FESTIVITIES IN LONDON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10270, 23 June 1911, Page 6

FESTIVITIES IN LONDON.

BANQUET AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE. THE SHAKESPEAREAN BALL. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. ] (Received June 22, 9.55 a.m.) LONDON, Juno 21. , Parliament has been adjourned until Monday next. Within the annals of Royal functions, there is no record of an assembly so representative of the world's power as that present at the State , banquet given at Buckingham Palace ; last night by the King and Queen. Five hundred and sixty Coronation I guests were including the Premiers of the Overseas Dominions. I All gentlement attending the banquet | were in uniform, wearing their orders and decorations. The various members | of the Royal Family were distributed j among several parties. Nearly one j hundred o! : the principal guests were ] served from the Sovereign's gold plate, brought under escort from the treasure vaults at Windsor. Their Majesties excused their guests at an early hour, so as to enable those desiring to do so to attend the Shakespearean Ball. At the ball there were four thousand guests, including the German Crown Prince and Princess, Prince Henry of Prussia, the Emepror Francis Joseph's representative, the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, and numerous foreign Royalties.. The programme included a series of quadrilles, in which distinguished guests appeared in costumes of the Tutor period, most of the characters in Shakespearean plays being represented. The King and Queen did not attend the ball. The decorations and illuminations all over London are on an unprecedented scale of magnificence, and never. before in the history of the metropolis has such a huge number of visitors assembled from all parts of the world. Huge and eager crowds viewed the illuminations in the streets until a late 1 hour. A-final rehearsal of the Coronation service was held in Westminster Abbey to-day, and all-preparations are now complete for to-morrow's ceremony.