THE KING'S HIGHLAND HOME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23157, 1 October 1938, Page 18 (Supplement)

THE KING'S HIGHLAND HOME

By MAURICE DEVEREUX— (Copyright)

Secret Telephone Number A Key Kept Under Pillow QUEEN HAS MODERNISED GUEST ROOMS

DURING their recent holiday at Balmoral, the beautiful Royal residence in Scotland, the British Royal Family must have noticed many changes and improvements. Like Buckingham Palace and Royal Lodge at Windsor, this Highland home of Their Majesties has been much' modernised. Considerable alterations within the castlo have been carried out lately, many of these being tho result of suggestions made by the Queen herself a year ago. Several apartments have been converted into new and coipfortablo suites for tho use of guests, for whom there was previously very limited accommodation. Modern carpets, curtains and lighting fixtures have been included iii tho renovation scheme. Sporting Golf Course On instructions from the ; King, a number of trees outside the castle walls have been cut down to afford a better view from 'the windows of the magnificent mountain and valley scenery of Royal Deeside. His . Majesty's library, where the King receives ministers in attendance and otjier.visitors, and in which he conducts -his State business and correspondence, is furnished with large, comfortablo easy chairs and .well-stocked bookcases, "the business-like desk stands in front of the expansive window from which His Majesty can look over, the River Dee. > ; ; , The golf course of Balmoral is one of tho most sporting in Britain, and here is played an annual tournament in which anyone associated with the

Court can take part. One year this democratic contest was won-by the late Lord Stamfordham and on another occasion by the Royal chauffeur.. Several members of tho King's entourage are excellent golfers and His Majesty himself has steadily been improving his game after practice on- the miniature course which ho had instiUlod.* in the grounds of Buckingham Palace. Besides golf, the King enjoys shooting and fishing as well as motoring when ho is at his Highland home. On these various expeditions tho Queen frequently accompanies him, while the two Princesses ride or play in the beautiful grounds of the Castle. Care of Guests During the first few weeks of the Royal holiday at Balmoral only members of the Royal Family and personal friends are invited to stay, but later individual members of tho Cabinet come as ministers in attendance on His Majesty. These politicians, including the Prime • Minister, are allocated a special suite in the wing opposite the King's library. They also have a footman specially detailed to attend to their wants and to keep them informed of the daily programme. State documents are brought to the Castle every day in sealed, red despatch boxes stamped with the Royal cipher. The key to these boxes is kept for safety under the King's pillow at night, in accordance with ancient custom, while during the day His Majesty wears it on his watch-chain.

Aberdeen Police The King's private telephone number at the castle is known only to the Prime Minister, the Archbishop of Canterbury, tho Royal secretariat, and a selected few personal friends. Members of the Metropolitan Police from London guard tho Royal Family

during their residence at Balmoral.Three years ago the experiment of giving this honour to the local police was tried, but with little success. It was found that the Aberdeen constables were not familiar with court officials and other visitors to the Royal Family, and very often important callers were challenged. Now the tradition of employing the Buckingham Palace police

has boon re-ostablished, the local 'police force appreciate the difficulties of ' the Balmoral is in the parish of Crathie where the Royal party attend: divine service at the village church on Sun-! days. The beautiful old Castle was; purchased from tho trustees of Sir Robert Gordon in 1852 by Prince Albert, Consort of Queen Victoria. He presented it to Queen Victoria, who later; made her first railway journey from London when visiting the now Royal residence for tho first time. When in residence the King usually wears the "Royal Tartan/' specially designed for him. The Prince Consort was so attracted by this Scottish form of dress that he proposed tartan trousers to be worn) by the British Navy. The idea was later abandoned owing to its unpopularity with the Fleet. Tartan Furnishings A Baron Stockmar of Belgium ordered immense quantities of ■ tartan materia], but when this stock proved ' unsaleable it is said that Queen Victoria came to the rescue by having some of it made into curtains and upholstery. for tho Castle. Some of these old tartan furnishings can still be seen I in the Castle even to-day. I Being in the near vicinity of. Cairn- ! gorm Mountains, and Braemar, where the famous Highland gathering takes place annually, Balmoral forms one of the finest and most beautiful Royal estates in the world. Here Britain's King and Queen can really relax and enjoy the country life of which they are so fond,. after the strenuou* Stajta duties and engagements whicn havo kept them so active throughout; Vfche summer season. —K.P.F.