PALACE ROUTINE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21278, 3 September 1932, Page 6 (Supplement)

PALACE ROUTINE

" NIGHT " COLOURS PREPARING FOR THE COURT Buckingham Palace routine, which is in itself a perfect, piece of organisation, is affected in many ways on the days when Courts arc held, states a London writer. Recently the long vista of drawing rooms which lead to the. Throne Boom gave the idea of one vast conservatory. The Royal gardeners from Grogmoro started their work at an early hour in the morning, and, with all the wealth of June blooms and flowering shrubs at their disposal, wero able to produce a wonderful effect. Later in the day comes a pleasant task of arranging tlie floral decorations 011 the buffets and supper tables. The scheme is carefully prepared in detail beforehand, good " night " colours that suit the brilliant Court setting being selected. After the Court is over many of these cut blooms are appropriated by the women guests as souvenirs of one of the outstanding social events in their lives. Their Majesties dine earlier on Court nights than the usual hour, and the Queen indeed usualy takes this meal in her own private room—for dressing for these ceremonial occasions cannot be hurried. The Queen never leaves anything to the last moment, and it is her invariable custom to have completed her Court toilette some time before the hour at which she takes her place in the Throne Room. This is a course that, from long experience, she constantly advises members of the Royal family to adopt. After dinner the finishing touches are made to the Queen'se toilette, for Her Majesty does not assume her jewels until just before she joins the procesion through the State Apartments.