Evening star., 1926-08-22
BRITISH PRINCES
SEEK YOUNG AIDES
Many Courtiers Who Served
Under Victoria Still Hold
Royal Positions.

By Gable to The Star and New York World.
LONDON, August 21.-Around the
announcement In the official London
Gazette of the retirement" of an
aged court official are being woven
piquant stories of the determination
of the younger members of the royal
family to make a clean sweep or the
relics" Of the two previous relSnS
and to people the Court Of st. James
with courtiers and servitors more In
touch with and of an age with the
1925 generation.
Naturally no authoritative or per-
sonal statement can be obtained but
1t Is freely whispered that the Prince
of Wales. the Duke of York and
Prince Henry have for a long time
been very fed up with the serious
old grey-beard courtiers their father
Inherited from King Edward and
Queen Victoria and are desirous OF
picking their attendants and counsel
lors from the ranks of the younger
generation.
1T is perfectly-'horrible' will do,
only that wasn't the word used
one Of the royal princes said to his
father, "the way we are hedSed
about by these (adjectivaD dodos.
King Defends COurtiers.
King George was (according 10 the
story quite sympathetic but point
ed out 10 his exaSperated son that
faithful ServitorS and couruers
could not be thrown out like ordi-
nary politicians on change or GOV
ernmCnt every time there was a de
mise Of the crown and that u vas
the duty of successive monarchS to
retain all such faithful and expert
til 70 hvr hnir
knowledge.
However. reorganization" of the
royal household was undertaken and
in the sacred name of economy
various ornamental posts held by
what the protesting prince described
as "dodos," were abolished, and all
age limit was placed on all ceremonial
and utilitarian posts. King George,
himself. was probably not too we1
pleased at having to continue i'll offloe
retainers and counselors enlisted by
his grandmother. Queen Victoria. and
selected for their knowledge of Vio-
torian and pre.Victorian customs,
Still, 1t had always been the under
stood rule that once anybody was
appointed to the royal household he or
she could continue until they shuff1ed
off this mortal COIL short of absolute
misconduct. of course.
Things came to a point when the
London Gazette announced the Rp-
pointment OF a younger official TO sue
ceed Sir Walter Gibson in the post
Of sergeant at arms in ordinary. Thf
Gazette stated that Gibson had re-
signed, but Sir Walter was some
what astonished TO read the announces
ment. Ehd in the first unguarGed mo.
ment when questioned about il
promptly said that he had not re-
signed and that he knew nothing
about losing his job.
Post Is Minor One.
Naturally, a court official Of over
40 years standing, would not say any
more beyond that he would inquire
into the matter. However. his sue
cessor is in Office, and there is nothing
more to be said about it. The post of
sergeantatar to the king is very
minor, ornamental affair, carrying no
special uniform or pay, but II carries
silver collar as badge of office, and
the wearers thereof-there are eight -
attend all drawing rooms. courts.
levees, state balls, etc.
But the seemingly compulsory re
tirement" of Sir Walter Gibson, 10 un.
derstood to be the result of a decision
of the special Reorganization Com
mittee appointed by King George.
that all State officials must retire on
reaching the age of 20. And Sir Wal
ter has Just turned 20. Further II is
rumored that the age limit will short
ly be reduced TO 10 and eventually
so. Hence the commotion among the
elder retainers at the Court OF 81.
James.
The unusually lengthy reign Of
Queen Victoria was largely responsi-
- IL HN H4 ut lnt,, fN1R1 -
aged officials still to be found around
the British Court.
Transferred Old Servitors.
There are officials still serving who
were appointed 20 or more years before
Queen Victoria died like Sir Walter
Gibson) and court etiquette has de-
creed that they should never be dis.
missed. Each monarch, naturally
picks his own immediate attendants
but he-aS was the case of King EdA
ward and King George-felt 1t desirY
able to transfer their predecesSorS
superf1uous attendants to their owr,
children. Consequently the present
younger scions Of the House Of Wind.
sor are surrounded by attendants and
counselors who were very much pers
soma grata to Queen Victoria, or King
Edward. but for whom the present
monarch has no particular use, and
who are correspondingly further out
Of date as regards the desires, plans
and habits of 1925 princes and prins
cesses.
The marriages of Princess Mary
and the Duke of York outside the
ranks of royalty will simplify matters
considerably. and while the Prince Of
Wales remains unmarried, some Of
the older servitors and courtiers can
be allowed to die out without being
replaced Pension off the dodos" ia
understood to be the cry of the Princes
of the House of Windsor, and as
many posts are purely honorary and
unpaid no great cost to the State 10
threatened.