TODAY’S QUESTION:
The Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, was known for his love of food and subsequent girth. At a rather wild evening at his country home Sandringham one of his guests, a baronet, found himself, the following morning, summarily leaving the royal estate, bags packed for him, and before breakfast. Why was this?
Answer: The previous evening, in the billiard room, the Prince had put a friendly hand on the baronet’s shoulder and said with a kindly smile, “Freddy, Freddy, you’re very drunk.” Sir Frederick immediately pointed to his Royal host’s waistline and said, “Tum, Tum, you’re very fat,” thereby invoking a nickname widely known in English society, but never said to the Prince’s face.
Source: Dreadnought by Robert K Massie
