EVER-WATCHFUL EYES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18768, 23 January 1923, Page 11

EVER-WATCHFUL EYES

PROTECTION OF ROYALTY. DETECTIVES’ GREAT TASK. How necessary it is that there should be iever-watchful eyes on the King and the members of his family, to guard them against lunatics, cranks, and dangerous miscreants, may be realised by a consideration of “incidents” which are now a matter of court history. Queen Victoria was universally beloved, bue she was subjected during her reign to five attacks, one, at least, of which might have proved fatal. Edward Oxford, a weak-minded man with a craze for notoriety, shot at her while she was driving along Constitution Hill; she •was, also, once struck in the face with a cane by a lunatic, while a pistol was discharged point-blank at her while driving away from Windsor Castle. In that instance the faithful John Brown’s prompt action in seizing the miscreant prevented another shot being fired. On two other occasions lunatics attempted the life of the Queen King Edward, when Prince of Wales, was shot at by a Belgian anarchist named Sipido, while his Royal Highness was seated in the .uoyal train. There have been other “incidents” to which reference will be made in the course of this article. It is a curious fact that weak-minded people seem to find an irresistible fascination about a King’s Palace. That is why ceaseless watch must be maintained outside the Palace in which the King may be m residence. This, of course, is quite different from the “shadows” who accompany his Majesty on his walks, rides, ceremonial visits, and when he goes into a foreign country, etc. THE ROYAL GUARDS. The genesis of the splendid corps of picked detectives who are charged with the responsible duty of safeguarding the King and his family may be found in an attempt made in the year 1789 upon the life of the aged King George 111 while strolling in the Park at Windsor. His Majesty had just recovered from one of his fits of mental darkness, and was gently promenading with one of his equerries. The outrage was the work of a lunatic, who attacked the King with a stick, fortunately inflicting but little injury. As the result of this it was decided that whenever the monarch took the air in the park he roust be accompanied “at a respectful distance” by two Bow street runners of irreproachable character.” These ‘Gunners,’’. familiarly known as “Robin Redbreasts,” because of their scarlet waistcoats, were the first detectives in England. The custom of having detectives for a personal .guard was continued for many years, until -the attack upon the Queen by Oxford led to a reorganisation of "The .Royal tinards.” In 1867 it was decided to tram a body of men to be drawn from the Metropolitan Police, these detectives to supersede the existing guard. Finally the duties were taken over by Scotland Yard men—that is, by detectives trained by the Criminal Investigation Department. _ The duty of guarding the King and Royal family is, therefore, entirely in the hands of Scotland Yard. Every morning the King’s movements are known to the Chief Commissioner, and it is his duty to see that adequate steps are taken by men to prevent any untoward “incidents.” THE LUNATIC AND THE QUEEN. Despite ceaseless vigilance, however, “incidents” have occurred that might very well have had unpleasant results. Buckingham Palace, naturally, requires especially careful guarding—firstly, because being in the metropolis, it is the magnet tha,t draws all sorts and conditions of people, and then the fact that it is surrounded by a wall, which, though is not an insurmountable obstacle to an active person, while the grounds afford excellent “‘cover,” necessitates constant watchfulness. On two occasions, at least, intruders have been found in the ground—harmless individuals, in both cases, who were suffering from a grievance that they imagined could be removed by Royalty. Queen Victoria, in 1887, was walking in the corridor of the Palace one night when she encountered an intruder. Ho was welldressed and stated that he had a petition to present to her Majesty. Help was summoned and he was handed over to the police on duty, while the strictest inquiries were made as to how he could possibly have entered. The explanation appears tp have been that he had some knowledge of the movements of the servants and had therefore walked straight in at the Buckingham Palace Road entrance, the custodian mistaking him for a Royal footman. Medical examination revealed that the man Was affected in his mind, CHARACTERISTIC COURTESY. Another “incident” of this nature, though less startling, occurred soon alter the King came to the Throne. In this case a man was captured by the detectives in the thick shrubbery fringing the parklike grounds on the south side of the Palace. He could .give no coherent reason why he was there, but as nothing was known against him, and his health was Lad, he was sent to Marylebone Infirmary. Finally, in the early port of 1922, his Majesty was ‘‘molested” —to use the police term, by a woman while he was leaving Uord Rosebery’s house in Berkeley Square. The word “molest” sounds very disturbing, but what actually happened was that as the King was passing to his waiting motor, a woman stepped rapidly forward, evaded the “shadows” who were lurking close by, and commenced a conversation. His Majesty realised that the woman was labouring under groat agitation, and with his usual courtesy listened to her story. He then gave orders that her allegations should be inquired into, and drove off. It is understood that she made a complaint regarding pension administration. Such incidents as these show how necessary it is to' “protect” his Majesty, for the woman might have been a dangerous lunatic with murderous intent. THE WATCH ABROAD. When the King sets out from his Palace ho is surrounded by invisible guards, for the great part of the Royal detective is that those rrien must not be obtrusively in attendance. Usually they number four, although during the height of the Irish trouble the number was increased. On special occasions—such, for instance, as the Belfast visit, when the King braved a great risk—the usual force of “royals” was augmented by a swarm of other “Yard” men. But it is when Royalty goes abroad that the work of the guards grows more onerous. For then there is always the lurking possibility of some fanatical hater of Royalty finding an opportunity to make an attempt on a quite harmless “tyrant.” On these occasions the monarch is accompanied by the superintendent of the ‘‘royal" detectives, and usually six other picked men go os well. Supposing, for instance, King George is visiting Paris. On arriving on French soil the British chief detective is met by the head of the French police for the district, and by mutual co-operation the work of guarding the illustrious visitor is carried on. Not for one moment is the vigilance relaxed, while before the visit the French police will have quietly ascertained the whereabouts of any notorious agitators with • nti-monarchical views, and if necessary put vhem under look and key “for their own benefit.” KING EDWARD’S FEARLESSNESS When the anarchist scare was at its height in France, the visits of King Edward, when Prince of Wales, threw a most onerous duty upon the French authorities. The Prince ■was restive under police surveillance, and liked to go about just as he pleased. This was well-known to Queen Victoria, and many agitated telegrams passed from London to the British Ambassador in Paris commanding him that “The Prince bo impressed with the necessity of taking every possible care,” etc. On one occasion the British and French detectives “lost” the Prince for a whole Evening. There was consternation, while Paris was combed bv anxious police emissaries. Finally the Prince returned to his hotel well pleased with himself. Ho hail been in company with Lord Randolph Churchill, and had won a bet by wagering that he would disguise himself so that the “shadows” would not know him. Unfortunately a garbled account of the incident got into a Boulevard journal and was copied into an English paper. The Queen heard of it, and then there was trouble. WHEN THE KAISER WAS SCARED. It is rather amusing to contrast the sangfroid of King George and our British Princes •with the nervousness displayed by some “illustrious Royalties” when they have been in our midst. Naturally, every protection is given to crowned heads when they come on a State or private visit. In the case of a ceremonial visit a military guard is provided in addition to the usual cohort of “invisibles,” while the visiting Royalty will bring in addition his own staff of private guards. Perhaps the most difficult and worrying monarch to guard is King Alfonso of Spam. Ho is perfectly indifferent to danger, loves to give the detectives the slip, and often runs off and completely vanishes. On the other hand police circles have many an interesting story of the Kaiser’s visits to England, particularly the notorious stay at Higholiffe, near Bournemouth, when

