ROYAL GARDEN PARTY

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 48, 25 August 1933, Page 14

ROYAL GARDEN PARTY

IN BRILLIANT SUNSHINE

THOUSANDS OF GUESTS

(From "Tho Post's" Representative.) LONDON, July -1. Visitors wliii come to London during the summer season, especially those who arc delegates to conferences and congresses, are accorded a succession of splendid entertainments. So much hospitality is extended that the diaries become congested, and functions overlap. But no matter how many invitations may arrive for the date selected for the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, they are all turned down if tho hours clash. Tor this annual event continues to be one of outstanding interest to people from all parts of the world, and highly honoured arc those who receive invitations to attend. The red-letter day of this July came yesterday. Invitations to the number of 13,000 -were sent out. Delegates to the AVorld Conference, to tho Chambers ■of Commerce and Accountancy Congrosses, the Advertising and Marketing Exhibition (to name just a few of tho deliberations in session) all received invitations, as also did all the people who made their courtesies at the five Courts of the season. ■ New Zcalaudcrs were represented in all these sections of activity. ....... . .' MANY ROYALTIES. Tho afternoon was really very hot, the sun blazing forth after rain in the morning. But much rain during the weekend had lmd a most beneficial effect on the spacious lawns, on the big shady trees, and on the borders gay with ramblers and other homely flowers. The gates were opened at 3.15, so that guests poured in-from, various points of the compass, taking up their positions in good time to witness tho appearance of the King and Queen, who came out from the Palace punctually at 4 o'clock, and greeted first all the members of the Royal Family who had assembled under tho plane trees on the Ambassadors' Lawn. Tho affectionate family greetings are always interesting. This.time in the-distance one recognised the Prince of AValcs, the Duke of Gloucester, Princo George, Prince and Princess Arthur of Conuaught, the Duke of Connaught, Princess Helena Victoria, Princess Marie Louise, Lady Patricia Bamsay escorted by Admiral the Hon. Sir Alexander Bamsay, the Eai'l and Countess of Athlone, King George of Greece, Prince GustavAdolph, of Sweden, Princess Ingrid, of Sweden, Princess Sybilla, of Sweden, and Lord and Lady Louis Moiintbattcn. The Duke and Duchess of York were present, but they arrived later. Oue missed the Princess Koyal, who has been ordered complete rest after tho long strain of public engagements, but the Earl of Harewood was with the Royal Party. There is always keen expectation as the Royal Party begins to move forward in tho direction of the guests who stand many deep in a semi-circle on tho opposite- lawn. - The progress momentarily stops while one of the two regimental bands plays the National Anthem. " This concluded, the King and Queen como nearer, followed by tho other members of their family and by notable people —men and women — who are in attendance, and they greet a number of waiting people of note before they cross to the general company of guests. Then it is that openings are made, so that the King goes in one direction and the Queen in another, stopping to speak to people they know or to meet guests who arc brought up to be informally presented. This procedure lasts for over an hour, and people, all anxious to' see the King and Queen, follow round, forming circles as conversations take place. The presence of so many delegates to the World Conference gave tho gathering a, very international touch. SOME OF THE DEESSES. As soon as the Queen arrived from the Palace' everyone remarked upon tho shortness of her dres3. Most of the guests had gowns that trailed over the lawns and often- required a little management, but her Majesty had a dross —a charming one —that was quite seven inches off the ground. It was of delicate cream-coloured embroidered net and lace, with' crystal drops that sparkled in the sunshine. Tho waist was finished with a soft sash of ' a slightly deeper tone, finished at one side of the front with loops and ends. Her Majesty's toque was of chiffon smd gold tissue^ to tone with her dress, and her ornaments were ropes of pearls and diamonds. A sunshade toning with the dross was much . needed, as also was the fan which her Majesty used quite vigorously under the marquee at teatime. ■ '

The Duchess, of York was dainty, as usual, in a flowered chiffon of swectpca shades, worn with a tuscan hat trimmed with black velvet. Princess Alice, Countess of Athlonc, was in pale turquoise-blue crepe marocain, with a picture hat'to match; Lady Patricia Ramsay, always a distinguished and casily-rccogniscd personality, was in white and green ■chiffon with a hat of white Bangkok trimmed with a Louis Quinze bow of white, ribbon. Lady Louis Mountbatten was in a very shortskirted dress.of white crepe boldly patterned with navy. .Princess Ingrid, of Sweden, a charming girl very much at home in England, and on one of her numerous visits to the Duke of . Connaught, her grandfather, was in a dress of crepe marocain in the bright shade of blue which, has been so fashionable this summer. Her hat, of black, was banded with blue ribbon.

