces of silver of quaint design, which he still collects to this day. Much of the enjoyment of the new.adventure would havo been lost if, during his stay in France, Prince Edward had been thrown wholly into the company of adults. .As it was, however, the Marquis' two young sons, Comte Francois and Cointe Jacques, both about tho Prince's age, relieved the French visit of any hint of restraint, and at occasional fetes the jcunesse dore of Paris were present to make the English Prince feel quite at home. Two Agreeable Companions. The three young men "did" the round of Parisian social events thoroughly, and a firm bond of friendship sprang up between them. The young aristocrats assisted their father to perfect their guest's French, and the Marquis accompanied the Prince to the theatre, where he soon learned to follow the play tolerably well. Later he could read his French newspaper without too frequent dipping into his dictionary. When King Edward was Prince of Wales he had a continual grievance, well known to those who came in contact with him. The inaction, as he described it, which was forced upon him by the elevated position he occupied proved chafingly irksome. This "deadly idleness," to use the King's own words, was due to the policy of Queen Victoria, who followed in all good faith the advice oi her counsellors, who held the opinion that "a Royal Prince should not actively participate in the affairs of the people." But when Edward came to the throne the dictum lost much of its force, and has continued increasingly to do so, until now the present Prince of Wales' diary is filled with duties as strenuous as any of the Ministers of the Crown or leaders of Parliament; indeed, the Prince has been rightly called "the first spokesman of the Empire." Honoured By French Navy. It needed such a man as the Prince of Wales, for instance, to visit the French Fleet to prove that our relations with France were of the most amiable description. The French . Government realised this, and were not satisfied until Le Due lc Chester had visited their fleet. Accordingly, on May 21, 1912, the Prince arrived at Toulon, after a very pleasant motor ride, and was received by Admiral Boue de Lapayrere, together with other distinguished French naval officers. Boarding the Maritime Prefect's launch, the young Prince was conveyed to the battleship Danfon, which was anchored a little distance away in the harbour, v- The occasion was a unique one for the Prince. lie was given the honour of issuing the order "Weigh the anchor," and then i'or a time was allowed to direct the manoeuvres. This concession had a great significance in the light of the Great War which followed two years later; for the time being part of the French navv v.-as under English command! The same night the Prince slept on board the Danton, where he was reminded of happy Hindustan days. Next day he enjoyed a short trip in a French submarine. "I Am No Longer a Boy." But what did the Prince think of Paris? That it was wonderful his smiling face and happy remarks to his two young companions, the sons of his host, as they took their walks down the Champs Klvsees, bore great testimony. Who, indeed, could be miserable in Paris during the spring, j even if there were two tutors and a batch of lesson books at home? 'J he Prince found a great interest in viewing the relics of Marie Antoinette at the Carnavalct Museum and the apartments of the ill-fated Queen at Versailles. He also visited Chantilly, as recommended by his mother, and saw there one of the finest jewel collections extant. The Prince spent many happy hours at the Marquis' country seat, Chateau de Bevilliers, at Breteuil, near the beautiful valley of the Chevreuse. Parties were arranged for young Edward's amusement (at his father's consent) in order to give as many people as possible the opportunity of meeting the Earl of Chester—England s future King! On these occasions Mr. Hansell.kept a very vigilant eve upon his young charge, for the night air was often chilly, a fact unnoticed by careless youth. Orice, when witnessing a display of fireworks, the tutor approached his pupil, who'was.chatting with friends, and asked him if he would not wear his overcoat. "The Prince's polite but none the less firm reminder that he was no longer a boy amused perhaps the worthy Mr. llansell, but it was a significant rejoinder. I mice Edward was, indeed, quickly leaving his boyhood behind Eighteen Years of Age. . In June the Prince reached his 18th birfhdav, and thus gained his official mawit v. "Leaving Ids host and hostess for a short while.' he returned to London for his birthday celebrations. He received.shoals of telegrams of congratulations, and the King of Spain honoured the occasion by conferring upon him the Order of the Golden Fleece. While the Prince was enjoying his com-ing-of-age celebrations the French Government addressed through the Foreign Oflico a request that he should be allowed to have conferred upon him the Grand Cross of the Legion oi Honour—the highest and most coveted of French decorations. The French newspapers, too—which the Prince could now read with considerable ease—intimated that they would be glad to welcome back the Earl of Chester after the conclusion of his birthda.v festivities at home. On the occasion of the. Prince's farewell Msit to the Elysee, before concluding his stay in Ira nee, the President, M. Falliers • conferred upon him the coveted Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, handing him tho case containing the insignia of the decoration. t A moment later Mde lalliens, regarding the young Prince with a very .motherly eye, pinned a rosette in bis buttonhole—the "undress" order of lirrinuersmp. With happy memories of the French people and their customs and outlook in bis mind, the Prince, left France on . August 25 1912. to return to bi. uurt.ml .work and studies. .(To bo continued dsilrfc {