Untitled

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 100, 30 April 1877, Page 4

Under tha heading "Fashions and Fancies," the Dunedia Star contains the following : — " The London* pnpers are filled with descriptions of the scenes at the recent opening of Parliament by the Queen in person. They accord special notice to dresses of the ladies present on the occasion. The costume of the Queen herself is thus described: — "Tue Queen's costume was of black velvet trimmed with miniver for, a square neck corsage and long flowing sleeves. On her head was a widow's cap surmounted by a diamond crown. The Koh-i-noor, or " Mountain of Light," that great diamond which has a history almost as old as Christianity, which glittered on the turburns of Indian emperors five centuries ago, and was more than once a king's ransom, blazed on the Imperial bosom, supposed to' indicate in its marvellous brillioncy the Imperial addition (o the English crown." \ The Princess Louise wore a garnet velvet slashed with white satin and trimmed with steel ; I'rincess Beatrice a cardinal velvef, and that fairest of all the royal family, the Princess ot Wales, atili fair and beautiful in spite of domestic sorrows more than hinted at in public, wora a cream-colored brocade, over cream satin, and trimmed with pearls and diamonds. Her entrance was the signal for tho company (o throw aside their warps, and the most

dazzling costumes were displayed. The Counteaa of Dudley, a tall, stately woman some thirty years of age, with auburn hair, violent eyes, delicate features, is considered the handsomest woman in Great Britiao. Her dress was of violet velvet, Jgarnished wilh Chantilly lace j her ornaments, sapphires and diamonds."