A
THE CHINA MAIL, MONDAY, APRIL 23, 1956,
Wherever the Duke of Edinburgh looks, the image of that other Consort is there-with a warning
GHOST is a difficult thing to live with. The spectre of Albert,. Prince Consort, with haughty face and mutton-chop whiskers, is no ephemeral being which appears in Buck- ingham Palace on an occasional midnight with a clank of chains.
Albert is always there... a perpetual example, a permanent warning to the man Philip, who must ever wear his shoes - Duke of Edinburgh.
One of Philip's first self-appointed tasks when he became Duke of Edinburgh was to read and sturdy the life and letters of the man who peverded him as husband of a sovereign Queen.
Rut long before Uut it must have be. come very clear to the Duke that ha would never escape froth his personal gchent.
Mali radiy Albert m everywhere in The royal linen.
His eyou look down from The maty paintings in the state rooms at the Palace
and nt Windsor. He stares petulantly from the walls #f
IL
the private apartmenta too,
is At Balmoral there life-sized statue in the en- trance hall. There are re- minders wherever the Doke
wandern.
Albert's piano stands in
harn Paluera.
Prince Albert
perpetual Frample to the
77147)
Frist
who
always wear his ahora
"Leal
Fuc secrets
f
the Bow Room at Bucking Palace life should disastrous. Albert's China all they become public property." stuff he brought from Ger-
The Duke of Edinburgh the does not hate the Press. many
ehitters cabinets.
But these are relics.
only the
be
Public eye
Just
But he has an intense dis- like of the fim-star prone to life.
ap-
officer he
THE MAN
WHO LIVES WITH
A GHOST
so does the supposed to meet. Canadian
the AR
-by ROBERT GLENTON
could ever
11 is a happy and henithy marital state amel one with which the Queen agrees.
to have very much the same life informed the War Office of his
vlows about as the Duke had himself.
the value of the He is meeting with Home Harry Ferguson ear as a military,
1 resistance. But not so much as vehicle,
attle when he urged that tho Duke ahouki” be stmight boxing, On that occasion he certainly dkl not get his own way. The Queen refused to hear of it.
Clearly, however, the Duke— as was the care with Albertis having much influence in the moulding of the Heir to the Throne.
Hot kitchens
IT has been written of Albert that "his capable, inventive and industrious German brain was well suited for the task he provided for himself of running the royal howehokk"
The industry, harassed by labour cosla, export battles, and falling gates, is fur from pleased,
It has accused the Duke of Interference and ignorance.
But although both the Duke and Albert have been told to mind their own business - thera is this difference. Albert never learned. The Duke's, error-t error it be is that of a man
who is trying very hard to do his best and his duty.
The Dulce has had much less time than had Albert to let his anibitions make an impact on the country: he has already shown that he is determined to understand and at his life with- In the framework of the public will. for their
When he was rst married he promptly inspected the kitchens nad found them "hot and un. healthy and unfitted table "
the
o!
In his turn
Duke Edinburgh made a bee-line for the
condemned kthehens. ile
I had to be of once, them pointed out very famly that the expense of what he wanted done would be exerbllant,
But If the Duke was rebuffed, there was also praise for him. He showed from the very begin- ning that he was not going to take the way of highly ab- sidised idle ce
He was hoppy Indeed when he was allowed to be involved in the repair work and redecora- lon at Clarence House, He
chore colour schemes and helped In their solicitude for their to hang the pictures. He plan- wives. The Duke and Albert sed his own room like a ship's could almost be described as rubin,
Soon both Albert and the borsy
Duke turned their attentions "Vieinria must go to the sea- from pots and pans to the world akle," ordered Albert.
Expert people,
after
irt
lookin at even when they don't wan! to be looked ofter, the Duke of Edinburgh was once heard on a snowy morning Canada to ask the Queen why she wasn't
wooring overshous
that He suggested
she should go back and put them on-and at she did.
outside the Paluce gates,
It didn't take Albert long to become thoroughly
embroiled with the politicians,
He hated many of them as much as they detested him. He called Palmer- ston a rogue and gloated when he lost office.
