WATCHING ROYALTY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4895, 28 September 1901, Page 4

WATCHING ROYALTY.

Eoyalty may pick and choose society to a certain extent, but the private police, like the poor, rulers have always with them. Some Sovereigns object strenuously to tfa© surveillance. A tew xnaDage to escape it. Leopold 11. of Belgmm occasionally accomplishes that feat, by making bis movements so sudden and unexpected that bis vigilant protectors do not know he iB going until he is gone. He frequently scurries off to his shootingbox in the Ardennes quite alone, and often drives through his capital in an open carriage unattended ; but bis police are conscientious wfaen they have the chance.

The Eoyal family of Denmark sets aside private police, as it disregards many other irksome Eoyal traditions ; and, save on unusual occasions, goes about unattended and Bimply. But the members of the family who have become Sovereigns of other . coctries do not live bo simply. Nicholajs 11. chafes against the attendance, but recognises the necessity ; and, wherever he moves, he is surrounded by secret guards, as well as openly authorised attendants. If; he walks in the forest of Peterhof he cannot Batter himnelf that be fa alone, for posted behind treee> leaning ovei bridges, Btudying fountains, are inconspicuoae men, absorbingly inter-

ested in the landscape. When he travels or rides or drives, the same precautions are observed. In his palace his every movement is watched, his every step followed. William of Germany .until xecently, was the only living ruler in Europe upon whose life no attempt had been made. 111-natured critics say that he didn't enjoy the distinction — that, in fact, he deeply resented it — and that the recent assault was balm to his soul. Dramatic danger a sensational monarch may endure, but to be ignored ! In spite of his apparent immunity, the German Emperor has alwayß been surrounded by elaborate precautions. His private police service is large and efficient, and his famous 6ft bodyguard, looking tremendously spectacular in their eighteenth century # hats arid coats, are always in evidence in the Eoyal antechamber. When the Emperor travels he causes almost as much of a stir ap the Czar. Every mile of the railroad, every bridge, tunnel and rail is examined. Special guards are stationed along the route and the train is well guarded. It is only fair to say that the Emperor himself seems altogether fearless, and makes so many sudden moves, without reference to safeguards, that bis secret police are chronically out of breath. The English King hqs a bodyguard' corresponding to the German bodyguard ; but the honourable corps of gentlemen-at-arms and the yeomen of the guard do not work for their salaries as their German prototypes do. They are for ornamental purposes only, and never are on duty except at state functions. The Duke of York has his own private police, much to his disgust, and his children are constantly guarded, even in their play, by detectives. Humbert of Italy was one. of the monarens who most cordially detested the necessity of police attendance, and avoided it whenever that was possible. He insisted upon driving about even the most squalid parts of Some and Naples in an open ai* carriage with only one attendant, and would not listen to the constant; protests against his reckless exposure of his life. His police service was carefully organised, and guarded him in spite of his objections. Whenever one met the handsome king driving in his dashing fashion he was sure to meet at a discreet distance behind the Eojal carriage an inconspicuous cab in hot baste, and in the cab was the keen dark face of the head of the secret police. In the palace the king had a special guard, a gigantic Pl'edmontese, who slept nt his door, and was always near him. The present King of Italy is much more strictly guarded than Humbert was, but tbe Dowager Queen Margherita goes wherever she chooses in carriage or on foot, and scorns all idea of surveillance.

The Empress Elizabeth of Austria was as democratic in her actions as Queen Margherita, and always objected to public attendance, which was, nevertheless, imposed. The Austrian Emperor, whose life has not been attacked since he was nine, teen, is carefully guarded, and the late Empress was always intensely anxious in regard to his _ safety, though absolutely unconcerned about herself.

The personal defence of the Eoyal family of Spain is entrusted to a bodyguard of men from Espinoza, this town having enjoyed the honor for hundreds of years. These men of Espinoza accompany the members of the Eoyal family. One of them sleeps at the door of each Boyal bed-chamber and the rest of the guard, in noiseless slippers, pace the halls of the palace. But the hardest-worked police in the world is the private force of the Sultan, Abdul Hamid. A Frenchman, M. Houmai 19 at the head of the service, and it ever a policeman earned his wages he does. The Sultan has a firm and fixed belief that he is to die a violent death, and this cheerful certainty he contemplates with anything but Oriental calm. He refuses to move without a small army to protect him. When he goes to the great mosque, 30,000 soldiers are turned out to guard the route, and a troop of picked men surrounds the carriage closely. — In his palace he has 50. bedrooms, all with iron doors and complicated lockp, and he circulates around in them like an Arabian Nightß* monarch of guilty conscience. — ' Daily Express. 1