LORD CONNAUGHT AND THE QUEEN.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2603, 12 May 1877, Page 4

LORD CONNAUGHT AND THE QUEEN.

A young nobleman, whose family.; had not been, at Court,since the accession of Her Majesty, a finei tall fellow, of manly bearing, was presented at last. As his name, Lord George Alfred Connaught, was being announced, he passed Prince Albert and the young princess" in an apparently haughty manner, without removing his.- chapeau. They seemed enraged ; but-ias -it might be a mistake, arising^ 1 from embarrassment ,in . a young nobleman first approaching his sovereign, no notice^ was taken of the ap parent rudeness. When he reached ,the Queen, however, he uncovered his head, knelt gracefully, before her, kissed her: proffered hand,, arose, thrust the chapeau; in a positive,inanner upon his head/: and turned ,to address. Prince Albert.: The, latter drew back ;_his; face flushed scarlet. It ..looked .like an intended T insult to the Prince Consort in the^ presence of his ■wife and sovereign.' :A murmur of indignation ran; through • the throne-room. The old J)uke. of "Vvjellington,. bending under the weight of seventy-eight years, and covered'with decorations, stepped forward, to interfere. .. :.

The Lord Chamberlain, however, was before him, and when just upon the point of arresting the offender, the Queen interposed, .saying 'Right! right! Lord Connaught is right! 'and then ; turning, explained the transaction- to the Prince, the young nobleman; meanwhile, looking on. It was some time "before this strange conduct Could be understood by those present. Lord Gonnaught, the only person whose head was covered, moving with great self-possession among.bishops and chancellors, leaders of the Commons, and Sons of the universities, ,the observed of all observer's. 'it appeared,.'. that, for special 5 sertices rendered to the King by a Lord Connaught, in the reign of Henry "VIT.; a right had been giv^ri by a patent in perpetuity'to the bead of the house in each succeeding generation, to remain with~covered head in the presence of the ruling sovereign. This right had been "in abeyance during the minority of the present Lord Cennaught and had been forgotten by. all but the Queen. He had nncover.ed: his head to her as ; a woman ; but, jealous, of the>;inherited.privilege, had resumed his chapeau upon rising, and continued to wear it "afterwards.—Court Circular. ' ',■ f i • '