THE ROYAL TOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19977, 20 December 1926, Page 11

THE ROYAL TOUR

DUKE AND DUCHESS OF YORK EQUIPMENT OF H.M.S. RENOWN. ARRANGEMENTS COMPLETED. fPreia Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, December 18. (Received Dec. 19, at 5.5 p.m.) A shining silver grey outside, and a monotone of blue cretonne inside, the Renown will be the most modest royal ship yet commissioned. It was their Majesties’ wish to use wherever possible the apartments erected for the Prince of Wales on his last cruise. The Duchess’s womanly mind adapted its ideas to this wish, with happiest results. She personally directed the layout of the furnishings, choosing as supplcmcntaries articles made in the navy’s vocational school. The apartments have been wholly painted in unrelieved white, the armchairs, settees, and windows ha\ e been blu£-cretonncd. and the floors arc light-carpeted, except in the Royal dining room, where rugs cover the black-stained floor. ■ . The Royal apartments are situated on the after upper deck, and are exactly the same as those used by the Prince of Wales. They consist of a sitting room fitted with wireless, a dining room, and a sleeping saloon, with ordinary bedsteads, and a bathroom. There aio very few pictures, and these are mostly the natural choice of a mother s mind—namely, various photographs of the baby Princess Elizabeth, with the addition of pictures of Royalties. When the Renown is in the heat of tlie tropics the Royal couple will sleep in the bridge charthousc, which has been fitted specially for the purpose. There will be not only the band of the Royal Naval School to provide music on board, but a navy jazz band for dances en route, while for ceremonial purposes the Royal Marines’ famous War Memorial Silver Engles will be used. This will be the first time they have ever been loaned. The force of marines will be augmented to supply the Guards of Honour. With the exception of the Duke’s valet and the Duchess’s maid, the staff will consist of naval men, including special cooks and laundcrcrs, and even np-to-date hairdressers. Punctually at 1 o’clock on the afternoon of January 6 the Royal Standard ■will be hoisted at the masthead, and four destroyers will lead the battle cruiser through lines of saluting and cheering warships en route for Las Palmas. A. and N.Z. Cable.