Monarchy
New Zealand
The Journal of The Monarchist League of New Zealand Incorporated
ISSN 1174-8435
Volume 8 Issue 4 November 2003
The Monarchist League of
New Zealand, Inc.
Patron: Hon Sir Peter Tapsell, KNZM MBE MBChB FRCSEd FRCS
Founder: Merv Tilsley, Esq.
The Secretary, 72F Ladies Mile, Remuera,
Auckland 1005, New Zealand
Website URL: http://www.geocities.com/Capitolhill/Parliament/7802
Council:
Chairman: Noel Cox, Esq., LLM(Hons) PhD GradDipTertTchg AdvCertHeraldrySociety CertTertTchg HonCIL FCIL FFASL FBS
Secretary: Chris Barradale, Esq.
Treasurer: Stephen Brewster, Esq., MBA BCA CA
Councillors:
Nicholas Albrecht, Esq., MA(Hons)
Roger Barnes, Esq., FHSNZ
John Cox, Esq., LLB MNZTA
Mrs Jean Jackson, BSc
Neville Johnson, Esq.
Ian Madden, Esq., MA LLB FSA(Scot)
Robert Mann, Esq., MSc PhD
Carl Nordstrand, Esq.
Professor Peter Spiller, BA LLB PhD LLM MPhil PhD AAMINZ
League Officers:
Legal Adviser: Noel Cox, Esq., LLM(Hons) PhD GradDipTertTchg
Librarian and Archivist: Noel Cox, Esq., LLM(Hons) PhD GradDipTertTchg
Provincial Representative, Manawatu-Horowhenua: Kevin Couling de St Sauveur, Esq.
Provincial Representative, Waikato: Professor Peter Spiller, BA LLB PhD LLM MPhil PhD AAMINZ
Editor, Monarchy New Zealand: Noel Cox, Esq., LLM(Hons) PhD GradDipTertTchg
Assistant Editor and Advertising Manager, Monarchy New Zealand: John Cox, Esq., LLB MNZTA
Honorary Chaplain: Revd Canon Gerald Hadlow, LTh
Webmaster: Noel Cox, Esq., LLM(Hons) PhD GradDipTertTchg
Monarchy New Zealand is published by The Monarchist League of New Zealand Inc. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the policy of The Monarchist League of New Zealand. Correspondence should be addressed to the Editor, Monarchy New Zealand, 123 Stanley Road, Glenfield, Auckland 1310, New Zealand. Tel: +64 9 444-7687; Fax: +64 9 444-7397; E-mail: [email protected]
Editorial
One of the essential attributes of our constitutional monarchy is its continuity. This is reflected both in its hereditary character, and in its social, political and constitutional heritage. The monarchy is not simply an institution. It is also a family. Both families and institutions evolve over time. The year 2002 saw the deaths of The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret. It also saw several births among the more distant members of the royal family.
This year will see the birth of a son or daughter to the Earl and Countess of Wessex. The child will be the first prince or princess born into the House of Windsor in the twenty-first century. They will be faced with circumstances quite dissimilar to those which faced anyone born at the beginning of the twentieth century, whether royal or commoner.
It has perhaps become fashionable to make negative comments upon the role of the monarchy and of the royal family. But the monarchy is not in the twilight of its existence. The new century can offer new ways in which the monarchy can serve its principal purpose – the good of the people.
The beginning of the last millennium caused many to predict dire events, and to fear the future. Even in 2000 there were similar warnings from some. Yet as Her Majesty said in her message at the beginning of the current millennium, the future offers us great opportunities also, as well as challenges. This view was also made by the Prince of Wales in his message on the same occasion.
Let us hope that the future will afford the new prince or princess the same opportunities which we all take for granted, and the chance to contribute to the good of mankind in whatever manner they choose.
Dr Noel Cox
Editor
News in Brief
Privy Council
The House of Representatives has passed the Supreme Court Bill, which abolishes appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, and establishes a Supreme Court of New Zealand. It is to be regretted that Parliament chose to proceed with the Bill, despite significant opposition.
Most Select Committee submissions were strongly opposed to the abolition of appeals to the Privy Council, and opinions polls suggest some 80% of people felt that this was a measure which ought to be put to the country in a referendum.
