"HIS MAJESTY'S GUEST."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 61, 2 March 1908, Page 4

"HIS MAJESTY'S GUEST."

The King will take no, denial when he sends you a ■• dine-and-sleep " invitation, or one lor a lengthier visit, ilis iuviratiuiis rank as commands.

Their Majesties entertain their subjects for the most part at Windsor Castle *aud Kuidringhani, and their guests are hidden, as a rule, from Saturday to .Monday, or from Tuesday to Friday—the latter lor shooting panic,. It is correct to arrive in plenty oi time to dress for dinner, Inn visitors must not expect to be met by their Royal host and hostess, for. although when he was Prime of Wales hi, .\hi- | jesty was on the doorstep of hi, abode I ready with a hearty welcome, now it i, I nut until dinner is served that the Sovereign and hi. Consort meet theii

visitors. Wither at breakfast nor at lunch—unless it be partaken of at the ,lioot--will their Majesties appear; therefore the great Occasion of dinner i, all the more au,picious. though tea is also graced by the Royal, presence. At Wiud-or Castle'dinner i, ,ei \<- ( l in the Oak Koom. alter a ni.M impressive entrance has been made by their .Majesties into the reception-room, wli-re the guest- are assembled, bowing and cnrtse.viug low. nil splendid in 1 heir "fulldress attire, and a perfect conization of glorious jewels.

The King is a great connoisseur upon dress, ami though he does not. as monarch, stoop to take the |>er,oiia] notice of it that he did on one occasion—when, as Prince of Wales, an unhnkv guest appeared in a black tie instead'of a white, whereupon a tie was served up to hjin by a Hun key upo|i a silver salver —his order that knee-breeches and silk

stocking, are to be worn with eveningdress by all men when ladies are present is so well known that it is followed in society invariably by many wellgarbed men.

The dinner will not be a long one. but it will be perfectly cooked and served, and the table will be set out with absolute good taste, and always with great variety, owing to the enormous range of gold and silver ornaments at the command of the dresser. Two special silver services appertain to tinOak Room at Windsor, one called the "Lion"' and the other the •Crown,'' and there are special service dishes for special viands.

At Sandringham—where, by the way. it is the Royal pleasure that all clocks be kept half an hour fast, an order carefully explained to those guests not already aware of it upon their arrivaldinner is served on a (lower-decked table in an oak room, the predominant colour of which is blue, and it. too, is heavy with tapestries and portraits of Royalties.

Xo one sits down in the White Draw-ing-Room at Windsor, nor in the suite of apartments tlutt serve as drawing rooms at Sandringham, until the Quee"i has seated herself. But her .Majesty is kindly thought personified, and never keeps her guests standing long. Music and conversation are the order of the evening, and bridge for tho=e who like it: and there are always quantities of curios and exquisite pictures. many of them with the personal touch afforded by their being the production of Royalty's own hands, to bo shown and examined. /

The King and Queen leave their guests for their private apartments at the end of the evening, which does not mean, however, that special invitations may not be given by hor Majesty to great friends in her own private sittingroom, or by the King to some favoured individual for a smoke-mud a talk before bedtime comes.