KAISER AT WINDSOR.

New Zealand Mail, 18 January 1900, Page 14

KAISER AT WINDSOR.

AT BATTUE AND AT BANQUET. (“ London Morning Leader. ’) YVINDSOit, November 22. Tho Emperor was tip at daybreak. I am told, and at once got through his official correspondence. At a quarter to nine his Majesty went out on his favour- < ite chestnut charger Blitzen for a canter in the Great Park. He was attended only by one of 1113 suite. I caught sight of him coming back at a smartgallop, and both he and his handsome steed seemed to have enjoyed their spin in the cola, crisp morning air. Soon afetr breakfast a start was made for tne day's shooting. Just a tinge of the usual excitement that has always attended the movements of his Imperial Majesty was given us by the rumour that bis -Viajesty would stop shooting at luncheon time and come back to see the Life Guards who are going to South Africa. But that did not come off. Just on ten o’clock the Emperor, accompanied by the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, and the Duke of Connaught, and attended by the Earl of Clarendon and Sir John McNeill and ■ , one outrider, drove off in an open carriage with four greys to Smith’s Lawn, - which lies on the way to Ascot. His Majesty was * wearing leathern i breeches, a light blue hunting cloak, and a green Tyrolese soft felt hat, with an ] eagle’s wing holding up one'side. On the way Pripce Christian was picked up, 1 and at Smith’s Lawn tne royal party - set out towards the forest on . a three - miles beat for pheasants. { LUNCH AT C’AMBOURN TOWER. 1 .Meanwhile Mr Leonard Collmann, front the Castle, was.busy getting the Queen’.s. room at old Cambourn Tower, on the edge of the forest, gay with furniture and decorations from the Castle, ready, for the luncheon. The weather was excellent for shooting, and to his own guns the Emperor is credited with 173 pheasants, 1 partridge, and 328 rabbits—quite a remarkable day’s sport.. The re- < turn was made about- half-past four, the 1 royal party driving through the town. About twelve o’clock, just as the bells ’ ! were pealing and guns were boomim? in , honour of the Empress Frederick’s birth- ■ day, the Empress, accompanied by Pnn- j -css Beatrice and attended by Lord 1 Churchill and Fraulein Ulaire von Gers- ' dorff, walked through the Castle grounds I and were taken into the Albert and St.' 1 George’s Chapels, where the Dean of ' Windsor and Mr A. Y. Nutt, the clerk I of tho works, were waiting to show the E wonders. Her Majesty was wrapped in •) a heavy sable cape over a dress of grey cloth, with a pretty, fanciful edging of ' white braid round the bottom of the' i skirt. 1 The young princes, in "sailor suits, , meanwhile went for a stroll about the 1 town, with their tutor, a tall, handsome * German, Captain - Lieutenant Count 8 Platen zu Hallennund. I Later in the afternoon the Queen the S impress, and the Princess of IV ales went out for a drive as far as Slough, goiim 1 by way of Eton and returning by Dari S chet. The young princes, in covert 8 coats, breeches, and leggings, and cloth c caps went for a ride on horseback. 1 THE BANQUETING lIALL. jj Now for the banquet. It- takes place * m St. George’s Hall, a delightful Gothic 1 oalr banqueting hall of exquisite proper- P tions. Its length is 20 f Jft. All the t Knights of the Order of the Garter from 1

: Edward IH. to to-dav have their arms i emblazoned on the roof or walls, and . the banners of the original twenty 1 knights, including those of Edward 111. . and the Black Prince, are hung from > the upper walls. 011 the walls aro the portraits of the English sovereigns from i James I. to George IV., by . Yandjck, Lely. Knelier, and Gainsborough, and ether famous artists. . . . The magnificent table is 149 ft long and Sic wide,- and its greatest allowance of guests is 150. At to-night’s party there are covers for 140 guests. I obtained permission to go in after the table was laid. I have often imagined pictures of royal banqueting halls, and 1 thought I had conjured up perfect creams of magnificence such as reality could not approach. 1 found that the reality far exceeded the fancies of my imagination. Eight along tho table was a sliccu of gold gleaming out in splendour above the white damask cloth and the white b ooms of azaleas and other flowers. Fifty yards of massive gold candela nra, epergnes, and other pieces rising three and four i'eet high from gold-edged bases of plate-glass mirrors stood along the centre of the table without a break. Then came on cither side the long rows of great gold salts, beautiful gold cups, gold menu holders, and other ornaments. THE GOLD DINNER SERVICE. Then there was the George IV. gold dinner service, gold spoons, gold forks, gold-handled knives, "old plates, gold tureens, gold dishes, gold everything. In the centre, where the Queen, sits, stiod the highest candelabra, that of Si. George. At the end of the room rose a great buffet covered with gol£ plate, salvers, cups, candelabra, and ornaments in gorgeous and royal effect, a wall of gold 20.1 high. Oonsmc-uous among the ornaments o:-i the buffet at the oast end stood our tne great tiger's head of gold, with crystal teeth, which was captured at Seriugapa' am, aucl above it was the ■ponder;ul jewelled peacock. '■.lloll the room is lighted up with its 200 great lamps and innumerable candles the effect must be wonderful. Vi lien the uniforms and dresses of the guests were added the scene would be such as imagination cannot paint. The Queen received her guests in the grand reception room. During the banquet. which started at half-past eight, tne i and of the Grenadiers played in the Waterloo Chamber, and Lieutenant-Col-onel '''on Rauch, of the Prussian Drsgo: ns. of which her Majesty is colonel, was specially presented. Her Majesty’s private band meanwhile played in St. George’s Hall. THE GREAT BANQUET. At the banquet the Queen sat at the centre of the table on the north side, with tiie German Emperor on her right hand. h acing the Queen on the south side of the table was the Empress, with tne Prmce of Wales on her left. ' On the Queen’s left was the Duke of Connaught with the Princess Christian. On the, right of the Emperor sat the Princess 01 V, ales with the Duke of Connaught. On the left of the Prince of Gales were the Marchioness of Lome and tne Duke of York. At the west end of the tabic sat- tiie Lord Sic vard, at the east end the Lord Onam bcic.-un. Leading up from the main entrance stood lines, of Life Guards in nnl uniiorm and Beefeaters in State unitorm. Ad the guests were either in uniform, or in full dress, and her Majesty was m black relieved ‘ only by the ribbon of the Garter. Three leasts were proposed tho IjUCftii, toe Emperor and Empress, and me Empress Frederic, whose birthday it was. I hey were given formally, w'itho nr- spec cues, but were drunk with great enthusiasm.