THE QUEEN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2492, 15 August 1890, Page 3

THE QUEEN.

The Queen's Hfe at Balmoral jsa exceedingly simple. She breairfasts m h#r private apartments between nine and ten. Sometimes Princess Beatrice and other of the family who maybe staying at the Castle take the matutinal me,al with hor, but oftentimes she breakfasts alone, and her family have a movable feast m the large dining-room. The suite have a special dining-roofli set apart for them s and there they take their meals together, except when they are invited to Her Majesty's table. These invitations, however, are never issued for breakfast, for the Queen prefers to be alone m order that she jnay reflect over the programma of the day. Shortly after ten the Queen begins to deTote herself to the affairs of the nation, rftns through the^|de.spatches which are sent to her daily by the Ministers, and, with the help of Sir Henry Ponsonby, jots down replies, Sir Henry acting #s secretary. The work is usually over by one, about which time the Queen's niesbenger starts for London with the Queen's despatches to the Ministers. At one o'clock the Queen lunches. Afterwards she goes for a drive or one of her vigorous walku, which »re «o trying to the less energetic of her ladie/jwn-waiting. The dinner hour is not till nins, After dinner the usual practice is that the QiMs#n makes a few observations^to her guests, #nd about eleven retires to her private apartments. Of late, however, there have been changes m the evening programmes m the direction of greater gaiety.