DINING WITH THE QUEEN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1500, 7 March 1887, Page 2

DINING WITH THE QUEEN.

Sir Henry leads the way to Her Majesty's private drawing-room, aud the visitor finds himself m the presence of royalty, it may be for the first time. He ia reassured, and unless he is a stammering churl, who would be ill at ease m any lady's company, he soon feels at home. He is sure to be a celebrity, and the queen kindly questions as to the " forte " which has made him famous sending him away quite happy after .the ten minutes' interview to while away the time till dinner. This he oan do m hia own appartments or m the saloon of the ladies and gentlemen m waiting, as ba pleases. The dinner itse'f is rather more trying. To begin with, it is not served until nine o'clock, so that the visitor, if it be hia first viait, will be blessed with an American's appetite by the time he find* himself m the reception-room, or rather corridor, adjoining the private diningroom m the Victoria Tower. Mr Gladstone and several old stagers always provide themselves with sandwiches, whloh they e_t m their rooms. The Queen enters at five minutes to the hour, says a word or two to eaoh guest, and then pilots the way to the dinner table. Here the nervous visitor's happiness depends greatly on his luck. If by any chanoe Princess Christian happens to be dining at the castle and he sits next her, he is sure to have a good time, Princecs Louise, the Duchess of pon« naught, and the Duchess of Albany"* are both the bent of company. On the other hand, the Princess of Wales, though her , manner is charming, is from deafness rather a trying neighbor to a nervous visitor, while Princess Beatrice is so quiet as to give a frightened stranger an erroneous impression of hauteur. The Queen addresses, m the course of the rheal, one sentence to eaoh guest whioh he ie expected to answer briefly and well, all other conversation ceasing' dutlng the dialogue. There i. np sitting dyer wju£ by the gentlemen, and m one hour they - are all ia the reception room again. The guests do not sit, but advanoe m turn and say a few words to her Majesty, who then bows to the oompany and retires • to her private apartments, Next mornthe gueats breakfast m their own rooms, and are expected to leave by half-past ten o'olook. They do not, except m the case of Ministers, Bee the Queen In tho nWU v injr.— " London Society,*'