THE RETORT ROYAL

New Zealand Tablet, 21 September 1911, Page 1885

THE RETORT ROYAL

• ~n i? is article upon ‘ The Character of King George m the Coronation Souvenir number of The Throne and Country Mr. Fredrick Annesley gives a remarkable instance of the King s ready wit of an unusually dry order Specimens of his prompt repartee have occasionally been chronicled in the Press, but here is an anecw? W £- lch as not hitherto been recorded in type. When King George arrived in Bombay in November, IJUS, a large number of members of the Civil Service, the British and Indian regiments quartered in Bombay, and the Royal Indian Marine were presented to his /TJ 1 T lghneSS - Amongst the number was a veteran of the Uncovenanted Service. The old fellow, in his starchy white uniform, looked as dapper as the Admiral so when he was presented the Prince smiled upon him’ which emboldened the veteran to trot out his pet griev- : ance on the spot. r s hi i i d h y° u ‘I 0 * sa, id the Prince, as he shook hands with the greybeard. ... >‘ Very well, thank yer, yer rile ’ighness. I hope you’re the same.’ , 5 J- nope bar! fi? 8 ’ than . ks ’’ i d the Prince. ' I hear you’ve so bad^n 7 /” m EaSt 1 must sa y y° u don’t look ‘ No * me ’ y er rile ’ighness, I’m all right thank God, and very comfortable. Only, yer see yer rile ighness, our position is a little bi/invidioul We uncovenanted men aren’t what we orter be' It’s our cut eS off fe6 18 lL We . are socially, ostracised; we are cut off from communion with our fellow men and women ;we are placed apart ’ w men ana ‘=l i M I g ?° d fellow ’’ promptly replied the Prince, distress Jt ailds ° nCe more ’ W « »™, indeed brothers in