THE KING’S PRIVATE SECRETARY

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5288, 28 May 1904, Page 15

THE KING’S PRIVATE SECRETARY

A SKETCH OF HIS DAILY jVORK. Mrs Mary Spencer Warren contributes to the "I/cisur© H-mr"’ar article describing the work and responsibilities of those who attend upon the King. I*>rd Knob lys, His Majesty's private secretary, from the very nature of his position and duties —nest to the King—must know more of the inner wheels of the machinery of our own State and Empire, as well as more* of the political and friendly or unfriendly relations with Foreign Powers, than any other man. lie it is who morning by morning opens the d *,;patch bags and goes through the docuiients with the King, hears His Majesty's views, takes notes and indites replies; tlioso which are of extreme importance being written by his Lordship's own hand. Thus, when a change of Ministry ip imminent, or a leading member of the Government is about to resign. Lord Knollys is the one man—apart from the King and the official concerned—t-who is cognisant of tho fact. Also, this trusted member of His Majesty's Household deals with his Itoyal Master's correspondence, opening all letters not carrying the hallmark of relationship or privilege or marked private. And, truth to tell, even many of those which are so marked are subject to the discretionary powers of Lord Knol lys, for obviously the ‘private" is affixed by many persons who are either cranks, people with a grievance, or who send petitions with which tho King cannot constitutionally deal; applications for business patronage or autographs, and a never-ending stream of begging letters. The major portion of these are dealt with, in one stereotyped way; it goes without saying that the King cannot possibly be troubled with such epistles, so horn Knollys goes rapidly through them to get the gist, passes over such as should be answered to an assistant secretary, who in his turn directs one of the typists to despatch the formal set reply. Such as should come before the King do so in due course, the privileged private ones being at once sent to His Majesty, tho others being retained by Lord Kuollys for the fCing's perusal and decision. Of course, every happening iu the lioyal Household, whether it savours of public or private life, must bo conducted on absolutely punctual lines, or the most utt.;r confusion would reign supreme Instead of IJio very admirable order which is *now dominant, In no department is this xuor: necessary to be exemplified than in Unit of the private secretary. Let mo give an instance in connection with tho visit of an official of n public institution to settle the details of a visit with which tho King was about to honour the place. 2.30 was the hour named, but the official In question did not arrive until a few minutes after that time, and then found that one of seveial other callers had been given the preference. Furthermore, ho had to watch the whole number enter and leave the private secretary's room before his own turn came. AH but himself had been punctual to their vppointment, and so he hod to submit tc a long and tiresome delay, brought about by his own lack of punctuality. A little incldeut,- perhaps, but exactly" illustrative of the essentially rigid mode imperative at Buckingham Falace. Lord Knollys from long experience can gauge to a nicety just hqw long it will take to get through with so aud so. Al. ways courteous, he yet conveys an munistakablo impression of no time to waste, ? liven the idea of a man who knows exacty what he is going to say, and has a very nice knack of quiotl> bringing to the point any one who is inclined to be loquacious. Thus, he is generlly able to make up a long list of appointments to cover a certain, space of time—and get them over as specified. - Lord Knollys it Is who, with the assistance of the Equerries, sends out the "command invitations" to dine and sleep spend a week end, witness theatricals, etc. (The Invitations to Courts and other State functions are, of course, given thrmgh the Lord Chamberlain.) Thanks to companies and individuals are also duly despatched-from his Lordship's of. fice; the aggregate of documents and letters which have his name affixed to them day by day appearing cm imposing task of itself.. •