DINNER AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3572, 23 February 1914, Page 7

DINNER AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE.

Diner at Buckingham Palace on ordinary occasions is, in these days, a much simpler meal in everyway that it was in the last reign. The menus at that time were always elaborate, for the late King had a keen, appreciation of the products of the highest culinary art, and every night some of the wonderful inventions of M. Menager, the then chief chef at Buckingham Palace, appeared on the dinner menu. Moreover the late King and Queen Alexandra rarely dined alone, for during the reign of King Edward some guests were nearly always invited to dine when their Maiestyies were in King George and Queen Mary frequently dine “en famille,” when Princess Mary joins her parents, as also do the Prince of Wales, Prince Albert, and Prince Henry, when they are at Buckingham Palace. The menu on those occasions is of the simplest character, It is, indeed, not one whit more elaborate than dinner usually is in any well-to-do middle-class household, 'though, of course, prepared as it is by M. Cedard, one of the most famous chefs in Europe, it may be readily imagined that the cooking is of the very l>est.

On ordinary occasions the dinnerservice used is a. silver one which was presented to Queen Mary by the Empress of Germany, and the floral decorations on the table are always beautiful. On guest night, however, dinner at Buckingham Palace is as elaborate and ceremonious as ever. It is. indeed safe to say that under King George and Queen Mary the splendors of the State banquets will be fully maintained.

At a State banquet the guests number from forty to one hundred. The dinner is served in the immense State dining-room Two tables are used, one being a round one, the other an ordinal}’ long dining-table. The King and Queen sit at the round table, together with any Royalties or members of the Diplomatic Corps* and their wives who may be present, and a certain number of the chief guests. Mem* hors of the Cabinet and their wives and distinguished members of the opposition are always placed at the Key a l table; and other guests sit at the long table, at. tin* bead of which a member

of the household presides, hut no one sits at the foot.

On the occasion of a State dinner party at Buckingham Palace the famous gold dinner-service is used, and th ■ flora! decorations are extremely elaborate. In the centrevof the KoyaJ table is placed a circular gold flowertray. nearly four feet in circumference upon which four gold flower bowls are placed, each being filled with .La France roses of varying .shades of pink, and round the tray'is arranged a massive embankment" of pink and white carnations, Queen Mary’s favorite flower. A copy of tho menu card in a gold frame is placed opposite each guest; it is quite a simple card, headed Buckingham Palace. On a guest night dinner is served at 9 o’clock. The invitations are. of course, issued by the Lord Chamberlain, and the guests arc usually "commanded to be at the Palace at a quarter to 9. They assemble in the beautiful white drawingroom. The guests are marshalled by the equerries in two lines facing each"other, to receive the King and Queen, who within a minute of 9"o'clock enter the room, accompanied by any other Royalties who have been invited to the banquet. Their Majesties walk past their guests, who how and curtsey as the Koval procession passes to the diningroom, and then all the guests follow in strict, order of precedence. It may he mentioned that before a big dinner party at Buckingham Palace each guest is sent a plan of the tables with the place at which he or she is to sit marked on it, so that there is no difficulty on the part of the guests in finding their places when they enter the diningroom. A feature of the conversation at a Roval banquet that always strikes and somewhat impresses anyone who hue been for the first time honored with a command is the fact that it is carried on in sh main- different languages. At the Royal table some of the gle.sts converse in French, and some in Italian. A guest who could only speak English would feel extremely awkwardly placed. Their Majesties always converse with any foreign guests in their native tongue.' and English guests are supposed to do the same tiling. If nilable to do so, and English guest would address a goreigner in French. The banquet lasts ail hour, and the guests then adjourn to the spacious state reception rooms, where some famous singer may possibly have beer, engaged to give a performance. At half-past 11 Their Majesties and the Royal party withdraw, and then the Roval entertainment comes to an end.