FIRST COURT OF SEASON

Evening Star, Issue 18034, 31 July 1922, Page 8

FIRST COURT OF SEASON

A BRILLIANT ASSEMBLY. [Feom Cue London Coreespondent-I Juno 15. Those who were present at the brilliant assembly in Buckingham Palace on the occasion of their Majesties first Court- of the season declare that nothing so splendid has been seen before during the present reign. There were two important absentees from the Royal circle, of course, the Prince of Wales being still aboard the Renown, homeward bound from his wonderful world tour, and the Duke of York away in Belgrade acting as best man to his cousin, King Alexander of Serbia., whoso nuptial celebrations at the old .Serbian capital were actually taking place while the presentations were being mado at Buckingham Palace. But all the other members of the Royal Family were present-, including lor the first time since her marriage Princess Mary, whoso wonderfully smartened appearance since she attaiiied the dignity of her own establishment was the subject of general whispered comment among the superbly fashionable throng. Those most interested in Court affairs were particularly concerned, moreover, to observe how Viscount Lascollea, who was in attendance, and looked extremely handsome in his perfectly-fitting wuards'man’a uniform, would bo treated in certain matters of detailed Court etiquette. The Court assembly was not only -brilliantly fashionable, but also brilliantly illustrious, for those present included most of the famous figures and personalities of our times.

ENGLISH AND AMERICAN BEAUTIES.

An extraordinary feature of the Court was the presence of a large number o£ distinguished American visitors, introduced by the American Ambassador, a sufficiently impressive figure in his semiCourt dross and American glasses; and, in tho case of tho ladies, presented by Mrs Harvey, a typical American matron of much "self-possessed charm and personal flair. Directly tho date of the first Court was announced quite a number of American society leaders booked their passage to London solely with the object of having their daughters presented. Comparisons were inevitable b-tween the characteristics of the American belles and tho English debutantes, prominent among whom was the stately eighteen-year-old-daughter of Ulster King-at-Arms, Miss Gwendolen Wilkinson, who stands 6ft 2in in her silk stockings. The American •beauties presented several splendid typos of womanhood; but tho most divinely tall of them was dwarfed beside the Ulster lady, and the Court critics, who may, of course, have been slightly prejudiced, awarded the palm for simplicity and girlish charm to tho English rosebuds. A big crowd drew round the palace gates and assembled down the hall to watch the arrivals, and some of the fashionable elite had to submit, with as complete a Vere do Vere demeanour as they could, J,o astonishingly outspoken personal comments. Women even glued their faces to the carriage windows to study the Court modes worn by those within, and made remarks as callously as thought society folk were wax images at Madame Tussaud’s.