The Civil List The recommendations in the report of the
Select Committee of the House of Commons on the King's Civil List contain no surprises, and are not likely to meet any serious opposition in Parliament. The Duke of Gloucester is to receive Lio,000 a year more, for the extra duties he now has to perform, the Princess Elizabeth £6,0430 a year rising to D5,000 when she iS 21, and the King's income at L410,000 remains unchanged. Such grants are generous, and it is unfortunate that, though he no longer has public services to perform, an equal gener- rosity has not been shown to the Duke of Windsor, for whom no provision is made. His past services and the affection that is still his in the hearts of the nation would make a grant equal to the Duke of Kent's wholly reasonable. Mr. Attlee's amendment to the Report, urging greater simplicity in State ceremonial, was defeated, but it certainly expresses the nation's feeling that any movement away from the midway-line between simplicity and ostentation should be towards the former. If the State is generous to its Kings, it is niggardly to its artists, scholars, and scientists ; and it is gratifying that at length the amount available for new Civil List pensions has been increased by £2,500, which will add a little to the miserable pittances now paid to distinguished men and women whose work has brought them small financial reward. * * * *
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