DIGNITY AND BEAUTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19500, 8 June 1925, Page 7

DIGNITY AND BEAUTY

FIRST COURT OF SEASON. ' SCENES AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE, * LONDON, May, 21. A long string of magnificent cars, containing beautiful debutantes, , stretched the whole length of the Mall, awaiting entrance to Buckingham Palace for presentation to the King and Queen at the first Court of the season. The crowd lined the Mall and gazed at”the debutantes sitting in the stationary cars like beautiful waxwork figures, and displaying wonderful gowns. Some shyly hid their faces behind their ostrich-plume fans and bouquets. Many of their-heads were shingled and their bandeaux veils gave a touch of piquancy. Gold and silver were the prevailing colours of the exquisite gowns. ’ The Royal procession from the white drawing room to the Throne Room composed the King and Queen, Princess Beatrice, Ladv Maude Carnegie, Princess Helena Victoria, the Marquis and Marchioness of Cambridge, and Lord and Lady Louis Mountbatten. The Queen wore a gown of soft silver, with a train of Indian silver. The King was in a Life Guard’s uniform.Owing to the smaller trains, which enabled acceleration, 700 persons were presented, compared with 400 at the previous Court. “I’m too old to feel the • transports of delight and the, thrills of the young debutante. Nevertheless, I was greatly Inn pressed by the wonderfully dignified setting of the Court ceremony,” said Mrs George Fairbairn, wife of the Victorian Agent-General. “The resplendent scene was memorable for the women's frocks, while the charming head-dresses gave dignity to' the wearers. The Queen presented an impressive and regal figure. The variety of the colour of the uniforms of the Diplomatic Corps was striking, a special note being struck by the richness of the robes of the Indian rajahs and by the, Hungarian Minister, with a picturesque cloak ■thrown over his shoulder. “The courtroom's decorations were in dove grey, and the rich, soft lighting gave tone to the scene. I was a bit nervous at first, but the extreme courtesy of everyone soon put me at ease.”