LONDON’S BUSIEST ’PHONE

Southland Times, Issue 23332, 16 October 1937, Page 13

LONDON’S BUSIEST ’PHONE

The busiest telephone in London is Whitehall 3007. It belongs to the Lord Chamberlain’s office at St. James’s Palace. The details of the work of this office are described by The Daily Mail, London: The office consists of the Lord Chamberlain, the comptroller to the Lord Chamberlain, the assistant comptroller, a secretary, an assistant secretary, a State invitation assistant, and several clerks and typists. Lord Cromer has been Lord Chamberlain since 1922. Three Courts and two levees are part of the ordinary routine of any year. But Coronation year brings much additional work in the way of two State banquets, two Court balls, a Royal visit to Scotland with two Courts and levee there, and an extra investiture and garden party. The Lord Chamberlain’s office duties also included the Coronation, the Coronation procession, and the hospitality to and entertaining of numbers of official foreign visitors. There are two types of Court functions. One comprises the Courts and levees, to attend which application can be made both individually and collectively. The other includes the Court ball, Court banquet and garden party, which are by invitation only. In the case of Court banquets, the master of the household, in consultation with the Lord Chamberlain’s office, compiles a list of the Ambassadors on leave and foreign representatives to be invited. In the case of Court balls not more than 1950 can be asked. Certain allotments are made to the fighting services, the civil service, members of Parliament, and other public bodies. A nucleus is formed of the “general circle.” This is the register of 18,000 names kept at the Lord Chamberlain’s office. This year, however, so many foreign visitors and guests from the Dominions were in London that barely 300 or 400 of the general circle were

able to attend either of the Court balls. When this list has been completed and the selection approved by the King, the invitations are sent out. The choice of the guests from the general circle is not an easy one. The Lord Chamberlain, who is personally responsible, goes through the files of names for submission. It meant this year that 17,600 people were disappointed. The Lord Chamberlain’s office is responsible for the music at the Court balls. The Brigade of Guards and Household Cavalry are requested to detail a band and to send in a programme. This is then passed on for the King’s approval. Traffic arrangements have to be made with the police for Court balls. This year, as the Mall was full, special arrangements had to be made for parking motor-cars on the Horse Guards’ parade. The lists for the Courts are opened usually on January 1. This year between 4000 and 5000 applications were made on behalf of debutantes, newlymarried women, ‘ and others who had changed their names, say, from “Mrs” to “Lady.” An application must be made by someone who has already been presented. Of the 4000 or 5000 applications less than half are successful, the average number of people presented at each of the three Courts being between 650 and 700. There is not quite so high a number of applicants for levees, but of the 3600 people who apply, 1600 have to be refused, as 1000 is the maximum number of men who can be presented at each levee. In approving members of the public anxious to be presented at Court, the Lord Chamberlain’s office acts on the principle of giving debutantes first choice, and married women who have not been presented the second choice. And in the midst of all this the Lord Chamberlain’s office is responsible for the censorship of plays.