FIRST COURT OF THE SEASON.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 July 1926, Page 3

FIRST COURT OF THE SEASON.

,1000 ROYAL GUESTS.

LONDON, June 4

Women in dresses that sparkled with diamonds and pearls, and men in uniform glittering with orders and decorations, passed before the King and Queen lust night, when their Majesties held their first Court of tho season at Buckingham Palace. Tho Scots Guards posted a guard of honour with band in the palace quadrangle, the picturesque Gentlemen-at-Arms supplied the Throne Guard, their cordon facing towards the throne dais, and the Yeomen of the Guard, the King’s Marshal Men, and troopers of tlio Household Cavalry were on duty at their accustomed stations.

The King wore the uniform of Colon-el-in-Chief of the Royal Horse Guards, with the ribands of jtlie Garter and Bath and numerous decorations. QUEEN IN SILVER TISSUE. Tho Queen was splendidly dressed in ■x gown of silver tissue with an overdress of tulle, embroidered with pearls and silver pailette. The train was of Irish point lace lined with silver. Her Majesty wore as headdress a Russianshaped diamond tiara. Her other ornaments included the lesser Stars of Africa and other diamond embellishments, togtther with the Order of the Garter and sundry family orders. The Royal circle, which was somewhat smaller than usual, comprised the Duke of York, the Duke of Connaught, Prince and Princess Arthur of Connaught, Princess Helena Victoria, the Marquis Marchioness of Cambridge, Prince Cliicbibu of Japan and Prince Gustnf Adolf, Duke of Vasterbottcn. Just before ten o’clock their Majesties entered the White drawing-room and a, procession was formed to the ball-room, where the King and Queen took their places at the front of the throne dais with tlie royal relali'es grouped behind them. 1,000 GUESTS.

As is the custom at the opening Court of tho season, the guests—numbering about I,ooo—were drawn mainly from Government, Diplomatic, and other official circles. Beefeaters hud other officials opened iho gates to them at 8.20, and others ushered them from the ante-rooms towards tho Throne. The Lord Chamberlain announced the name of each debutante, who found herself in a Throne Room radiant with lofty palms and banks of flowers in which half-open roses piedominated. Tho ,state rooms were beautifully decorated with flowers, and music was provided hv a Guards band.