The Attorney-General had sought in vain for a consensus in favour of her Bill. However, with the support of the Green Party, the Government had the numbers to pass the Bill – though narrowly. It is widely accepted that constitutional reforms of this nature ought not to be passed by a bare majority and in the face of significant opposition. Many independent commentators have observed that the way in which this controversial measure has been passed has serious implications for the standing of the new Supreme Court. It also has significant constitutional implications, as there will inevitably be suspicions that the judiciary will become politicised. This is not simply a party political matter, it is a constitutional question of great importance.
It must also be observed that the move was motivated in part by the republican agenda of certain political figures, as has been admitted by the Hon Margaret Wilson and Nandor Tanczos. Their main argument was that New Zealand needs to have it own 'identity', to be 'mature', or to be rid of any 'vestiges of colonialism'.
Additional arguments based upon improving access to justice, and the cost of appeals to the Privy Council, were unconvincing, and were largely abandoned, leaving only the political arguments. That all of these arguments are inadequate was shown by the fact that the majority of Maori, business, local government, and legal submissions were opposed to the Bill.
It is also a matter of regret that the Prime Minister and Attorney-General have continued to repeat a number of misleading or incorrect claims in support of abolition of appeals to the Privy Council. Advocates of the Bill have falsely claimed, amongst other things, that only three (or six) other countries retain appeals, and that the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is being abolished as part of constitutional reforms in Britain. It might also be noted that a number of the Caribbean countries which the Attorney-General counts as having abolished appeals have not done so, and although they may end appeals in the near future, abolition is subject in some cases to approval by referendum. One might wonder why we have been denied a similar opportunity.
Constitutional reforms, whether of the higher reaches of the judiciary, or of the Crown itself, ought to be conduced with more restraint and respect for constitutional propriety.
Princess Royal in New Zealand
Princess Anne was in New Zealand for five days in October for the 2003 Commonwealth Study Conference, which was the 9th Study Conference since they were founded by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in 1956. For the first time since the inception of these Conferences, His Royal Highness was not able to attend.
She was received at Government House, Wellington, by Her Excellency the Governor-General, and later attended a reception for the Commonwealth Study Conference New Zealand Charitable Trust, also at Government House.
On the following day the Princess Royal met with Representatives of the Save The Children, and was the guest of the Governor-General for dinner at Government House. On the 20th she left Government House and continued with the next part of the visit.
Princess Anne called at Auckland, the Far North, Hamilton, and the West Coast, in what was called by the Department of Internal Affairs a "private visit".
Following her visit, Princess Anne moved on to Australia, where she watched the Scottish rugby team take on France in the Rugby World Cup.
Commonwealth Study Conferences have been held every six years since 1956, with three being held in the UK, three in Canada and two in Australia. The 1986 Conference was jointly organised by Australia and India. The former Governor-General of Australia, the Hon Sir William Deane, is Conference Chairman this year, and this Conference was jointly staged by Australia and New Zealand. It is envisaged that the Tenth Commonwealth Study Conference will be held in 2007, and subsequent conferences will occur at intervals of four years.
The first Commonwealth Study Conference set out to provide an opportunity for people from all over the Commonwealth and all walks of life to leave behind their usual roles and, with a diverse group of people, examine the relationship between industry and the community around it. The purpose was not to produce high sounding resolutions and weighty conclusions but to challenge the participants' assumptions and prejudices; to give them the chance to examine real situations and the issues arising from the interaction of businesses, their employees and the communities in which they operated.
Forty-seven years later, many of these features have been adopted by others and issues such as the environment which were new in 1956 are world-wide concerns. Yet the Commonwealth Study Conferences remain a unique training and development opportunity for personal development for prospective leaders which participants continue to find valuable. Past members have said that they continued to discover insights from their study conference experience many years after.
Royal holiday home destroyed
Police are investigating "a suspicious" fire that destroyed a beach hut belonging to the Queen’s Royal Estate at Sandringham. The fire broke out just after 8pm on Sunday 17th August at Holkham Bay in north Norfolk and police confirmed they were treating the incident as a possible arson attack. "The matter is being treated as suspicious," a spokesman said. A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "It is part of the Queen’s private estate and the police are still investigating the matter."
Fire Service chief Chris Boulton, area commander for fire safety, said a passer-by made an emergency call after noticing flames and smoke pouring from the building. "The fire at the empty beach hut and surrounding forest and shrub land was attended by seven fire engines and around 40 firefighters," he said. "It took around three hours to put the blaze out but luckily water supplies are plentiful in that area. "Certainly we are not ruling out the possibility that the fire was started deliberately," he added.
