ROYALTY AND LABOUR.
LADY ASTOR'S DINNER.
KING AND QUEEN ATTEND. "HAPPY FAMILY GATHERING/' [from our own correspondent.] LONDON. March 17. Prominent members of the Labour party and their wives were among the guests invited by Lord and Lady Astor to meet the King and Queen at dinner at their house in St. James' Square. The occasion was without precedent, and it says volumes for Lady Astor's natural talent and tact as a hostess that the function was an undoubted success. Indeed as a Labour M.P.'s wife afterwards related, it had the pleasant atmosphere of a happy family gathering: music, flowers, decorations and dinner — were perfect.
When the King and Queen arrived the guests were divided into two lines to welcome them. Then Lady Astor took the King down one line, and Lord Astor conducted the Queen along tho other, and both the King and Queen shopk hands with all vi<ho were present. The guests were again divided into two sections at dinner, when the Queen sat with Lord Astor at one oval table and the King with Lady Astor at another oval table. After dinner, when the ladies withdrew to the drawing room, an armchair. was placed by the fire for the Quean. A "Labour lady relates: 'Mrs. Dash is a Bolshevik, ma'am ' said Lady Astor, as she presented me. "Indeed, I'm not, Your Majesty,' I hurriedly interposed. ' I know Mrs. Dash is not a Bolshevik," said the Queen reassuringly. " I then explained to Her Majesty that Bolshevism was dying out of fashion, and that there were no Bolsheviks in this country. Presently the Queen asked after my family, and I asked after her grandson. 'Oh, he's splendid," she replied. " He now weighs eight pounds." "I .wfes presented to the King later in the evening. I was charmed by the wonderful memories of both tho King and Queen. They seemed to remember everything about everybody. I had expected that it would be over fairly early, and that we should be home by eleven, but this wa s not the case. It was ten minutes to twelve before the King drew out his watch and announced that ho had no idea that it was so late. Immediately after the King'and Queen had left, of course we all went home."
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18380, 21 April 1923, Page 12
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378ROYALTY AND LABOUR. New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18380, 21 April 1923, Page 12
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