QUEEN ALEXANDRA AS A HOSTESS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1536, 7 August 1901, Page 20

QUEEN ALEXANDRA AS A HOSTESS

In her exceedingly interesting article on Home Life at Sandringham, in the “Lady's Magazine/’ Miss Mary Spencer Warren gives some charming glimpses of Queen Alexandra in the daily routine of life at her favourite residence. “Breakfast was, usually served at Sandringham at 9 o’clock, and afterthat the Royal hostess would often send for one or two of the lady guests to chat with her in her boudoir, or possibly would invite all of them to accompany her on her' morning visit to the kennels the aviary, the poultry pens, or, maybe,, her own stables. In the latter would be found, amongst others, a beau_ tiful team of Hungarian ponies, for her Majesty is a skilful whip, driving four-in-hand or tandem; she is also a graceful rider, although not- seen so much on horseback during the last few years. Sundry lumps of sugar found their way from the pockets of the Princess to the horses’ mouths; indeed, they always turned their pretty heads for it, well knowing that they would not be disappointed. “Visitors who stayed over<the Sunday would accompany the Royal family to

t the little church within the park. There is a narrow footpath from the home, which leads directly to the lych ga-e, and, as a general rule, the whole of the party walked that way to the church, only very occasionally carriages being ordered cut to convey tue Princesses round the carriage drive. Sunday is a clay of rest at Sandringham, and no unnecessary work of any description is ever allowed. Only in very exceptional circumstances does a train run into tlx© Royal station, and the attendance afc church is rigorously punctual every Sunday morning. “Dinner,” adds Miss Spencer Warren, “was at 7.30, tne guests, after assembling in one of the drawingrooms, proceeding to the diningroom in the usual manner and with all absence of the state which the general public would conclude was manifest. The handsome apartment in which the dinner was served has some very beautiful Spanish tapestry on its walls, a magnificent collection of plate on the buffets, and always flowers in abundance. Her Majesty Queen Alexandra, as is well known, is a great lover of flowers, and I may here say that her favourites are lillies of the valley. It ik scarcely necessary to say that as host and hostess the Prince and Princess of Wales were extremely affable with their guests, all of whom were very soon placed at their ease, and the conversation round the oval table was bright and animated. “Her Majesty is a brilliant pianist, inheriting the gift from her mother, with whom she often played duets; and one of her chief delights has been good orchestral music. There was always plenty of music after dinner at Sandringham, more especially fine when such skillful artists as Signor Tosti and the late Sir Arthur Sullivan were present. Sometimes, too, there was a carpet dance or tableaux vivants, and of course billiard rooms and smoking rooms for the gentlemen. In the summer the conservatories and terraces, with the beautiful gai'dens beyond, were much in request ”