THE KING AND QUEEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23528, 17 June 1938, Page 11

THE KING AND QUEEN

PRESENTATION PARTY AN INNOVATION (From Our Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON, May 28. Twelve hundred men and women were entertained by the King and Queen at Buckingham Palace on May 25 at the first “ presentation party ” ever held there. About 800 of the guests were women, and for most of these attendance at the party counted as presentation at Court. Instead of each woman passing before the Thrones and making an individual curtsey, there was a general obeisance from the entire company when the King and Queen came in.

The King and Queen then separated and walked among the guests, pausing every now and then to greet friends and to talk to people whom they knew. There was an atmosphere of informal enjoyment. The King wore the sky-blue uniform of Chief of the Royal Air Force. It was the third uniform he had donned during the day. The Queen’s gown was of silver lame, richly embroidered in diamante. She wore a magnificent tiara and necklace of rubies and diamonds.

The State rooms were beautifully decorated with masses of summer flowers, and in several of the rooms bullet suppers were served. During the evening the bands of the Royal Horse Guards and of the Scots Guards played in the ballroom and in the green drawing-room. New Zealanders who had the privilege of attending are very enthusiastic about their happy evening. FOR DUCK SHOOTING

It is announced from Sandringham that the King has had a pond, about 100 yards square, made in the duckshooting ground. In the middle is an island, reached by a bridge. In a large barrel on the island the King can conceal himself, with his guests in other barrels. Another pond is to be made on the estate with a high fence to screen the guns. For duck shooting the sportsman must be concealed at least an hour before daybreak, as few birds ax - e seen when it is light. The King, it is said, gets up at four, and goes out to the marshes in gumboots and mackintosh.