A Royal Dinner Party.

Manawatu Herald, 15 October 1892, Page 2

A Royal Dinner Party.

The dinner parties which the Queen gave early in August, at Oaborne in honour of the German Emperor were State functions in everything but the name. The table and buffets were covered with magnificent gold and silver plate, whioh had been brought from Windsor tot the purposes of these entertainments, including shields, tankards, salvers, vases, cups, icepails, candelabra, and tureens. There was also a huge silver bowl, whioh commemorates the successes of the Queen's cattle from fie royal farms at Windsor during the jubilee year, Lord and Lady Bothschild's superb jubilee gift to her Majesty and the Elkingtoncup were also displayed. The gold dinner service formed by George ]V. was to have been used, but ultimately a very pretty service of white Coalport china, eaoh being adorned with the Garter in blue and gold, was selected. This is the private property of the Queen. The dessert servioe was the famous Sevres set from Windsor, which was purohased by George IV. The floral decorations of the room were very beautiful the arrangement of the ferns evoking general admiration. The banqueting-haU at Osborne, in which the dinners were given, is to be known as the Indian room. It is about 60ft. in length by 80ft wide, and there is a musioian's gallery at one end. This apartment is connected with the west wing of the palace by a wide corridor, it has been sumptuously decorated in the Hindoo Sikh style, and all the hangings and furniture are Oriental. This last addition to Osborne has cost the Queen upwards of i>20,000. The Indian room is to be used ,for large dinner parties, concerts, and theatrical entertainments, and, possibly, for danoes. The moulding is now pure white, bub it is to be gilded. The carvings, the peacock over the mantelpiece, and the Indian and Persian car nets are all in harmony. — The World.