The Queen Mother was a regular visitor to the secluded beach hut on the Holkham estate, which is about 15 miles from The Queen’s 20,000-acre estate at Sandringham. The three-room building was given to the royal family in the 1930s by Thomas Coke, the 5th Earl of Leicester, who died in 1976.
Royal Diary
Prince William at St Andrews
Prince William, who has completed his end of second-year exams, enjoyed some time relaxation over the northern summer. He talks of his fondness for St Andrews, where he has had the freedom to be himself and enjoy student life.
"People here just treat me like everyone else – it’s really nice," he said. "I’m able to live a near-normal life because of a combination of reasons really. The media have been very good considering, I’m sure how tantalising it is having me up here, and the people of St Andrews and the students themselves have been very supportive. So, basically, I feel very comfortable."
How did the university dons treat him when he started?
"Once they stopped trying to spy me at lectures, then it was all very relaxed," he joked.
"My tutors and lecturers have been very considerate and have just let me get on. They know I’ll come to them if I’ve got any problems. I try to attend as many lectures as I can but inevitably there are certain times when I never make them, for lots of reasons, but I go to all my tutorials."
William has the reputation of being a little bit lazy in the mornings and his father, The Prince of Wales, teases him about it.
"My father thinks I’m the laziest person on earth," he said. "But surprisingly I do actually get up. I’ve had 9 o’clock lectures all this year."
William finds that people don’t take too much notice of him:
"It’s quite interesting because when I’m walking around, you see people chatting and so on in their own little worlds – and I go into my own little world as well – and you don’t really notice what’s going on around you.
"But the local residents, I’m sure, know what I do. They know the routes I take. Yet, very kindly, they just get on with their lives, their shopping and things like that."
Prince William says that the tourists visiting historic St Andrews are more interested:
"I think it’s probably a little harder for tourists and foreigners who come up here to try to pretend, as it were, that they haven’t seen me. That’s a little tricky sometimes, but everyone else is very relaxed.
"I hope I’m not a tourist attraction – I’m sure that they come here really because St Andrews is just amazing, a beautiful place."
William’s choice of university – Scotland’s oldest seat of learning dating back to 1413, has so far lived up to his expectations.
"I was very nervous about what was going to happen as I had heard lots of stories," he said. "The exams are the tricky bit but once they’re out of the way, the rest is a lot of fun. There’s an immense amount of reading and lectures take up quite a lot of your time, but I love being at St Andrews."
William now feels very happy in Scotland:
"It’s basically everything that I imagined when I first came up here. I went to look at Edinburgh first of all and I was torn between there and St Andrews. For me though, St Andrews had a community feel and the people here are brilliant."
Things were more difficult at first for William, who revealed he considered doing something else after the first year:
"I think the rumours that I was unhappy got slightly out of control," he said. "But I was like most people, I think, when you first come to university. It’s new surroundings, new scenery, and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. It’s the same as starting school really and I was uneasy.
"But I went home and talked to my father during the holidays and throughout that time debated about whether to come back – not seriously, seriously debating it but it did cross my mind.
"My father was very understanding about it and realised I had the same problems that he probably had. He was very good about it and we chatted a lot and in the end we both realised – I definitely realised – that I had to come back.
"I think it was the new surroundings. When I was with Raleigh International during my gap year, it was the same sort of thing. You’re thrown into completely new territory.
"You have to start fending for yourself quite considerably and you desperately want to settle in and meet everyone, but at the same time, you have lots of reservations."
Was it harder to settle because he was well known?
"It certainly felt like that. But people relaxed very quickly about it and the students have been so good towards me. They let me get on with things to start with and realised that no one could settle in just like that. So they gave me a bit of space and it’s worked – and I hope for them as well. It’s been brilliant.
"I don’t think I was homesick, I was more daunted," he said.
William joked about how his calm exterior hid his nerves underneath: "Little do you know!" Now that he is halfway through the course, he speaks highly of university education:
"I would recommend university education as long as you decide to work. You have a lot of time to yourself and you have to keep busy. It’s very different from school, but the last two years have gone by so quickly.
"Living in a hall of residence for the first year was a good move. That’s where I met most of my friends. Immediately you’re all put together – a whole load of people in similar positions – and it was a lot of fun.
"I think if you had gone into a house straight away with people you didn’t really know you would have been isolated."
