PRESENTATION PARTY

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26121, 25 May 1950, Page 2

PRESENTATION PARTY

BUCKINGHAM PALACE CEREMONY TWO N.Z. WOMEN MEET KING AND QUEEN (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, May 15. Although there were 50 New Zealanders at the Presentation Party at Buckingham Palace last week it would appear that only two actually met and talked with the King and Queen. They were Mrs J. H. Upham, of Christchurch, and her daughter, Mrs Holmes Seedle, now of Blackheath, London. “Of course I felt very honoured indeed to be singled out to meet Their Majesties,” said Mrs Upham. “The Queen was very charming and put me quite at east with her conversation before calling the King to meet me too. They recalled meeting my son (Captain Charles Upham, V.C. and Bar) very well, and were most interested to know how he was getting on. I also introduced my daughter,” continued Mrs Upham, “and for some minutes we chatted together. It was all exceedingly informal and nice, and a great thrill for me.”

Mrs Upham, who flew here early in the year to visit her daughter, is'due to return home by the Port Auckland early next month.

The only members of the New Zealand party to be officially presented were eight members of the staff of New Zealand House and their wives, who filed past Their Majesties and Princess Margaret seated on the Royal dais in the ballroom. It should be observed that the presentation of these officials is in accordance with diplomatic custom and is not at the expense of the other strictly limited invitations. Had the High Commissioner (Mr W. J. Jordan) been present these New Zealanders would have been some of the first to be presented, for he is the third most senior member of the diplomatic service in London. However, as his deputy, Major-General W. G. Stevens, is rated as one of the most junior, the Dominion party went through third from last, after Siam, but before South Africa. While these presentations were in progress the remainder of the 1700 guests (for whom attendance ranks as actual presentation) waited in the magnificent state rooms brilliant with mirrors. chandeliers, and paintings and resplendent with the scarlet uniforms and halberds of the Gentlemen at Arms. When the Royal party retired to their quarters the guests moved out to the lovely lawns and gardens at the rear of the palace, where refreshments were served from large marquees. Here the scene was one of great colour and life as the bright dresses of the w.omcn mingled with the smart uniforms of service officers, the national dress of the Eastern countries and the subdued but impressive black and grey morning dross of the male civilian guests.