the “War Lord’’ was there “for the benefit of his health,” but indulged in a little He kaiser had a delusion that his visit to the South of England meant that the •neighbourhood would be swarming with evil men anxious to harm him. At the time he was at loggerheads with the German Socialists, and he was afraid that an attempt might be made upon his life. He astounded the Chief of Police, charged with the duty of guarding him while staying in Hampshire, by demanding that “a military cordon should be drawn round the castle for a radius of five miles,” etc. It is hardly necessary to say that the “All-Highest did not get his cordon,” neither did anything untoward mar his visit. Monarchs who have visited England have been amazed to see King Edward, King George, the present Prince of Wales, etc., going about with but one or two detectives in attendance. When the late Tsar came to Balmoral on his last visit some strange scenes were witnessed on Dceside. Myriads of Orchrana (Russian secret service) police swarmed in pairs, while practically every person in the locality was under a ceaseless watch. A harmless press photographer was arrested , and “put out of the way” for a few hours. It is calculated that the 'tsars visit of a few hours necessitated the movement of nearly a thousand Russian secret service men. The British detectives on duty were swamped. Of course, nothing happened to the Tsar, who, however, was always afraid of some “incident.” SHADOWING THE FRINGE. Guarding the Prince of Wales is a delicate and difficult task performed with exquisite tact. When the Prince is in town he likes to “dodge” about, as be puts it. He does not take kindly to the idea of being shadowed. But it is necessary —how necessary may be judged from the fact that the police are well aware that there is more than one half-crazy woman about who is under the delusion that she is to marry the Prince. To prevent “molestation”' is the object of the detectives, and, therefore, whether visiting privately or publicly the “shadows” are lurking in the vicinity ready to interpose if any “unauthorised person” snould show a disposition to intercept Our Young Man, During recent world tours of the Prince the guard was of necessity much augmented, and a pretty anxious time it The Prince is always absolutely careless of danger, and has been hoard to say more’ than once that to have detectives “hanging around” is "all rot I ’ Nevertheless, the life of the Heir-Apparent is so precious that those responsible for his safety cannot afford to run any risks. LETTERS FROM “CRANKS.” The correspondence sent to the King, the Queen, and the other members of the Royal family in a lesser degree, reveals how many cranks there are in existence who might easily pass from “crankiness” to real lunacy with all its sinister possibilities. It is the duty of the detective staff to take up any letters sent to Buckingham Palace, etc., stating grievances and urging that the “King must do something at once,” or “The Queen ought to look into the matter,” and so forth. Some of these missives are truly extraordinary. People write about personal grievances, ask for money for “a deserving case,” bog the King to come somewhere “and see things for himself,” and hint at all sorts of terrible scandals that are usually without the slightest foundation. All parcels sent to the palace must be opened by the “detective department,” for instances have been known whore bombs and infernal machines have been consigned through the post to exalted people. A great many presents are sent by kindly people; those, too, must be examined. Even threatening letters are not unknown. Sometimes they are sent by people with a queer sense of humour. During the recent Irish disturbances, veiled hints of kidnapping and “warnings from wellwishers” were not unknown. Such missives must be gone through, and ono can well ■understand that the staff of nearly 50 men, who are engaged in guarding the King, have a trying and very responsible task. Ever watchful eyes! Yes, they are always on the monarch and his family!