Into politics
He s
not going to languish In surly deflance behind the
red-coated sentries und thu liveried footinen at Buckingham Palace. And his willingness to leam has already brought him much
did profit than more Albert's obstinacy.
By simple design, an early humility, and a careful study of the life of his predecessor, the Duke's position in this country is far stronger.
Poor Albert! It was 17 years before he Ws regarded ns D British Prince.
Refused title
ITTING In
→ Septeinber
Balmoral 1807
In Albert
wrote: "I am to have the title Prince Consort of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and to have Ireland. This
Cught been done at our wedding. But
imow in also
what you
were here at the state affairs time...I refused the title of a peer as being briew my digalty."
He finds the Jarity grows, harsh hot light of the televi- number of cameras. More und American newspaper who had sion cameras hard to take; cameras, further popularity. men and women the everlasting eyesdazzling
been on tour with the royal Little woeder that his Hash guns a refutal of the
temper
sometimes party he shook hands with has THE strong bonds between self-effacing way of life of
two or three, said, "This froved. Albert. Prime Com the unior naval
is a waste of time," and When he visited the Cote turned away. Sort, and Phahp. Take of once was. E'mburgit.
rare policion are far front
Albert often stored at P'Azur, he looked at the It was left to the Queen
Albert was very worried that the
of Wales elind coldeeling the Presa.
French photographers mill- to talk with an easy smile
young Prince There are so many storie
would have precedence over "This," he wrote to his ing round him and mur- to the men and women who about the Duke's success with
He has a hajsit
THERE is no evidence that the hum. His worries might have of opening H Regard Blastar mutual brother Brust, "does not mured: "I will not come found a fresh, good humour people, 01
hks understanding windows wide and saying "It's
Duke tes bad cven the
been justified. The fact remains leathing of the unblinking appear in the newspapers. here again.”
in her interest in them, and sympathy.
much better for you." The Queen smallest dispute with the pull that people and Parliament Thero is The tale of the Albert hated Exactly for this reason, it At a public function in And in all honesty it must .public
been known to clans, In fact, most of them who
angry that he was womith who lost her handbag. the Press.
Canada he said to photo- be reported that the Cana The Duke sought her out to tell blowing through the place. I was he who, is true.”
There's half a Hale have met hin athire his logic, made Consort, grumble:
his depth, and his understanding with soft persuasion in his The Duke of Edinburgh graphers: "Hurry up. Get diana and Americans, who her how sorry he was.
The Duke tries to make of the country.
How differently Prince Philip sruttural voice, beguiled the has never Aneered. But he your confounded pictures had been angered, were "It was well worth to see official occasions amusing too.
behaved. First, without a mur- as he and serum out of here." young Queen Victoria into has often flinched
mur Queen," she re- for he thinks this removes the
about his royal back- vory gentle about the Duke tur beautiful
piled.
strain on the Queen. Driving At the Windsor Hotel in in print the next day.
ground, he accepted naturalisa- making her ladies-in-waiting contemplates the tight circle
"Well, I'm glad you are con-
past a silent band at the road-
ilon and the title of Lieutenant promise not to keep diaries around him, As his popu- Montreal where he was
Duke. tent." said the
Mountbatten. "But I side he raised his fingers to his an imaginary
me paranda
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It is a fuct that wherever the Dulce Roe there is trouble for those who wish to record his popularity. Those happy, smil- ing pictures of him which are planed
So many wall throughout the world are not taken without difficulty, whether the photographers be Endish
לוט קu
men at some Midland factory or Africans In Nigeria.
Ballyhoo? No
BUT these are only the know-
ing pains of a Prince,
face
the
who Even those problems of meeting a publicity shy Duke find a great sympathy in his reluctance.
Like the people of Britain and the folk of all the countries he has visited they see him for what he is, a man who dislikes pretension, the ballyhoo of the public relations men. A Prince who
#kes
and people
who warms to their company.
What a contrast there is be- tween Albert and the Duke.
