THE QUEEN AT BALMORAL.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 108, 3 November 1900, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE QUEEN AT BALMORAL.

It may f>e interesting (says M.A.P.) to note some of the details of the Queen's daily life during the time of her residence on Dee-side. Balmoral is, indeed, a peaceful retreat. Miles of mountain, moor, and stream separate the Queen from the outside world. The Castle stands in its loneliness eight miles from Ba'llater and the terminus oi a railway, and also eight miles in the other direction from Braemar. , Soldiers and sentries there are none, but one meets 1 an occasional policeman, and detectives are said to be somewhere about, although unnoticed by a" casual observer. The Queen's .servants at Balmoral, as at Windsor, or even in the gai'dens at Buckingham Palace, always stoike one as sucb, curious contrasts in colour^ costume, and nationality. There are the ordinary clean-shaven, livery-coated English-look-ing men-servants of ordinary life, with their pale faces and perfect manners, wearing the > Royal scarlet ; there are swarthy - complexipned, white - turbaned gold-embroidered Indiana ; and there are also the tartan-clad Highlanders, with their native bagpipes. Balmoral is not a large house ; in fact, for a palace^ a very small one. It is built in the usual style ot Scotch houses, with thick walls, many turrets, and entirely of grey-coloured stone. There is not much accommodation for a Court. The sittin'groom and diningroom allotted to the ladies-in-waiting are of modest dimensions, the entire space available in, the Castle being so limited that Ministers are often requested not to bring a private secretary with them, and are continually obliged to transact business and correspondence in their bedrooms. Many of the rooms are curtained and upholstered wilh the Royal Victoria tarlan. The guest-chambers in the Castle are very simple in their arrangements, and the only Princess who enjoys tho advantage of a separate sittingroom is Princess Heary of Battenberg, who has allotted to her the apartments which were occupied by the Queen's children many years ago. When in Scotland the Queen spends us much of her time as possible in the open air. She rises rather early and breakfasts about 9.30 in a tiny house in the grounds, which contains a sittingroom, writingroom, and dressingroom. This gardenhouse is also furnished with the same tarlan, sometimes called the Balmoral tartan. Only the nearest; members of the Queen's family ever breafasb with her, this honour never being afforded to casual visitors a-t the Castle. Breakfast is a very bountiful meal, and Scotch characteristics are carefully preserved. Oatmeal porridge always appears, also eggs, and fish in tho form oi' Finnan haddocks, or grilled sajmon. There is a large supply of hot cakes and scones, honey, jam and marmafiade. During breakfast a piper ■walks up and' down at about 400 yards distance playing his bagpipes. After the meal is finished, the Queen, according to her invariable custom, attends to her letters and State business, and later on goes out for her daily drive in the grounds, using a low pony chair, and generally attended by one of the Princesses,' a troop of grand-children, and a lady-in-wa\ting. Luncheon is the Queen's favourite meal, and a sirloin of beef and boiled chicken generally appear on the bill of faro. Her Majesty is fond of the flavour of cranberries, and cranberry tart is often served as a second-course sweet. In the afternoon the Queen starts on her long drive in the surrounding {orests and on the shores of the Dee. Sometimes these drives take the form of expeditions, and are arranged on tho posting principle, a carriage and four horses with postilions being often used, and the horses changed at convenient places. The Queen is fond when in Scotland of having tea, picnic fashion, in the woods, or in a keeper's lodge. She often goes to her own forest of Ballochbuie, where she has a small house of her own, with rooms fitted up for the purpose. Servants are sent on beforehand, in order that all may be in due readiness, as a Scotch tea is an important business. Cakes innumerable are provided, scones and shortbread, oatmeal biscuits, and fruits..