King Edward’s Floating Palace.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 235, 12 October 1901, Page 1

King Edward’s Floating Palace.

There is probably nothing more sumptuous afloat than King Edward's Vll.'s new yacht. The appointments and the management of the vessel in all their delicate and luxurious detail have been carried out with the personal approval of His Majesty and Queen Alexandra. The principal apartments are situated on the main and upper decks. The entire range of rooms on the former are appropriated for the private cabins and private suites of the King, the Queen, the Princess Victoria, the royal and noble personages who may bo the guests of their Majesties and the equerries and ladies-in-waiting. On the upper deck are situated the state dining-saloon, the reception-room, the smoking and conversation rooms, etc. The private suite of the King and Queen are arranged on one side of this corridor, in the forepart of the vessel. In the King’s private state room the walls are enamelled in white, and the carpet is a rich blue, matched in the bluo morocco of the chairs. A white chimney-piece in one angle, with an antique brass fender, gives a noto of picturesqueness to the room. All the furniture is of richly grained mahogany, slightly inlaid with other woods; the hangings are of a finely patterned silk, and the metal work is of gilt bronze.

Adjacent to this room is the King’s bathroom and dressing-room. The walls aro panelled in sycamore with a delicate inlay of darker woods. The onyx washing table and tessclated floor are noticeable features. The swinging bedstead, which is severely simple, is of silver-plated metal, no draperies or hangings being used. The furniture in this room is of satinwood; the metal work is silver-plated; the carpet is of English make and specially woven, and all the curtains and hangings arc of chintz. Quean Alcxrandra’s bedroom is somewhat larger than the King’s and consequently lends itself to a moro luxurious quality. It is decorated in the purest Adams style, panelled in white, and has a canopied bed with draperies suspended from the ceiling. The furniture is of beautifully grained satinwood with silvered fittings ; it consisis of an elegant dressingtable with glass top, a corner secretaire surmounted with a little china cabinet, fitted wardrobes and Adams chairs. The scheme of color is green, the silk hangings and curtains and the upholstery constituting a soft and agreeable harmony. The Queen’s dressing-room contains a beautiful bath, an inlaid satinwood dressing-table with front and side mirrors, and in addition there is a choral glass forming a movable panel in the wall, which can be adjusted to any angle. Exactly opposite the royal sleeping apartments is the royal drawing-room, decoratod with a leaning toward the style of Louis XVI. The walls are panelled in white, the furniture is of exquisitely painted satinwood, and the hangings are of blue silk. A grand piano stands opposite the fireplace, and bookcases, lounge seats and a charmingly designed oval table form part' of the equipment. There are two royal guest chambers, and a special suite of rooms has been assigned to the use of Princess Victoria, consisting of a bedroom with bath and dressing-room. There are also a number of cabins for the lords and ladies in attendance on their Majesties.

The household dining-room is in the after part of the main deck. The sideboards, dining table and bookcases aro of light oak and the upholstering of the dining arm chairs is in crimson morocco. The state dining room is on the upper deck. It is of noble dimensions, panelled in white from floor to ceiling and accented with a pilaster treatment, There are twenty-six windows in this room, with two large skylights, and forty-four persons can dine at once.