BEHIND THE THRONE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21396, 20 October 1934, Page 11 (Supplement)

BEHIND THE THRONE

THE PRIVATE SECRETARY In spite of the meagre attention which the private secretary to the Sovereign attracts he is a person of considerable importance. He has to act as liaison officer between the Sovereign and his Ministers—a task which has at times called for the greatest tact and foresight. Under the title " Behind the Throne " Mr. Paul Emden has published a number of sketches of private secretaries, official and unofficial, to Queen Victoria and King Edward. The first to be gazetted as private secretary to the Queen was General Grey and that was not until several years after the death of the Prince Consort. He had in fact already held the post for six years before it was officially recognised. Grey had to deal with the striken widow, who clung to the past and " tried to shape her every course as her departed dear one would have wished."

Grey was succeeded in 1870 by Sir Henry Ponsonby who for 25 years successfully steered' the self-willed Queen through bewildering political changes. Ponsonby was in turn succeeded by Arthur Bigge, later created Lord Stamfordhain, who guided the Queen during her. declining years and then was called upon to serve King Edward and his present Majesty until his death in 1931. Included in the volume is an interesting sketch of Baron Stockmar and shorter sketches of several secretaries prior to Grey. A chapter is devoted to Ministerial private secretaries and in a final chapter there are introduced some of the personal friends of King Edward such as Farquhar, Esher, Casscl and the Rothschilds. " Behind the Throne," by Paul H. Emden. (Hodder and Stoughton).