THE KING'S ELOCUTION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 12579, 28 September 1908, Page 3

THE KING'S ELOCUTION.

When the King opens Parliament the excellent elocution he displays in the delivery of tha King's Speech is invariably, remarked upon, for his Majesty has a strong, compelling voice, which is almost unrivalled in the two Houses for clearness and nenetration. There is nothing- "preachy" about his intonation, although he was first taught the art of voice production by a clergyman. His accent v too. is thoroughly and unaffectedly British, although there is just a slight trace of German pronunciation. Queen Victoria had his Majesty taught elocution when he was very young, and one day she inquired how he was progressing. "I regret to say," said the tutor, "that I cannot get rid of the Prince's German accent ; and when he is older, and has to speak in public the peopla will not, be pleased with it* " The Queen, therefore, ordered that in future the future King should give a daily reading before her in pure English. Not only is the manner of the King's speeches good, but their matter is irreproachable. Many of his impromptu speeches — utterances which it is obvious from the circumstances cannot have been prepared — are characterised by striking aptness of expression. Moreovor, he can speak in several languages with equal felicity. When one hundred delegates of the International Association of Academies visited Windsor in 1904, his Majesty shook each delegate by the hand and spoke to him cordially in his own language. On the same occasion he exhibited an intimate knowledge of chemistry and scientific matters. French he speaks "like a native." This was curiously illustrated at a private dinner in Paris, when M. Loubet read a carefully piepared little speech, whereas Kinpr Edward got up and rattled off a breezy little address, also in French, absolutely impromptu.