William spent his first year at St. Andrews living in St Salvators Hall, known by the students as "Sally’s", where he enjoyed a good view of the dramatic coastline from his bedroom window.
"I really think it was the best option. I enjoyed it, it really takes a lot off your mind," he said.
William is looking forward to moving house next academic year to a more rural setting close to the town:
"Most people tend to move houses and that was always my intention. In my third year I have fewer lectures and have to spend less time in the university and so I thought ‘how about moving somewhere different?’
"I do think I am a country boy at heart. I love the buzz of towns and going out with friends and sitting with them drinking and whatever – it’s fun – but, at the same time, I like space and freedom.
"I like cinemas, bars, restaurants and lots of sport on the beach, playing quick golf; just making use of everything up here."
William has a car at St Andrews and sometimes drives into Edinburgh for a change of nightlife. He likes to socialise and has many friends:
"There are so many people here from different backgrounds – my friends are made up of all sorts of different people. I’ve got Scottish friends, American friends, and English friends.
"I don’t deliberately select my friends because of their background. If I enjoy someone’s company, then that’s all that counts. I have many different friends who aren’t from the same background as me and we get on really well – it’s brilliant."
William is aware of issues such as student loans and university fees but doesn’t take an active role in student politics:
"I do listen to what goes on and I know there are sensitive issues. There are some students who have just cause to be worried about loans and fees, but most students here, as far as I know, don’t get involved.
Although Scottish students and some students from European Union countries do not have to pay fees at Scottish universities, English students do. The Prince of Wales is paying full fees for William.
With regard to what the future holds, William is still unsure:
"I haven’t really thought that much about that. I’m really just concentrating on getting through the next two years. I honestly haven’t thought about what I am going to do next."
William appreciates that the media have helped his university life be more enjoyable:
"The media have been particularly good up here and I hope that continues. It’s probably because of the media’s considerate attitude that I’ve been able to have such a good time."
Although, he worries a little about what will happen after university:
"I’m slightly concerned that when I leave here the media could have a tendency to look into what I’ve done. I’m just hoping that they won’t go round trying to do that. If they do, I think the people of St Andrews will be my greatest allies."
In the meantime, William is enjoying the more basic style of his student life:
"I do a lot of shopping – I enjoy the shopping, actually. I get very carried away, you know, just food shopping. I buy lots of things and then go back to the house and see the fridge is full of all the stuff I just bought," he said.
William enjoys making dinner at home for his housemates:
"I cook quite regularly for them and they cook for me; although we haven’t had a house supper for quite a while because everyone’s been doing exams and working quite hard. I’ve got some very good cooks in my house but I’m absolutely useless, as my paella experience, which was filmed at Eton a while ago proved."
Whilst at Eton, William took cookery classes and was filmed on TV preparing the Spanish dish. His student menu is more simple:
"We have chicken, curries and pasta, but we go out to eat quite a lot, whatever we feel like at the time."
Household chores are shared between the housemates:
"We all get on very well and start off having rotas, but, of course, it just broke down into complete chaos. Everyone helps out when they can. I try to help out when I can and they do the same for me, but usually you just fend for yourself," he said.
At the moment William is studying History of Art, but he is unsure as to whether he may switch courses to Geography for his final two years:
"It slightly depends on my exam results," he said. "History of Art and Geography are my two choices and I honestly haven’t decided yet. I’m torn between the two, but I have to decide soon.
"In my first two years I’ve done quite a range of modules. I’ve done social anthropology and moral philosophy as well as art history and geography, but now I have to specialise."
William also tried a course in Middle Eastern Studies but had to drop it due to his heavy work load. However, he has a strong interest in other cultures:
"I’m trying to teach myself Swahili which is something that has proved harder than I thought. It’s because of my love of Africa. It’s an odd language to learn but I wanted to do something that was very specialised.
"I love the people of Africa and I’d like to know more about them – and to speak to them. I’ve got a book and a book-tape. Like I say, I’m teaching myself and they’re collecting dust quite rapidly but I am trying to make progress."
When William is not studying, his great passion is sport. He has been voted water-polo captain at St Andrews and was a runner-up in the Scottish cup:
"I play lots of water-polo – I love my water-polo," he said. "I’m not doing enough exercise, I’m still pretty unfit, but I like swimming – I love my water-sports. I’m trying to play a little more rugby. I played in a Sevens tournament a little while ago. I play some football – I play Sunday league up here."
