BRILLIANT BALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 July 1924, Page 1

BRILLIANT BALL.

Tllli QUEEN'S CItOIVN OF

DIAMONDS.

LONDON, May 15. The company at last night’s state ball numbered about 2,000. THE GUESTS ARRIVAL. The great throng commenced to arrive at the grand entrance about nine o’clock. The grand staircase, hy which the guests were conducted,to the state apartments, was decorated with masses of lloivering shrubs and climbing rose.

The members of the Royal Family who reside outside the palace arrived at the garden entrance and were conducted to the White Drawing-Room, where the royal procession was formed. A Kings guard with the King’s Colour and hand were mounted in the quadrangle of the palace and rendered a programme of music during the arrival of the guests. Within the palace the music was supplied hy the string hand of the Royal Artillery, Woolwich.

The guests assembled, the royal party moved through the state rooms ill procession, headed by the two Kings and two Queens, King George partnering Queen Marie and the King of Rumania with Queen Mary, led the way to the ballroom.

King George was wearing the uniform of the Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Horse Guards. Queen Majry wore a gown of shot silver and pink ltamame tissue embroidered in diamante and pearls, a crown of diamonds with the lessor Stars of Africa, diamond jewellery; the Order the Garter and a private Rumanian Order decorated her corsage.

As the royal procession entered the ballroom the hands inside and outside the palace played the Rumanian and British National Anthems. Tile ballroom was decorated with massed growing flowers, blue hydrangeas rambler roses, and fuchsias. Their .Majesties opened the hall by leading the Quadrille d’llonncur, after which the usual hall programme was carried through.

Supper was served to the members of the royal party in the hall supper room where the wonderful gold plate was displayed at the end of the apartment. Tho royal party withdrew, and the tuuetions concluded shortly after midnight. ■WONDERFUL GOWNS. .

Many wonderful dresses were worn. Princess Helena Victoria wore heliotrope with crystal and silver pear embroideries. Lady Patricia Ramsay was in apple-green and silver brocade with a ruche of ostrich feathers. Lady Aland Carnegie had a gown of ivory satin and georgette with pearl lustre bugles, and Lady C’arisbrooke one of orchid mauve embriodered in diamante pearls, and crystals. Lady Yarborough wore blue and gold brocade with gold lace on the corsage and crystal and Iridescent girdles and tassels. Lady Millington was in cyclamen colour embroidered in crystals and (lianumte; and the Hon -Mrs Esmond Ilarmsworth in silver lame, the corsage trimmed with silver lace.

Mrs Asqttilh had a striking gown of pale yellow velvet stamped on gold, the draped skirt being tied into a scarf embroidered in silver and gold. Cream stockings and pule gold shoes were worn, and she carried a large white feather fan.

Mrs Whitelev. tho Speakers’s wife, was in Indian red and gold brocade, .Mrs Baldwin in ivory held with diamond clasps, and Mrs Austen Cliainherlain in white and silver.