SALUTES OF RULERS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIII, Issue III, 15 July 1899, Page 91

SALUTES OF RULERS.

Emperor William is one of the two European monarchs cvho delights in a hearty handshake. He has a strong grip and the person honoured by him with a clasp of the hand is apt to remember the dignity thrust upon him. William usually kisses royal friends. When he visits or is visited by a monarch he kisses him three times on each cheek. Under no circumstances will Franz Josef of Austria shake hands with anybody except brother sovereigns. A nod and kindly smile is all he ever vouchsafes the most distinguished of his subjects. Nicholas Of Russia shakes hands with no one but a fellow-monarch. Relatives he kisses on the forehead. Every one who comes to see the King of Italy finds a handshake had hearty greeting if the King likes him. Humbert is a democratic King.. Sweden’s King does not like official handshaking and rarely gives one of his Ministers his hand. When he is off the throne and free to be himself he is different, however, and shakes hands as heartily as one of his own subjects. Only with relatives will Queen Victoria shake hands. Outside her own family she occasionally gives her hand to be kissed. The Prince of Wales, on the contrary, likeg to shake hands, and always offers his hand to the person who is introduced to him.