William has gone off playing hockey recently:
"I gave up playing hockey when a friend of mine had his teeth knocked out – put me off a bit!
"I do swim in the sea but that really doesn’t last very long. It’s usually in and out, and I make a big fuss and shout how cold it is and then don’t do it again for a while," he laughed.
"There’s a very good water polo team here. The girl’s team are particularly good and won the Scottish Cup last year. We got to the finals of the Scottish Cup this year, although we didn’t manage to win, so we were runners up. But I was elected to be captain of the water-polo team next year," he said.
When William is relaxing at home he enjoys his personal space:
"I’m not particularly fussy about my room, I just want it to be somewhere I can relax – my own space. But I do have drapes up in my room. I like that because it makes it more cosy. I’ve got to have a stereo – got to have music – I love my music."
William’s friends say he loves R&B and plays it very loud. "There’s the odd book too, just to make it look like I’m working – and a comfortable bed," he joked.
As a student of art history, William praised his father’s talent as a painter:
"He’s brilliant. He’s very modest about it and he’s always criticizing his own work, but I do actually really like it. His subject matter is particularly sensitive – he paints mostly landscapes – and his paintings make a lot of money for charity."
Prints of The Prince’s watercolours are on sale worldwide for his charitable trusts, and the originals are exhibited.
"Harry can paint but I can’t," explained William. "He has our father’s talent while I, on the other hand, am about the biggest idiot on a piece of canvas. I did do a couple of drawings at Eton which were put on display. Teachers thought they were examples of modern art, but in fact, I was just trying to paint a house!
"I like traditional art. I love the Renaissance. It’s fascinating because it’s just so detailed and precise. More modern people – Picasso and his Blue Period, I do like that. He was revolutionary," he said.
William says he feels privileged to have seen the Royal Collection, an art collection which is held in trust for the nation by Her Majesty The Queen, and adorns the walls of the royal residences.
"I did do my A-level history of art dissertation on Leonardo da Vinci’s drawings, which, of course, are in the Royal Collection, so I was very lucky," he said.
William says he has only ever worn a kilt in private but has not ruled out going public:
"I haven’t got into it yet – it’s a bit draughty," he laughed. "I have worn a kilt in private and I’m not saying I never will wear one in public."
The Prince of Wales often wears the Lord of the Isles tartan when in the Highlands.
"You can learn to play the bagpipes at Eton but I never really tried that either. But I love Scottish dancing – it’s great. I’m hopeless at it but I do enjoy it. I usually make a complete muck-up of the Dashing White Sergeant, I do throw my arms dangerously about and girls fly across the dance floor," he laughed.
© Copyright St James’s Palace and the Press Association Ltd 2003
League News
Chairman visiting Australia
The Chairman will be in Australia from mid-November until late February 2004, as a visiting fellow at the Australian National University. In his absence from New Zealand the Secretary, Captain Chris Barradale, will be acting Chairman.
Any enquiries in respect of Monarchy New Zealand will be dealt with by the Assistant Editor, John Cox. Contact details are on page 1.
Overseas News
Prince of Wales moves into Clarence House
On 4th August, the anniversary of the birthday of the late Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales moved into Clarence House, which had been the London home of The Queen Mother for 50 years.
The move was long anticipated, and indeed was necessary, for the Prince’s accommodation at St James’s Palace was too small to adequately entertain official guests – the drawing room has sufficient room for only about seven people.
Clarence House, which will provide accommodation for the Prince’s Office, and for Princes William and Harry, underwent its first major refurbishment since it was restored in 1947 as a home for the newly married Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
Princess Alexandra receives the Garter
On 23rd April, St George’s Day, it was announced that Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra had been appointed a Lady of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. The appointment was made in recognition of her seniority within the royal family and her public service, particularly concerning medical and welfare issue.
As one of the royal ladies and knights, Princess Alexandra’s appointment is additional to the 24 statutory Knights Companion and Ladies of the Order. She joins the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Kent, the Princess Royal, and the Duke of Gloucester.
The Prince of Wales’s ecological worldwiew: The Poundbury initiative
Although the Prince’s Trust is perhaps the best known of the social initiatives launched and presided over by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, his projects have covered a diverse range of issues, including health, environment, architecture, heritage, art and conservation. His environmental and architectural vision is reflected in the work of the Prince of Wales Foundation, established 1998 as the successor to the more narrowly-focused Prince of Wales Institute of Architecture.
