A London Letter

Southland Times, Issue 20228, 13 July 1927, Page 13

A London Letter

(From Our Correspondent.) London, May 25. "Die crowning hour of the debutante has arrived—the first court of the season—an Empire Day Court was held yesterday at Buckingham Palace. At half-past five —more than three hours before the Court —a motor-car with women guests arrived outside Buckingham Palace and took up its position at the top of the Mall. A policeman approached and asked the women if they would return later, as it was too early to begin the queue. Complying with the request, they were driven off for a run in the bright May sunshine. About three-quarters of an hour later the queue began to form. Car after car, containing debutantes and their mothers and fathers and friends, arrived in quick succession and lined up along the St. James’s Park side of the Mall. So great was the throng of sightseers that the considerable force of foot and mounted police on duty had difficulty in keeping the crowd on the move.

During the long weary wait my attention was particularly attracted by the appearance of one debutante. This was Miss Shiei.x Grant, daughter of Admiral Sir Ernest and Lady Grant, who wore a monocle. Whether she had the courage to wear it, when in the presence of their Majesties is still a secret of the inner circle.

From the onlookers point of view this is by far the brightest and gayest Court that has yet been held. This is due I think, to the fact that the traditional white favoured for the debutantes’ gowns has been ousted from its place of supremacy by varied touches of brilliant colour. For years a revolution has been taking place, and pale pastel shades have been creeping into lighten the orthodox whiteness of court scenes, but this is the first time that a definite change has been noticeable.

Embroideries in diamante crystal pailette and mother o’ pearl distinguished most of the frocks worn last night, and added their sparkle and lustre to the flashing of handsome heirloom gems and gave life to the rich and vivid or the graceful and filmy fabrics.

The King and Queen ocupied their throne chairs during part of the ceremony. Banks of flowers and foliage peeped from everywhere. Gentlemen-at-Arms, resplendent in crimson and gold, stood stiffly before the dais. On their flank were the Kling’s four Indian orderly officers in native full dress. The first Court is mainly diplomatic and official, and although the diplomatic circle was of record size, numbering more than 300, the Royal Circle was smaller than usual.

The Court opened with the entry of Lady Chamberlain, wife of the Foreign Secretary, escorted by the pisturesque Master of Ceremonies. Then followed the presentations in the Diplomatic Circle, followed by those in the official circle, and the general circle. For five hunrded radiant debutantes who floated in the sea of glitter and colour at Buckingham Palace the Queen will be an outstanding memory of their lives. Her gown was of the silver of the palest dawn. Delicate tulle, that appeared to have been embroidered with peairis and silver by fairy hands, was the overdress to a gown of English cloth of silver. And silver, with more pearls, made up her train. Her face, smiling and welcoming, charmed away the hypnotic fright invoked for a second by the flashing diadem that was her head-dress, the diamonds that blazed at her throat, including the famous Koh-i-noor, and the blue riband of the Order of the Garter and various family orders in her toilette.

Beside her, in his uniform of Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Horse Guards, his breast covered with decorations, was the King. His smile was a tonic for the nervous, his dignity a keystone to the magnificence of it all.

The Duchess of Devonshire, Mistress of the Robes, last night was gowned in a charming dress, by Mme. Claire, of grey georgette embroidered in silver beads and diamante in a star design, with a train of old lace. Her jewels were a diamond tiara and ropes of pearls. To-night her gown is to be of Prussian blue georgette having silver bead and diamante trimmings, with a gold lace train and the same jewels. Mme. de Fleuriau’s gown last night was of white velvet, entirely covered with fringes of gold and white beads. Gold lame provided the train, and her jewels included a diamond tiara and pearls. The gown she has chosen for to-night is of silver tissue with diamante embroideries, the silver tissue train having a silver lace lining. Mlle, de Fleuriau attended last night’s Court in a delightful dress of white chiffon and tulle, the white velvet train having a tulle lining, her fan being of pale pink ostrich feathers.

Mrs Baldwin, the wife of the Premier, was one of those to favpur the new fashion for blue. Her Buckmaster gown was a paillette robe over shot mousseline taffeta, with train of mid-night blue embroidered in paillettes.