Evening Star Newspaper, September 21, 1930, Page 86

4 THE. SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, SEPTEMBER, 21, 1930.. e Prince of Wales” Three Major Problems Interesting High- lights on the Person- ality of Prince Edward Indicate His Views on Mar- riage, Monarchy and Middle Age. BY THOMAS G. MIDDLETON. LONDON. HE birth of a second daughter to the Duke and Duchess of York has again placed the matrimonial question of the Prince of Wales in the fore- ground. Even since the war the world has eagerly awaited the time when Prince Edward should join the ranks of the benedicks and provide an heir for the British throne. But it appears that His Royal High- ness thoroughly enjoys his freedom and has escaped serious wounds from Cupid’'s bow. He is content to allow his brothers and their chil- dren to succeed him. However, both of the children of the Duke of York are girls, which leaves England with a prospect of having a Queen on the throne within the next half century unless the Prince of Wales weds and has a son. Because the Duchess of York's recently born child is a girl, it is more probable that the Prince of Wales will marry from a sense of duty to the nation than if his sister-in-law’s child had been a boy. HEN the Prince of Wales recently made so great a public display—or allowed a dis- play to be made for him—of the reorganization of both his town residence, York House, and his newly acquired country mansion, Fort Bel- vedere, as definite and positive bachelor homes, those closest to him were aware that there was a very determined object behind it. An object and a significant decision. For it is certain that into the parade of his "settling down into bachelor domesticity can be read by all ipterested and with eyes able to see not merely a “warning off” notice to ambi- tious girls, of whom there are many hundreds who would give half their lives to become Prin- sess of Wales and prospective Queen of England, but also a reply to the constantly increasing public curiosity expressed in many directions as to whether the Prince of Wales ever intends to marry. Those in closest touch with the Prince of Wales know that he has three major problems: Marriage, middle age and monarchy. I am positive, if I know tife prince aright, that if he could have the choice he would most certainly rather not ever be King of England. Whenever the day comes that he is called to the throne by his position in the line of suc- cession, he will assume the high rank and onerous duties fully, completely and conscien- tiously, as he does all his other official tasks. He will drop many of his pleasures and many activities which to him spell life. He will apply himself to the great work of a kingship with a fullmess of effort, and will be one of the most successful and powerful monarchical personali- ties of the world. But he will not be happy in the position. I have taken the monarchy problem first be- cause in some respects it is perhaps of greatest importance and will mean the greatest revolu- tion and wrench in the life of the Prince of Wales. Once the crown is assumed, gone will be the free-and-easy life he delights in so much and, despite his official position as heir to the throne, insists upon. Today he argues that M he performs the thousand-and-one official duties as prince, he is entitled to forget his rank when that work is done and become an ordinary being. Were it possible he would like to be plain Mr. Windsor. As that is not possible, he wants to spend as many Mr. Windsor-like hours as he can. But as King there will be no such informal and good times., He will not be able to give and take part in the merriest of gay bachelor parties or go to dances and select the prettiest and most vivacious women in the room as part- ners; fly to a golf course wearing the most daz- zling of extravagant golf clothes, and even squat on the gracs with the crowd to watch the best players take their strokes, or go to the club houses for informal drinks and chats; delight his merriest friends with amazingly clever imi- tations of leading artists at the piano; join in an impromptu jazz band with bocom pals and keep the neighborhood alive until early morn- ing, or do any of the free-and-easy-living things which now make life tolerable to him and com- pensate him for the trying officialdom of his unsought but inevitable rank. That is why monarchy is a very major prob- Jem to the Prince of Wales, HAT then of middle age? Here I can tell you many secrets. The Prince of Wales Is 36. It is a time of life when men, if they are not extremely careful, put on too much weight. And the Prince of Wales dreads that as much #s he hates pomp and circamstance. He knows The Prince of Wales enjoys the free- and-easy camaraderie of his friends whenever rossible. Above he is shown in a child’s costume and wig, as he ap- peared in a comedy entutled " 1 he Bath Room Door,” presented aboard H. M. S. Repulse. that he has a strong hereditary tendency to stoutness. He remembers how his father, and especially his grandfather, changed very rapidly and noticeably to rotundity and stoutness just on the approach to 40. Few know how strenuously the Prince of Wales fights this tendency. He is naturally, proud of his slim, smart figure that is the de- light of his tailors and the rapture of his ad- The Prince of Wales seems to have little inclination toward matrimony, but since he is only 36, there is still a chance that Cupid will find him vulnerable. mirers, particularly the women and girls, to whom he is indeed the real Prince Charming. The Prince of Wales aims at maintaining a permanent weight of 126 ponds, which is really light for his height nad age. Sometimes he is a few pounds above that weight, but never for long. He diets rigidly and puts in strenuous hours of exercises to keep down his weight. Considering that he attends more public ban- quets ahd luncheons, probably, than any one else, the Prince of Wales eats less each day than almost any other public man. He passes by all the rich dishes at these gatherings, even as he does the wines, and for the most part contents himself with dry toast and whisky and soda. I have sat opposite the Prince of Wales on hundreds of such occasions and noted carefully what he ate. He rarely takes soups. He will eat a very little plain white fish, but refuses rich sauces. He never takes joints, but will accept a little chicken with a very modest— almost