BRILLIANT SCENE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 132, 7 June 1930, Page 9

BRILLIANT SCENE

PRESENTED AT COURT A BLAZE OF GEMS DEBUTANTE'S ORDEAL (Copyright ) Presented at Court.—rDespitc the rapid growth of what has been termed tho "modern" spirit, which interpreted really means tho dis- . carding of the conventions, there is still a thrill and a glamour and a tremendous romance in those three words, writes a society woman. To-day, as for many centuries, our young girls of leading families count this as perhaps tho great event and privilege of their lives. For no one who has ever taken part in the brilliant spectacle of a British Royal Court ever forgets the experience or its thousand-nnd-one gorgeous details. This year the old-time brilliance and completeness of the stately function will be seen, for the King will attend in person again, and, at any rate at the second two Courts, the whole of the immediate Boyal Family will lead the wonderful group gathered about tho Thrones. Two Courts were held "at the end of May, and tho other .two will . take place during the week that intervenes between the Epsom Summer Meeting and Ascot, this month. I want to take you inside the Palace on the occasion of a Eoyal Court, and draw for you the true picture of a spectacle that surpasses any other function in the world for magnificence and regality. We will, therefore, commence at the stage when, if you were a debutante, you will have passed in your car through the -gates and into the Palace yard. The' footman has handed the first admission "ticket to the outside official, and you are now well on the way to the great event. Your own "summons to- attend a Court to be held by Their Majesties" is kept very tightly clasped in the hand now, for it, is a most important document, and is the "open sesame" to the wonder palace. A, GEE AT MACHINE. On first entering the Palace you are conducted to the Great Hall on the ground floor. Straight ahead are the ample rooms set apart for leaving your outer-eloaks, etc., and the system is perfection, as indeed it must be to cope adequately with a thousand guests. It is now that you will begin to realise something of the amazing machinery that is represented by Eoyalty and the State. There is never a hitch of any kind; no fuss, no embarrassing over-at-tention. The Court officials and their staff work quietly and in a most unostentatious manner, and although you scarcely realise it, you find you are being very carefully and completely chaperoned and controlled. The officials genlty guide and advise you all the way. Soon you arc mounting the Great Staircase, and the atmosphere has assumed that officiality and formality and dignity that impresses tho importance of State upon you. You now enter the first of a series of drawing-rooms,'im-posing and brightly illuminated, in which gold chairs and bright red—tho scarlet and gold of royalty—-carpets and curtains, with massive candolabra and walls hung with alomst priceless Old Mastcs, are the outstanding feature. HISTORIC HOUSES. Already the scene is brilliant, for all about you are hundreds of other debutantes, all beautifully dressed and flashing with many rare and valuable jewels. These jewels are well worth spending your waiting-time studying, for most of them are family heirlooms of historic houses, and only on the rarest of occasions are they to be seen in public, and in such a setting that reveals their wondrous beauty. A Court official, resplendent in rich uniform, comes through the door and beckons another batch of debutantes forward: You now take your train in your left hand and your'' summons" in your right, and pass in a stately procession through the other drawingrooms until at last you reach the outer apartment to the Throne Boom. Now all is eager anticipation and brightness indeed. The strains of perfect music reaches the ears, and tho formal rich voice of the Lord Chamberlain calling out famous names can be heard. ,

It is now that your big life's thrill commences. Every nerve iii your body is attuned to eagerness and expectation. You find yourself suddenly through that big door —and the centre of a scene that almost baffles description. Indeed, so overwhelmed are most debutantes that they can hardly recall the picture and ceremonial of which they play a part. A MAJESTIC SCENE.

I am taking it that you have been an early arrival, and so secured the coveted right of staying in the Throne Room after your presentation. The rest must pass right away and out of the great chamber. Tou will now be sitting on another gold chair in a huge and magnificent apartment that seems all light and glitter and sparkle and solemn and stately ■ —and oh, everything superlative that can suggest regality on its highest level. There is colour The Throne Room is a chamber alike only to itself. Again wonderful Old Masters look down on a scene they have witnessed through successive centuries and many reigns.

Majesty is the word that describes the scene. Scarlet and gold again predominate. Kich Court uniforms; the more delicate-huod, beautiful drosses of tho ladies; scores of thousands of glittering gems; a blaze of colour from gorgeous flowers —usually lilies, roses, and hydrangeas. On these occasions, too, all the Court officials and servants arc resplendent in wonderful uniforms, and tho footmen have their hair powdered, too. Now we can breathe a little and take in something of the seeno round the thrones. There sit the King and Queen. It is not in any disrespectful spirit that I say, and I know yon would agree, that the Queen dominates the scene. Never at any other time does Queen Mary appear so amazingly regal and really majestiee and magnificent. I recall the last occasion. Tho Queen's gown was of cream and gold lame, hand-entwined in cut-crystal diamante -with a train of- Irish point lace lined with gold chiffon tissue with a gold leaf design. And on her head a crown of diamonds. She seemed covered with the jewels of famous Orders—a figure of stateliness before which none could help but quail a little. A LONG PROCESSION. The King wears a full-dress scarlet and gold uniform of a field-marshal, and h'is breast is covered with decorations. Grouped about Their Majesties are the Prince of Wales, usually in tho full-dress uniform of one of the Guards regiments, the Duke and Duchess of York, the Duke of Gloucester, Prince George, and another delightful picture —the Princess Mary, Lady Harcwood. Orders, jewels, and colour arc everywhere, and tho scene of the profusion of flowers seems to get more and more powerful. Continuously on goes that procession

of diplomats and men of fame and ladies and young "entrants" into this society. You hope your own curtseys wero nicely made, but never remember much about them, for tho closo approach to the King and Queen takes all power of thought away from you. I have never yet known a debutante who was not full of nerves and excitement during the supreme moments of the presentation. AN ORDEAL. The first curtsey is to the Queen, who always smiles so graciously and reassuringly. And then three paces on and you aro before the King, who looks gravely down upon you. Mostly tho debutantes carry off the ordeal well, but occasionally you will see how uncontrollable nervousness causes embarrassing mistakes. And so on—later —to the beautiful picture gallery, and finally downstairs to the supper buffet room. The supper provided is dainty and delightful, usually caviare and chicken, and so on. And champagne (after a glass of which yon begin to feel a little more normal), although the thrill of the evening will not pass for weeks. As you meet for supper you take a litle more intimate interest in the dresses. You notice that a large number are decorated with thousands of real diamonds or pearls all hand-sewn on to them. You notice wonderful ostrich feather fans of all hues, and bandeaux of silver lame trimmed with coloured stones. And so on—all of a kind and style that aro truly fitted for so regal an event.