# ■ 2 The Prince of Wales

In the spring of 1911 King George called Edward into his room and said：

Next month I'll make you Prince of Wales and these are your clothes for the ceremony．'

The King opened a small cupboard and Edward started to cry．'But father，'he said，'I'm sixteen years old now．I can't wear soft shoes and a skirt． I'll look like a girl． Why can't I dress like other people？'

Because you're different and special，'his father replied，'and one day you'll be King．'

Edward cried for the next two days， but there was noth-ing he could do．

And so， on 10th June 1911， the family drove to Caernar－von Castle in North Wales and the ceremony began．

The King put a small gold crown on Edward's head．There was music and dancing and the crowd began to shout．

The new Prince of Wales closed his eyes．'I feel terrible，' he said．'Can we go home now？'

Not yet，' the King replied．'The people want to see you．

Edward walked to the front of the castle and looked down at the crowd．He was shaking and his face was red．

Smile， Edward，'the King said．'You are happy！'

A few hours later the family were driving back to Windsor．'Wasn't that a lovely day！'Queen Mary said．

Edward took off his shoes and looked out of the window．'Never again，'he thought． 'Never again！'

■ 2 威爾士親王

1911年春天，喬治國王把愛德華叫到自己的房間，說：

“下個月我要封你為威爾士親王，這是你要在典禮上穿的衣服。”

國王打開一個小櫃子，愛德華哭了起來。“可是父親，”他說，“我現在已經16歲了。我不能穿軟鞋和裙子。那會使我看上去像個女孩子。為什麼我不能穿得像其他人一樣？”

“因為你和他們不一樣，你是特別的，”他的父親回答，“有朝一日你會成為國王。”

接下來的兩天，愛德華哭個不停，但他沒有辦法。

就這樣，1911年6月10日，王室成員驅車前往北威爾士的卡那封城堡，典禮開始了。

國王把一頂小號的金冠戴在愛德華的頭上。現場有音樂和舞蹈，人群歡呼起來。

而新封的威爾士親王卻閉上了眼睛。“我覺得很難受，”他說，“現在我們可以回家了嗎？”

“還不能，”國王回答，“人們想看看你。”

愛德華走到城堡前部，俯視人群。他渾身顫抖，臉漲得通紅。

“笑一笑，愛德華，”國王說，“你應該高興！”

幾小時後，全家人驅車回到溫莎。“多麼愉快的一天呀！”瑪麗王后說。

愛德華脫下鞋子，向窗外望去。“我再也不要這樣了，”他想，“永遠不！”