The folk of London once crowded
the streets in happy thousands to watch the Prince Consort'e disgrace when rumour flew around that he was being zint to the Tower as a trailer.
It took them months to get over their disappointment when they found it was not true.
Mother
has
can tell you the Queen would lips and played have been awfully
put out flute. Once when he missed his cue at a Services parade te fol- she had lost her precious bag."
lowed his belated salute with a And in amall Australian thumbs up gesture. town a nervous woman fell over s she rrisled to him. Every- une laughed. The Duke frowned und
onally and after the presenta- tions were over went back to
Solicitous
when
the Queen her, asked If she were unhurt Hoften nudges
he notices anything and insisted on spending much amusing us they drive along. time talking to her.
But he has found his own way of getting into trouble.
Toke National Service, Even the unlucky Albert did not get criticised when he de- claimed that military life was a manly occupation.
But when In 1958; at Edin- burgh University, the Duke sald National Service was a very im- portant character-building ex- perience and that fow came to harm through 14.. he really got into hot water.
It was perhaps ill-advised for him to have aired his views in a country torn between its dislike of conscription and the realiste In any case the Scottish So- clalists Foon made their own opinions clear. The Duke, they raid, displayed his passionate militaristic desire for uniformity. would pay the Duke" they thundered, "to remember for the that the British public will not tolerate such interference by members of the Royal Family." The Duke has not spoken on conscription since.
These are NOL Isolated "I look aut for the crafty tion that it must have it. legends. There are hundreds of people." he said about the such stórles and they have sent crowds who line. their route. the Duke's prestige soaring,
"The people who Taint' Just and get From the day they both as the car approaches
at the Paige life has passed over to the front. They arrived
Just in time to get a **** run parallel for both the Duke recover
good view" and for Albert.
He is very solicitous Queen's welfare. When she was the Shakespeare at Old Vic after a long day on
Queen dozed.
The gently
and
The extra room watching
HEN
he first went to live duty, the
Where Albert simply had an bruke touchWaker, wakey.""
Interference?
were very
Dukedoin. of it
Then came his There was no grumble being beneath his dignity, even though he were just thirtieth in the Order and although his son
Prince Charles, Duke of Com- wall, was to head the list.
of Because
his Immediate pcpularity It was very easy for the Queen to do almost Im- mediately what Queen Victoria had found impossible for 17 long years,
Lives diverge
SHE WAS
able to decree that the Duke should be the first man in the land, talking preced- ence only after her on every,
state occasion.
With that last comparison the Ilves of Albert and the Duko 'diverge and never meet again. extra room in the Queen's suite
the attitudes of Regard
Consciously or otherwise, the converted for himself,
Albert and Edinburgh towards
Duke has denied that autocratic Philip. the how husbond, their sons. destined to become
ancestry that flows in his bloed moved into a room In Princess Kings of England.
AND If the Duke and in pay as it flowed in Albert's. Elizabeth's suite,
the saine They both display
Where Alberti regarded him- And both found great happi- tinge of severity. ness and comfort. In their turn Albert selected the Prince of hen just as much criticised for self as always superior to the Wales' trienals, bombarded him too enthusiastically wandering people, the Duke has come down into the nation's commercial life. from his pedestal of rank to with advice on his conduct, even
meet hem, to laugh and When Albert organised his planned his sightseeing for him.
Wales Great
sympathise with them. Exhibition it proved a
He is high in cur esteem. Only
decessor have erred in stry- Ing into politics they have
cried out
th
loud
the
the cheers praise.
to
they discovered pleasure in con- sidering the well-being of their wives.
And when the Prince of Victoria clung to Albert, The Duke of Edinburgh fusses werd to University i was Albert great success and brought a thap his own words or deeds could
who ordered him not to smoke. to trade.
the Court havo
still? the or, Many
! over the Queen.
But It made many politicians The Consort and the Duke commented
the strictness angry: some on have this
common-they both with which the Duke of Edin prayer that it be struck by light-
And with the lesson of the arc the
his children thelt, burgh rules
in ning, others threatened to blow brooding Prince Albert around The streets are lined for the marriage. In state affairs they public.