The Prince’s Foundation is a charitable body, formed to unite and extend HRH The Prince’s of Wales’s initiatives in architectural design, building and urban regeneration. It brings together The School for Architecture and the Building Arts, The Urban Villages Forum, Regeneration Through Heritage, and The Phoenix Trust.
The Prince’s Foundation promotes a return of human values to architecture, the building arts, urban design and regeneration. It links ideas with practical action, drawing on a track record of teaching in the building arts and crafts, a key role in many urban regeneration and heritage projects throughout Britain, and in some cases further afield, and a wide network of professionals, individuals and communities.
It works closely with many project partners to help secure living examples of its principles. The Foundation trains students and practitioners, assists with many community based projects and engages with public, private and voluntary organisations to promote more liveable and architecturally diverse environments.
The Prince’s Foundation, through the Duchy of Cornwall, has direct access to experience of creating a major sustainable town extension – Poundbury at Dorchester, which has been commended as a model for new growth by the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, a House of Commons Select Committee, and others.
In the 1980s the opportunity arose to build a significant new extension to Dorchester on 400 acres of Duchy land. As the Duke of Cornwall, The Prince of Wales took the opportunity to work with West Dorset District Council to contribute an exemplary urban addition to this ancient market town.
His book, A Vision of Britain, published in 1989, re-examined many of the accepted precepts of urban and rural planning. Poundbury is the first new community in Britain where, with the help of leading architects and planners and assistance from the local authority, the thoughtful principles of planning and architecture in A Vision of Britain are being put into practice.
Poundbury has been used as a model for planning urban extensions. In the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee’s 10th report on Housing (1998) they stated that, "They [urban extensions] should be built as part of the urban fabric, not as suburban housing estates. Higher and more appropriate densities and better designs and layouts need to be employed in all these developments."
As HRH The Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, has said: "If development in the countryside is going to take place, then I believe it must be done in such a way as to enhance, rather than detract from, the surrounding landscape. This is what we are trying to do at Poundbury, as well as attempt to engender a sense of community within an environment comprising economic activity and residential use"
The essence of Poundbury is the integration of land uses, in contrast to the zoning practices of post-war years. Employment, recreation, educational and shopping opportunities are integrated with housing. Social housing (20%) is integrated with private housing. The development attempts to achieve a ‘sense of place’ in contrast to the bland environments created by suburban estate type housing. Cars are fully accommodated, but constrained by tortuous streets, and concentrated in rear carparking courtyards. Pedestrian and cycle movements are favoured. Townscape quality is a high priority.
Disposals of land at Poundbury are dependent on Treasury Warrants, and full value has to be achieved. The higher cost of master-planning, architectural quality and the use of traditional materials is balanced by higher densities of construction, terracing of housing, and higher open market values. After a difficult beginning during a housing recession, both land and housing are now selling well and at high prices.
Although the project is less than 10% of its eventual size, its success in achieving many of its original objectives is readily demonstrable. Perhaps the most important of these is ‘community’, achieved by physical design and the involvement of residents.
It seems likely that Poundbury will be a model for development in the new Millennium.
Royal Poetry
When the King comes home in peace again
This is probably the most popular of all the Cavalier songs. It was penned by the balladeer and publican Martin Parker sometime before 1647. It was printed without his name or initials, at a time when it would have been dangerous to give either his own name or that of his publisher. The eminent late-eighteenth century musicologist Joseph Ritson called it the most famous song of any time or country. It was written in support of King Charles I, but it served afterwards with more success to keep up the spirits of the Cavaliers, and promote the restoration of his son; an event at which it was employed to celebrate all over the kingdom. After the Revolution of 1688 it became associated with the exiled King James II, and was still being sung in 1715 and 1745.
The tune appears to have been originally known as Marry Me, Marry Me, Quoth The Bonnie Lass. The melody is undoubtedly one of the major reasons for the song’s enduring popularity. Many different versions have been published, and it evolved into a number of other songs including When the King Comes Home in Peace Again (which has similar words), and The World Turned Upside Down (which was popular during the American Revolution).
Booker was an astrologer and Almanack maker in the early days of the Civil War.
What Booker can prognosticate,
Or speak of our Kingdom’s present state?
I think myself to be as wise,
As he that looks most in the skies,
My skill goes beyond the depth of the pond,
Or river in the greatest rain,
By which I can tell that all things will be well,
When the King comes home in peace again.
