THE PRINCE OF WALES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20081, 19 October 1928, Page 10

THE PRINCE OF WALES.

•K STRENUOUS LIFE.

JHE SCIENCE OF ROYALTY. (TRADITIONS .AND PROBLEMS. A VERY VALUABLE TRAINING. tiy WALTER AND LEONARD TOWNSEND. (All Eights Reserved.) NO. XXXVI. Any chronicle of tho Prince's life after be commenced his career as an Empire builder must, for the sake of lucidity, be allocated into sections labelled " on tour " and "on holiday." This is only a figure of speech, however, lor tho holiday periods, are quite as strenuous as the ambassadorial missions. Even during his stays in England his official programme of engagements is always mapped out for .months ahead.

It. has always been a source of surprise ■f hat tho Princo does not suffer physically by his strenuous life. It would be untrue to cay that tho Prince is possessed of such abounding vitality that ho novcr feels tho strain which is imposed upon him. There are times, of course, when ho is as sick and tired as anyone elso, and has to allow his doctors to tako him over; but tho fact is tho Prince does possess one of the strongest of constitutions. Tho Princo has often been compared with his brother, the Duko of York, whom ho resembles markedly in features and build. But here tlio likeness ends, lor the Duko of York is at once mora studious, and possibly less gregarious; than his elder brother. This may be accounted for by reason of tho difference in the upbringing and young manhood of tho two brothers. The Duko has not received the same opportunities, as Prince Edward to widen his vision and introduce hun to 6uch a, galaxy of human types. Difference in Temperament.

The difference in temperament after the 21st birthday of each of theso two Princes forms a fascinating study for the student of human psychology who is interested in the question of environment versus heredity. Bo that as it may, however, the fact remains that both fulfil their respective roles, of necessity more or less diverse, in a satisfactory manner peculiar to themselves.

It has often been suggested that the Prince is not enthusiastically keen, to ascend tho throne of England, and wo remember his youthful lugubriousness at the knowledge that ho would one day be called to tho throne. It is vastly unfair, howeVer, to charge the Prince on this s>coro without taking into consideration tho fact that the Prince has his own ideas upon tho position of modern Royalty, and the way they should conduct themselves Loth individually and as far as the State is concerned. Tho Prince of Wales has probably spent more time and thought upon the science of Royalty—for it is a science, like statesmanship—than any other living person, and if he has como to the decision that his attitude and outlook are practically sound, then who shall deny him the right of his opinion. The Problems ol Royalty. Few know tho Prince's problems on the subjept of Royalty. He is faced on tho one hand with medieval traditions and beliefs of a large mass of people with a pleasant fund of historical lore, and on flie other with the reactionary thousands who are not at all sure whether they believe Royalty is necessary to-day or not. The Prince has enough sympathy and economic ..historical education to realise that both parties have good points in their favour, and that each has a right to be eatisfied either one way or the other by Royalty itself. When the Princes agrees with workers that the economic situation is serious and the unemployment problem practically unsolvable in this decade, and then continues his journey and takes part in an expensive State banquet, he is not guilty of compromising between the two extremes.

It is the Prince's natural and irrevocable spirit of comradeship which s.llows birri to shako hands with the toiler and smoke an expensive cigar with a peer of the realm. In this respect he differs from the Duke of York, for, though he is a student of economy and industrialism he is more concerned with the human aspect of the individual than the machinemade welfare of the masses. The Prince is no theorist, and believes that human happiness springs from human sorrows as .well as joys. "A King of the Future." The Prince of Wales naturally, as the heir apparent to the Throne, has decided idca3 upon the future- position Royalty will held. Many of tho one-time strong European Crowns have tottered, yet the House of Windsor has never been firmer established in tho annals of the British Empire than it is to-day. Despite the Englishman's dislike for changes, this solidity of opinion in regard to tho Throne has only been made possiblo by tho personal qualities of our Iluler and l his family. The Prince of Wales will, without question, make as good a King as his father. King George has already heard tho gratitude of his millions of subjects; his simple characteristics and warm earnestness are well known. Prince Edward is a different type of man altogether. Ho is a King of the future. The strenuous training ho is receiving to-day is fitting him especially as no other training could do for the futuro position of King of Engiand. It requires but little intelligence and observation (o see that the youth of our country to-day, is moving in a different .world from its elders, yet constrained by their very youth to modify their views and conduct. Sorrio day tho youth of England will bo tho middle-aged people of England— its backbone! They will then have put into practice the theories and views they now passively hold. .And their leader will bo the Prince of Wales. The Value, ol Common Sense. mari'v 3m I"^°,' s , t,l .° 0110 leader among so generation who"canTTr°! th ° - vOU "G er common sense and •, , One has only to loot ™ U n « l? 68 ' 8 " , the sayings and v,Tithes of ?' ve "literary men of the younger schLl ? that a groat deal of theh s™! \° r,oto eionato desire to emancipate il ? aS " from tradition is hot ai r P a nd £ C ' mel u vea they havo recorded their views there^ 0 " noteworthy lack of solutions ot Zl! tions ol how to set about tho •infill * lutiou. One „ill look looj ,S t S , to any unsound statements in the Prince s speeches, despite the fact that cont ' nuot * daib.)