infinitesimal—helping of vegetables or salad. And no sweets. While other guests are going steadily through the heavy menu, the royal diner will have before him a few pieces of dry toast which he slowly nibbles. At home, breakfast is very plain and simple and is usually of toast, fruit and coffee. If he lunches at home a piece of steak, a chop or, perhaps, fish and more fruit will suffice if he wants what he calls a “substantial” meal, but for the most part his lunch, if taken alone, consists of sandwiches and coffee, a whisky and soda and cigarette in his own den. But sometimes there are jolly lunches spread out at his bachelor quarters when a few of his most intimate friends drop in for an informal hour. Then out will come the prince’s ukulele, on which he is now a first-class performer. Others of the group will join in and there will be a merry round of singing. It is the kind of party that the prince likes to give best. The prince was along time learn- ing to play his ukulele—a very painful time to his friends. For the prince does not know and refuses to try to learn a single note of music. He is not interested in music of a serious type, out he delights in jazz. The prince told some of his friends when they admired his playing that it very nearly resulted in a world-shaking tragedy ,because he was sure that if he had not mastered the instrument when he did some of the sufferers of his household would have quietly assassinated him. He picks up any tune very quickly and commits it to memory and then, in the solitude of his den, works it out on his ukulele, His greatest musical entertainment, reserved, however, strictly for his jolly bachelor companions, is a series of comic imitaitons of famous pianists. He mimics their mannerims and style while playing jazz tunes in a “heavy” manner . The prince loves to startle his intimates by suddenly blossoming forth as an expert in some The Duke and Duchess of York, to whose children the British crown will fall in the event that the Prince of Wales remains a bachelor. - Princess Elizabeth of York, niece of Prince Edward and third in line of succession to the English throne. new line. I well remember the sensation he created when the “Black Bottom” dance was first imported to London. The prince had re- cently been to America and seen the dance there and knew it was bound to journey teo Europe. On his return, he had quiet inquiries made and found an instructress who knew all about fThe new dance. Every day for two or three hours he practiced the dance at York House, until he became expert in the steps. When he had learned the dance thoroughly, and while it was still very new in London, he startled the whole of English society by stepping out on a fashionable dance floor with a special ly chosen partner and giving a perfect demon- stration of the “Black Bottom.” His painstake ing private lessons are also the secret of his present perfection as a dancer. His lucky parte ners all declare that, apart from his personality, the prince is the most thrilling man to dance with because he puts such life and delight and real enthusiasm into his steps. He prefers fox- trots to waltzes and hates the tango. Essentiale ly, he loves speed—even in music and dancing. It is this love of speed that made him take up flying so earnestly that very soon he will take his pilot's certificate. It prompted him to take up the exciting point-to-point racing over wild country until it was pointed out to him that these hot competitions with numerous falls —due not to faulty but to extremely daring rid- ing—were a danger to life that no heir to the throne should indulge in. With his solo flying special care will be taken and for the ‘most part a pilot will accompany him even when he is handling the controls. Big-game hunting has intrigued the prince for some years and he has made several trips to Africa for that purpose. He enjoys the actual hunting and also the rough, informal living conditions which necessarily prevail when on safari. Last Spring, when in the Belgian Kongo seeking elephants and rhinoceros, he had & narrow escape from an angry bull elephant. Prince Edward was taking motion pictures that day and the elephant, apparently enraged by the invasion of his retreat, charged down the hill toward the spot where the camera was set up. Other hunters shouted a warning to the prince, but he ignored them and the picture was still being ground out when the great beast was shot down by the prince’'s companions a scant 20 yards away from the camera. The jncident and similar ones which occurred during the war and on other hunting expe- ditions illustrate the general attitude of the prince toward personal danger. Although he does not purposely court disaster, Prince Edward is inclined to take the same sporting chances that others courageous men take with little thought of his importance to the state. ABOUT he prince's persistent bachelordom there is a good deal of mystery. Many persons have tried to solve it. Whispers have been passed around—mostly untrue. It is a very delicate subject to discuss and if you really want to rouse the prince to protest and hurt his feelings, ask why he has not married and what he intends to do about it and you will succeed in a manner that will surprise you. It is not that the Prince of Wales does not like women. He takes the greatest delight in the company of charming girls and women he meets and his dance partners are numerous and ine clude some of the most vivacious of the fair sex in British society. But to all of them he is just a charming dancer, supper or dinner partner and if he shows any preference it is for those women who will accept his favors and friendship on that footing of friendliness with out endeavoring to presume upon it. Those who know him best declare that the prince has not yet had a friendship with any woman or girl which ever promised to develop even into a minor love affair, much less a major one. His major marriage problem is the official side of the matter. He knows that the nation would be delighted to see him married so that when called to the throne there could be a prospect of a direct heir to the crown. But the prince’s nature revolts against an official marriage. He would marry if he could love. And from present indications it would certainly appear that unless he can make a love match he will be prepared and content to become a bachelor king. «Copyrighted, 1930.)