QUEEN VICTORIA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 72, 25 March 1878, Page 4

QUEEN VICTORIA.

Queen Yictoria leads what one in fashionable society would consider a very humdrum life. Here ia a glimpse of it : Bise and breakfast at nine, in her own appartments. "Walk on the terrace. Then about three hours devoted to reading and signing documents. Lunch with the Princess Beatrice, then ride or walk with her and the Prince Leopold, after which one of the ladies reads to her till dinner time. Then dinner itself is very solemn. The guests assemble, and dinner is generally announced before Her Majesty enters the room. The Minister in waiting and the people invited sit at the table, and there is a pause. "When the Queen enters everybody rises. Her Majesty bows and sits down, and the guests resume their seats. The footmen serve the dishes in solemn silence, and not a word is spoken. Her Majesty usually makes two or three remarks during the dinner, but no one speaks unless the Queen speaks to him, and the company ia more like a Quaker's meeting than anything else. Before the dessert her Majesty generally rises, bows and leaves the room, but the guests— ladiea and gentlemen— remain. The Princess Beatrice generally leaves with her mother. Then the conversation begins more generally after her Majesty has left, and at the end of dinner, Lady Biddulph, or Miss Cadogan, or somebody rises. The ladies leave the room ; the gentlemen remain standing. Sometimes the Queen will go into the draw-ing-room in the course of the evening, but not very often. The gentlemen are all in court dress, which is usually very tight fitting so they can't enjoy their dinner very much. After dinner more reading aloud, and then her Majesty retires, usually at an early hour. The above ia from an American source, and is therefore sure to be correct.