The Waikato Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1934. OUR ROYAL GUEST

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19462, 29 December 1934, Page 4

The Waikato Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1934. OUR ROYAL GUEST

The preparations which have been made for the welcoming o His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, to the W aikato t is 11c , have indicated a depth of loyalty equal to that in any othei par 0 the wide realms of, the Empire. The tributes which we pay to lince Henry this afternoon are the spontaneous expression of sentimen s whioh are as deeply rooted as the principles of our existence.

The fact that it was necessary for the Hamilton programme of Prince Henry to be severely curtailed is a matter for veiy geneia regret, as much for itself as for the cause from which it sprang. Although the accident which the Duke received on Tuesday was o a comparatively minor nature, the results which might accrue iom unwise exertion and the intense strain imposed by the duties o a Royal tour could quite easily be sufficiently serious to pioduce a more extensive cancellation of plans at a later stage.

If Prince Henry was to complete his lengthy and arduous itinerary with the least possible disturbance of existing plans, it was essential that-he should take a rest at this early stage. Hamilton s loss is the gain of districts which appear later on the,-, itinerary, but we must not be churlish on that account.

To-day is a notable day in the history of the Waikato., That it should be the third of its kind in recent years detracts in no way from its importance. It marks the third visit, at seven-year intervals, of a son of the British Royal House. In'fact the previous visits of the Prince of Wales and of the Duke and Duchess of York were accompanied by expressions of enthusiasm whioh still hold a prominent place in our memories. It has been suggested that the great popularity of these predecessors has set a very high standard for Prince Henry, but his reception in other places has shown that he has fully measured to the requirements which a loyal democracy has imposed upon him.

If the Prince of Wales appealed to us through his “bonhommic” the Duke and Duchess of York through a more homely and domestio charm, the Duke of Gloucester has made his appeal as a simple Englishman and lover of the outdoors. His cheerful acceptance of the many public duties thrust upon him, coupled with his keen enjoyment of such respites from the official rqund as he has been able to obtain, have revealed him as a man Avhose personality is in’ its own way no less engaging than those of his brothers. His sojourn amongst ijs is to be all too short, but our welcome will be none the less loyal and •-friendly.