THE COURT LIFE OF QUEEN VICTORIA.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9364, 13 March 1896, Page 2

THE COURT LIFE OF QUEEN VICTORIA.

♦ By the Hox. Fen Ella Army age. (From the Windsor Magazine. Abridged.) (Continued.) Her majesty studies very earnestly all the great matters concerning her own Empire, *R well a3 the affairs of foreign nations, whose welfare so closely affects our own. Many hours a d.w are devoted to State business, and every event affecting the interests of the British people finds ready sympathy in their sovereign. Often, as we know, individual acts of bravery, or private sorrows of many a one personally unknown to the Queen, receive some touching notice from her hand, and this no doubt goee far to strengthen the inherent loyalty of English men and women. The actual household which surrounds her Majesty are under three departments, that of the Lord Chamberlain, the Lord Steward, and the Master of the Horse, and from each various oiiicials receive their orders. At Windsor Castle distinguished guests are entertained with the state befitting our,court. When any crowned heads, or members of the royal courts abroad arrive at Windsor Station their official reception is regulated by the circumstances of the visit. A guard of honour from the regiment of Guards quartered at Windsor is always at the station, if the visit be a State one ; but in any case the Equerry or Lord-in-Wniting —sometimes both—receives the royal guests and hands them to their carriages. Driving up to the great entrance in the quadrangle, the members of the royal family are found waiting to greet the guests. References to old records tell of the Queen herself showing thin honour to many sovereigns of Europe and illustrious visitors, but of late years this has become impossible; albeit the reception at the caatle well fulfils the tradition of our national hospitality. The

magnificent State apartments are not in everyday use, but the grand corridor which opens into all thoae charming apartmonts is well suited to the requirements of the court circle. Only the members of the royal family join her Majesty at the first meal of the day, which in iino summer weather is often served out of doors, sometimes in a tent in the grounds, or in some spot which is more airy than even the cool apartments of a royal residence. Her Majesty is occupied for some hours in the morning with affairs of State; special messengers arriving from London every day with fresh despatches. The Private Secretary is always in attendance with a mass of correspondence, which must be roferred to the Queen, while the royal signature has to be affixed to hundreds of public documents in the course of the

i , week. ■ I The inhabitants of Windsor or the neighbours at Osborne are accustomed to see the little pony chair in which her Majesty drives in the early part of the day; later in the afternoon an open carriage (drawn by a beautiful pair of horses, with one outrider) is in requisition. Pausing along the country roads in the neighbourhood of the royal residence, her Majesty recognises many a villager at his cottage door. In London, or when driving in the Isle of Wight, beyond the precincts of Osborne, through Cowo3 or Newport, the Equery-in Waiting rides near the carriage, and it is always among the incidents of the regatta week to watch for the appearance of the gray horses which generally draw the carriage in which the Queen drives with one of the princessee and the Lady-in-Waiting. The Equerry also accompanies the Queen on any long expedition from Windsor when no' military escort is in attendance. During the residence of the court at Windsor a succession of English guests r are honoured with an invitation to dine and sleep at the castle. They arrive late in the afternoon, and the Queen sees them when they assemble in the corridor before dinner and await her Majesty's entrance, standing on each sideae her Majesty passes onward. The diningroom used when the party is not unusually large is the oak dining-room, where, by the way, the Queen and.royal family always have luncheon. The ladies and gentlemen of the household dine together elsewhere, with the exception.of those specially com. tnanded to join the royal circle. There is of course an absolute rule laid down as to what dress is to be worn by the ladies who are either invited guests or members of the royal household, and it has always been etiquette for the ladies to appear 10 full evening dress at dinner, demitoilet not being permitted, except in case of ill-health. The Queen's own Ladies-in-Waiting and Maids of Honour are always in half-mourning when on duty, and since the Prince Consort's death, the royal servants in livery wear a black band on their arm. (There has always been an unwritten law that the ladies at court should wear gloves, in morning as well as in evening dress, and this has long, survived the discontinuance of th* custom elsewhere, though it was the rule in most houses till some few years ago. On the anniversary of a birthday of any member of the royal family it has always been the rule that mourning must be dropped for the day, but now that colours are not worn at court the change can only be from black to grey. The gentlemen attached to the court wear the Windsor uniform when »t the castle in evening dress—dark-blue coat with crimson facings—but thiais not worn at Osborne or Balmoral. Those who join the royal circle at dinner or in the evening must wear tights, whether they bo of the household or guests. Visitors invited to ■tay at Balmoral or Osborne are limited to members of the royal family, except on come very special occasion; but Her Majesty often honours some of the residents in the Highlands by an invitation to dinner, and to any entertainments which are given, if they live within reach. Those who are invited to Windsor seldom remain more than one night, and on reaching the station find royal carriages waiting. The page on duty shows the guests to their rooms, and a sitting-room fo generally included in the suite prepared for their reception. The Premier, or important Cabinet Minister may have an audience with the Queen, and is naturally summoned to the Sovereign's presence if public affairs or State matters have to be considered or

discussed. The Queen retires to her own apartments »t an early hour, and it has always been the enstom for a tray with wine, &c, to be brought in at half-past ten. At the royal tablw finger-glasses on the dessert-plates are not allowed. There is said to be some very old tradition connected with this omission, of which the truth cannot be affirmed, but the rule remains, and everyone entertaining royal guests should be careful to remember it. The Master of the Household is responsible for the entire management of the royal establishment in every department, and it is a most responsible post. When her Majesty precedes her guests into dinner it is his duty to see the company go to their respective places. Unless commanded to dine" at the Queen's own table, the Master of the' Household presides at the dinner prepared for the suite. The choice of servants lies with him, and all the roy&l footmen first serve their apprenticeship in the Master of \ the librae's own establishment, during which time they wear the royal livery. If found satisfactory, and when considered qualified

for the Qneen ? s household, they are passed on to the palace. - Upon State occasions, when a number of guests are entertained, it is the duty of the Lord Steward to propose the health of Her I Majesty, or any toast which has to be drunk, { mid in his absence the duty devolves on the '; Master of the Household : but there have been very special time.s when Her Majesty herself has risen and given the health of tome dis'inguished visitor, and the sweet I silvery tone of Her Majesty's voice can ! never be forgottsti by aryoiie privileged to hear it. Among the guests whose names appear at Windsor it is often seen that notable preachers are summoned to do duty on n .Sunday. Such commands must be complied with ; and in some instances the preacher—probably an ecclesiastic of high rank—is invited to nine with the Queen, otherwise a place is laid at the household dinner.