It up.
him with the moody ghost in Duke, But by people who follow their wives. In his pri-
plans for Only a short while ago the every Palace ccrridort is hard admire him as one of the most vate life
kc- the Duke wears the the education of Prince Charles. Duke deelded to play an to believe that the Duke, with popular men In the world-a trousers,
** just Albert did He wants him to get out inio tive part in the progress of such a bright future, could eyer
the world, go to boarding school, the British motor industry. He commit such an error, min who occupies a space only before him.
masters of
He has advanced
Russia Plans An Artificial
Bonn EPORTS of apparently Rerious Soviet plans to
means of atomic
CAR-CONIU SALUD
By NORMAN LINDHURST
The Soviet theory is that by Sen of Japan. In theory this
would moderato the ellmate
research since the mid-1930's, when the Communists first bodri pressing hard to open up and develop Siberia and the rest of Astatie. Russia.
Climate
The Siberian
project would bo or direct benoit to Ainsken and the far Canadian north, it is claimed, but would make the weather along Japan's gastern Soviet scientists claim that, coast worse. The cold current
try (by energy) to give Siberia a damming off the Polar could along thh Siberlan coost on the by redirecting the flow of warm from the Sea of Okhotsk would warmer. cilmato are being the Japanese Gulf Stream examined by West German be redirected farther worth to Son of Japan and reduce the and cool ocean currents,, high bo deflected, by the Siberian scientists.
of
oway
that Vladivostok, and low pressure atmospheric At present this stream period
areas could be altered, This mainland-Salhalla dam. cant off the Japanese Russia's main Facilo port, is in turn,
it is argued, would from the Siberian coast on the Pacific loobound and would (theoret- produce basta changes in world 50% of Japan and Into the flowing to the
Pacino along the east coast of moderate the harsh weather patterna, Ically) Canada and the United
Sakhalin and Japan, Siberian in- elimate of the terior.
WARMING UP
1
warm the Siberian and Alaakun consts.
breaks The plans involve the build-
the Bering roast ing of dams across Strait and between the Siberian, coast
the mainland and
island of Statos, Sakhalin, tho pumping (by
EFFECT ON TYPHOONS The Russians propose, to dam enormous nuclear energy) of
the Bering Strait at its nar→ of "warm" water quantities
Most of the West German
rowest point, a distance of 36 the Russians from the Pacific Ocean into the
exports believe
German scientists have long miles. The 'Siberian-Sakhalin. East Siberian Sen behind this By pumping vast quantities are quite serious about trying speculated that if the Russians dam would be a much smaller Bering Straincial lake in the
and the creation of warm water from the Pacing to give Biberia a new
climate, can effect alterations in the undertaking. of a giant
into the Arctic, the Russians and are inclined to take at face Siberian climate, this
would middle of Siberia by means of hope to warm up the coastal value
an announcement by have percussions
The claim is, also made that on Con- blasting.
provinces of Siberia fronting on Radlo Moscow that nuclear
Soviet Soviet Uinental European weather, and the
project would the Arolio eens.
salontists have the Siberian climate.
moderate the typhoon' poril'in project under study and that
the Pacific. The movement
Damming of the Bering Burait would be designed to halt The propond dam between members of the Soviet Academy The elimination of most of of cold air from the Polne re- the southward, flow, through the Siberian mainland and of Selance believe the scheme the mass of cold air moving into glons would be curtailed and
of oold Polar Sakhalin Island would the Strait,
be to be fodbiq currents which Influence the designed to block the flow weather of the Siberian mati- woullward of cold currents from
me provinces and Alaska, the Sea of Okhotsk into the in
The Boviet Union the forefront
Europe from the Polar.regions, the impact betwesh warm and according to some selentists, cold air mason, which produce 38s been might even give Europe an tha, typhoons, would Bo car di: Arcite oventual sub-tropion) elfrnate, respondingly lesswood.