PRINCE OF WALES IS 32 TO-DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17880, 23 June 1926, Page 1

PRINCE OF WALES IS 32 TO-DAY.

STILL HOLDS PLACE AS FIRST BACHELOR. Thirty-two years old to-day, the Prince of Wales is still able to lay claim to the honour of being the first bachelor in the Empire. Although his sister. Princess Mary, and his younger brother, the Duke of York, have long since entered upon the matrimonial state, the Prince of Wales apparently prefers to upset tradition by retaining his freedom as long as he chooses. The Prince lias had a more eventful life than that usually spent by the heir-apparent to a throne. He

is one of the mosttravelled men in the Empire, having paid visits to India. Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United States, Africa and South America. He occasionally spends some time on his ranch in Canada. As a huntsman his Royal Highness has been the subject of a certain amount of comment because of the number of occasions on which he has fallen from his horse. More recently the cables recorded that the Prince had had a somewhat narrow escape in a motor accident, the back tyres of a car which he was driving having burst. London newspapers have on several occasions criticised the Prince for his sport-loving life and have hinted that the time has arrived when he should marry and settle down in preparation for that day when he will be ruler of the British Empire. The Prince enjoys the Christian names of Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David and also holds the titles of Earl of Chester, Dtike of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Garrick, Baron of Renfrew. Lord of the Isles and Great Steward of Scotland, and High Steward of Windsor. He is a colonel of the Welsh Guards, a captain in the Royal Navy, and a group captain of the Royal Air Force, besides being colonel-in-chief to many British and Dominion regiments. In honour of the occasion the banks and legal offices were closed to-day and a few flags were flown.