Lunched With King

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 149, 25 June 1937, Page 8

Lunched With King

MAHARAJAH AND WIFE LONDON, April 30. The Maharajah of Jodhpur, ruler ol 36,000 square miles and 2,500,000 people, lunched with the King and Queen, Queen Mary and other members of the Royal Family at Windsor Castle recently. The maharanee, his wife, was not present. Even kings may not look upon her. That is the law of purdah. Strict precautions are taken to ensure that strange men do not look upon tin maharanee's face. Their car has blue-tinted windows. From it the maharanee will see all' thai purdah will permit her to see of Lon don. At home sho is guarded by men who inherit the honour of performing the duty from their fathers, but even the guards may not look upon her. It will not be possible for her to visit London's shops, but a large selection ot clothes, shoes and anything else she may require will be brought for her inspection at the hotel. “She has her own private box, specially screened at the theatre at home. 1 Unless similar arrangements can be j made here she will not visit any Lon- ! don places of entertainment. The maharanee is accompanied by four male relatives, the only men permitted to see her. They have been instructed that she must not be left alone j throughout her stay in England, lest, ; purdah be violated. She may not enter the lounge or any other public room at her hotel. She has to hurry along corridors that have previously been cleared of hotel servants. Sho leaves her suite by a back stairway, and on her return to the hotel must sit in the motor-car until the way to her boudoir is cleared. English women of high birth will be permitted to visit the maharanee and see her unveiled.