There’s no astrologer then, say I,
Can search more deep in this than I,
To give you a reason from the stars,
What causeth peace or civil wars,
The man in the moon may wear out his shoon,
In running after Charles’ his wain,
But all to no end for the times they will mend,
When the King comes home in peace again.
Though for a time you may see Whitehall,
With cobwebs hanging overall
Instead of silk and silver brave,
As formally it used to have.
And in every room the sweet perfume,
Delightful for that princely train,
The which you shall see,
When the time it shall be,
That the King comes home in peace again.
Till then upon Ararats Hill,
My hope shall cast her anchor still,
Until I see some peaceful dove,
Bring home the branch which I do love.
Still will I wait ‘till the waters abate,
Which must disturb my troubled brain,
For I’ll never rejoice ‘till I hear that voice,
That the King comes home in peace again.
Royal visits
Duke of Edinburgh 1968
His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh was in New Zealand 20th-24th May 1968. He was accompanied by a suite including his Private Secretary, James Orr, MVO, formerly a policeman in Rhodesia, Ethiopia, Eitrea and Kenya. His Police Officer, Chief Inspector Michael Trestrail, was later to be The Queen’s Police Officer. The Director of the Royal Visit was Patrick O’Dea, MVO, Secretary of Internal Affairs.
This was His Royal Highness’s second solo visit to New Zealand. It was one of a series of tours which he undertook at this time in connection with his particular interests, including conservation, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. Early in the following month he was made a Member of the Order of Merit (OM), for services to the Crown.
During his visit the Duke of Edinburgh viewed the tunnel construction at Manapouri, and appeared on a television panel.
Shortly after the royal visit, in August, the former temporary royal yacht Gothic, a Shaw Savill freighter, was ravaged by fire four days outward bound from Invercargill. Seven people died in the fire. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh had traveled on the Gothic to New Zealand in 1953.
Royal Residences past and present
Marlborough House
Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723) was commissioned to build Marlborough House for the first Duke of Marlborough, John Churchill (1650-1722), but it is to Duchess Sarah (1660-1744) that the building owes its existence. The idea of a town house was hers and it was she who secured a lease of the site on land adjoining St James Palace from her friend Queen Anne. It was also she who chose Sir Christopher Wren as her architect.
The actual design was probably drawn out by Christopher Wren, the younger, under the supervision of his father. It was a simple, dignified design. The Duchess laid the foundation stone in 1709 and the house was finished in 1711. She herself supervised its completion after dismissing Wren because she felt that the contractors took advantage of him.
During an early 1770s renovation, Sir William Chambers added a third story and put in marble fireplaces. The Dukes of Marlborough occupied the house until 1817 when the land reverted to the Crown. From 1817 to 1953 it was used intermittently as a royal residence.
Camelford House was given to Princess Charlotte, only daughter of the future King George IV and heiress presumptive to the throne, and her husband Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, following their marriage in 1816. It was to be their London home. After Marlborough House reverted to the Crown in 1817, it was decided that it would be a better residence for Princess Charlotte, Prince Leopold, and the child the Princess was then expecting. Marlborough House was being readied for the family to move into for the winter season of 1817-1818. Tragically Princess Charlotte died before the house was ready.
After the Princess’s death, Prince Leopold used Marlborough House until he became King of the Belgians in 1831. Queen Adelaide, widow of King William IV, lived there 1837-49.
Subsequently, paintings by Turner and Vernon were exhibited on the ground floor and the rest of the house was occupied by the newly established government school of design and department of practical art from 1850-60 – which later developed into the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Royal College of Art.
The house returned to royal use when it was used by Edward Prince of Wales (Edward VII) 1863-1901, and George Prince of Wales (George V) 1903-10. Later it was used as a London home for two dowager Queens, Queen Alexandra 1910-24, and Queen Mary 1936-53. The late Queen Mother moved into the significantly smaller Clarence House in 1953, and the more regal house remained unoccupied for a time.
Today, it houses the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Foundation, and has been the venue for a number of independence negotiations and many Commonwealth conferences, including meetings of Commonwealth Heads of Government. The house was extensively renovated by the British Government between 1989 and 1993. Its maintenance remains the responsibility of the Royal Household (acting as agent for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport), and it is administered alongside Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, St James’s Palace, Clarence House, and Kensington Palace, the occupied royal palaces.