MR. AND MRS. FORBES

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 134, 8 June 1935, Page 18

MR. AND MRS. FORBES

MANY SOCIAL ENGAGEMENTS

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON. May 18. Official visitors to London during this interesting Silver Jubilee season are almost at a loss to give adequate expression to their feelings and impressions. Everything has been so wonderful and every function has been so perfectly planned and carried through without a hitch. Mr. and Mrs. Forbes have taken part in State functions previously, but they never realised how splendid—and yet apparently so simple because so easy—could be the great occasions of this year. They had never seen such vast crowds of people, so well ordered, so full of enthusiasm, so happy, and so spontaneously loyal. Well, there never had been an occasion quite like that to . which : the Dominion Prime Ministers and their wives had this time been summoned. Take, for instance, the State banquet at Buckingham Palace. The King and Queen made their gueste perfectly at ease, greeting them by name and saying how delighted they were to see them again. There was a State procession to the dining-room, which was decorated with the famous gold plate and with flowers in pale shades. For four courses gold plate was used, for dessert there was lovely china. When the banquet was in progress the string band of the Grenadier Guards played soft music, and at its conclusion twenty-four pipers of the Scots Guard piped. Members of the Boyal Family present included the Prince of Wales, Duke and Duchess of York, Duke of Gloucester, Duke and Duchess of Kent, Princess Royal, and the Earl of Harewood, Princess Victoria, and the Duke of Connaught. Everyone marvels at the. magnificent appearance and stately bearing of the Queen. ON THE BALCONY. , One of the greatest thrills of this week was the appearance later of the King and Queen pin the balcony, responding with pleasure to the enthusiasm of the vast crowds who assembled nightly outside the Palace during the entire week. At 10.35 on this evening

the King and Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of York, and the Duke and Duchess of Kent appeared and remained for five minutes. The King took with him the British Prime Minister and the Dominion Premiers. The tens of thousands of people below became so enthusiastic that the gates to the Palace yard were closed to prevent the people rushing in. The loyal throngs below beheld a wondrous picture of the Royal Family in dinner dress and lovely jewels, standing with their friends, behind the floodlights; those on the balcony gazed down upon such a sea of happy faces as Mr. Forbes had never in his life imagined. The King raised an arm, the crowd cheered; the King lowered his arm and the crowd became silent; this procedure followed over arid over again, and immensely impressed the visiting Premiers. . They had never before had the opportunity of visualising the magnetic power of the King over his people, or the tremendous loyalty to which the populace possesses for the King, Queen, and all the members of this gracious family. Guests at the banquet included' the High Commissioner for New Zealand and Miss Parr, General Sir Charles Fergusson, Lady Alice Fergusson, Earl and Countess Jellicoe, Lord and Lady Bledisloe. 2000 AT THE STATE BALL. This was a magnificent occasion, the guests including the most lovely women in the land with rare jewels. Mr. and Mrs. Forbes were there, also Sir James and Miss Parr. The King and Queen were on a dais hung with crimson velvet, surrounded by more than thirty members of their own or of foreign Royal families; behind the King's four Indian orderly officers, in uniforms of scarlet, blue, and gold, made a vivid splash of colour. The guests included members of the Diplomatic Corps, Cabinet Ministers, members of Parliament, officers of the three Services, and men and women distinguished in public life.

The Queen was in a gown of aquamarine lace, embroidered- with diamante, and wore emeralds and- diamonds in her corsage and a diamond tiara. The King was in the uniform of Colonel-in-Chief of the Black Watch.

The King, and Queen entered the ballroom, followed by the Dominions representatives. They were preceded by the Lord Chamberlain, the Master of the Horse, and other officers of the household, walking backwards, and, on being seated, were followed by members of the Royal Family. The King gave a signal to the, Lord Cham- irlain, and the band began to play the "Merry Widow" waltz. The Duke and Duchess of York took the floor, followed by the Duke and Duchess of Kent and the Prince of Wales-with his aunt, Queen Maud of Norway.

' The Duchess of York wore a gown of dull gold tissue and lace and a diamond tiara. She carried a large green ostrich feather fan.; The Duchess of Kent was in a simply-cut gown of white satin and wore a bandeau of diamonds. The Duke of Gloucester, in full-dress Hussars uniform, and several other Royal couples, with one or two Ambassadors, headed by the Brazilian Ambassador, joined the dancers. Then, without an interval,

the band began to play a fox-trot, i "Stars Fell in Alabama," and the Lord Chancellor gave the signal for general dancing to begin. The King and Queen did not dance. The Queen sat watching the scene and the King moved among his Royal guests. Mr. and Mrs. Forbes left the ballroom with the King and Queen for the room where supper was served. All the rooms were strikingly decorated with flowers, including hydrangeas brought specially from Windsor. Gold plate from the King's collection decorated the tables, and the air was perfumed from a golden scent fountain ornamented with models of horses in pure gold and of natives in ebony—a gift to Queen Victoria from an Eastern potentate. Mrs. Forbes was in black lace, and Miss Parr was becomingly dressed in crimson silk. ' A State ball is one of the few occasions when the '■ men outshine the women in splendour. The Maharajah of Bikaner was in a long white tunic with a deep red turban. The Maharajah of Kapurthala's dress defied description. It was a tunic of gold, surmounted by a magnificent turban that was studded with emeralds. At bis side was a sabre in a jade sheath: its hilt was studded with rubies. The Marquis d'Arcangues was splendid in the red uniform of a Spahi with a cloak across his shoulders. M. Francis de Croisset wore the uniform of the 6th Dragoons—red breeches, black tunic, and shining white epaulettes. OTHER FUNCTIONS. This week also, Mr. and Mrs. Forbes dined with the Duke and Duchess of York at their house in Piccadilly; they took luncheon at 10 Downing Street, with the Prime Minister, Miss,lshbel Mac Donald, and Miss Sheila MacDonald; they had luncheon another day with Mrs. Stanley Baldwin, on each occasion meeting interesting people and being made to feel very much at home. Yesterday they spent part of the afternoon with Lord and Lady Bledisloe at their home in Sloane Street, and they will pay a visit to them at Lydney. During their stay at Littlehampton last weekend, with Lord Moyne, Mr. and Mrs. Forbes were taken to Arundel Castle to have ~tea with the Duchess of Norfolk and her family—the young Duke and the Ladies Katherine and Winifrede Howard. Arundel estate is vast and beautiful, nnd, of course, possesses much of historic value. COURT PRESENTATION. Mrs. Forbes has never been presented. But on' the occasion of this very important year .she has decided to

make her curtsey. New Zealanders will, no doubt, be pleased that she has so decided. The presentation will be made by Lady Cunliffe-Lister (wife of the Secretary of State for the Colonies), who will also sponsor other New Zealand debutantes. Mr. and Mrs. Forbes are to be made acquainted with the charms of pony racing as indulged in at Northolt Park, Middlesex, on a Saturday afternoon. They are being taken by Sir Thomas and Lady Wilford. Mr. Forbes had an interesting visit to the, agricultural research station of Imperial Chemical Industries, there being made acquainted with some late experiments connected with grass. Mrs. Forbes is making good use of her camera, and will have many interesting "snaps" to show her friends when she gets home.