Tho King, looking extremely well, was in grey morning dress with paler grey waistcoat, white carnation buttonhole, white kid gloves, and a light tall hat that was more of a deep cream than grey, but is called grey. The Prince of Wales and his brothers all admirably did their share to entertain the numerous guests, while the Duke and Duchess of York have such hosts of friends that they hold a Court of their own wherever they go. THE GENERA^ COMPANY. One cannot possibly know everyone in an assembly numbering thousands, but there arc so many people of outstanding prominence in England teat one cannot help recognising them, even if only because ,their photographs appear so often in the daily and weekly newspapers. It is difficult to say that any one colour is more favoured than another in the new fabrics, but there is a distinct demaud for bright blue. _ Lady Jellieoe was in a dress of this hue, which was of georgette and lace. Lady Norah Jellieoe was also in the same colour, bnt the material was organdie. The Countess of Hardwickc had selected it too; she was with her daughter, Lady Elizabeth Coke, a tall and graceful girl who was in figured crcpo do chine. Mrs. Forbes chose a golden beige lace; Mrs. Masters was in ilorallyprinted chiffon; Lady Wilford looked well in silver grey lace. Most of tho young girls wore wearing organdies, plain or figured,'made with many frills —over tho shoulders and round the skirt, with pretty slippers of a. colour contrast. Palo blue slippers and pale blue hat often accompanied an organdie of delicate pink or of white. .In these days of barn backs one cannot bo in a great assembly of people without seeing a. good many of thorn, but they are not too noticeable when: thorp are shoulder frills which taper to a point fit the waistline behind. Another colour often to be noted wns petunia, either brilliant and alone, or else si rinding

out witli good effect from a Jloral chiffon.

Yesterday, in the blazing heat, no hat could be too big; and some were really enormous, with brims that draped themselves in many ways. _ In conlra.st were quite ;i number of little closc-litting floral or muslin caps utterly brimloss. Considering the type of day, there were not a great many sunshades, but tho younger generation depends on )he hat-brim to deputise for tho sunshade.

For (lie general company tea and refreshments are served all tho afternoon in a specially capacious marquee, while there are marquees for the Royal parly and for tho Diplomatic: Corps. Raspberries and cream were just as plentiful when the party was over as when it 'started, for Hie nrrnnge-liu-nts are well planned and uro pert'oftlv carried out.

In" the Koyal marquee, taking tea with the King and Queen were (he High Commissioner and Lady AVill'ord, tinNew Zealand Premier and Mrs. Forbc*. and the Hon. 11. Masters, M..L.U., and Mrs. Masters. OFFICIAL PRESENTATIONS. After ten the King and Queen always come forward to stand under tho 'famous and wonderfully embroidered Durbar Shamiana of crimson and <»old, in preparation for official presentations. Here the King and Queen stand for some time chatting with international statesmen and notablin visitors, and then come distinguished visitors from overseas, each procession being headed by its Ambassador or its High Commissioner. .Yesterday a great many Indian notabilities were presented, their costumes imparting the most effective colour touch to the garden scene. Sir Thomas Wilford brought only four New Zealanders—Mr. and MrsForbes and Mr. and Mrs. .Masters. Iho King and Queen ?pokc for some tune with each, for nothing is ever hurried. An interesting group was brought torward by Admiral of the Fleet Larl Jellicoe, looking in. the very best of health and well tanned. His party consisted of delegates to the British I.mpirc Service League Congress. There is no. list issued.of I\cw Zoalanders who are invited to the. garden party, but tho Dominion usually has one hundred invitation cards allotted for distribution. In addition to delegates and debutantes, the following 2Sew Zealanders were to be met there yesterday :—Mr. and Mrs. H. Horton, Mrs. Jameson, Lady Herdman, Miss Joyce Herdmau, Mr. and Mrs. D. F. Kcid the Misses Reid, Mr. and Mrs. Carlton-Hay, Miss Donald, Dr. Helen Dougall, My. and Mrs. David Jones, Mr. and Mrs L. O H Tripp, Mrs. Walter Young, Miss Macfarlanc, Mr. M. M. Smith, Mrs. R. S Forsvth and Miss Leslie Forsytli, Mrs S *G Raymond, Miss Maureen Raymond, Miss Dorothy Raymond, Mr. H. T B Drew (representing the britisn Empire Service League) Mrs. Drew, Miss Eutrican. Mrs. and Miss Trimnell, Mrs. Meßae. Mr. and Mrs H Turner, Mrs. A. J. Harrop. Mrs. J. Struthcrs, Mr. and Mrs. Bex Hoyes. .Mr. and Mrs. C A Jeff cry, Mrs. A. Oague, Mrs. S. Birch, Professor A. H. Tocker, Dr. K. M. Campbell. Mr. G. C. Rodda. Mr. ami Mrs. J. Findlay, Mr. and Mrs. AY. Apnletbn. Mrs. and Miss Barak, Dr. .\. B Condliffo, Miss Isnliel AVilford, Mr. lv. R Macintosh and Mrs. Macintosh.