KING FAROUK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23334, 28 October 1937, Page 16

KING FAROUK

HIS SECLUDED UPBRINGING Although .much space has been devoted to the 18-year-old King Farouk, of Egypt, following his romantic engagement, very little has been said about him. The reason for that is that very little is known about him, says Ina R. Naylor, formerly nurse to the Egyptian Royal Family, in the Sunday Chronicle. Very little is known about him Decause, in the peculiar circumstances of an Eastern royalty, he grew up in the strict seclusion of the royal, palace.

■ Quite the most striking fact to show you what his early life was like is this: that until he came to England for the first time six months before his father died, he had never spent an hour alone in the company of a boy. All his life his only playmates had been his four sisters. I have seen it said that the bride he has chosen (Mile Zulfikar) was one of his childhood playmates. That is not so. He never met her until he set out for England again in June last year. Their romance has developed since then. One very human trait in his character, which will be of immense value to his bride when her life is joined with his, in his devotion to his sisters. His devotion for his sisters has saved him from the loneliness E a boy who has spent his life in a palace alone. It has kept him high-spirited, courteous, and kindly. His relationship with his father was a delightful feature of life in the palace. The prince was a born practical joker, and never let April 1 pass without enlivening routine. But Farouk has also a serious side to his character. Quite voluntarily he took a keen interest in the people of his country. Out of his pocket money of £5 each month he gave £2 to a poor family and £2 to help poor schoolboys to pay for their books and equipment. He had done this for many months before even his parents knew, and he continued his gifts regularly until he left for England. He was the very essence of kindness and loyalty to friends and servants. While riding one day he lost a diamond tiepin, and some months later one of the stable employees was arrested when trying to sel] it. Farouk pleaded in vain that the man should be pardoned. His father decided that an example musi be made of him. Never again did Farouk wear any jewel when riding. He said it was wrong to run the risk of putting temptation in the way of poor people. Hearing that , one of the palace gardeners had been dismissed because he was "too old to work," Farouk asked that he might be allowed to remain even if he did no work. "For," said Farouk (then aged nine), " if he is too old to work here, he is too old to work anywhere, and, poor chap, he must live." So the gardener ended his days in the royal employment. In October, 1935, came the biggest event in his life until his accession to the throne. He left home for the first time to come to EnPland. Egypt sent to England a happy, carefree boy. He returned six months later a serious youth with the responsibility on his young shoulders as King of Egypt and head of his house. While he was in England almost every post brought to Queen Nazli apd to his sisters some small token bought by himself for them. Farouk stepped into his father's place with a calmnes? and dignity which would have done credit to a much older man. But even in the grief of his homecoming his first thought was to comfort mother and sisters.