THE ALOOFNESS OF ROYALTY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8100, 27 August 1904, Page 3

THE ALOOFNESS OF ROYALTY.

The relaxation of many of tho restrictions and formalities which were onoe strictly observed in all social intercourse with tlie Sovereign or the Royal Family is the subject of an article by " Index " in the "Daily Express." For many years (says the writer) only the leading members of the comparatively small aristocracy were admitted to anything like intimacy. - The Dukes of Sutherland, Argyll, Beaufort, Kutland, and a few other territorially j influential peers of the realm were the only hosts whom the Sovereign and Princes i visited. _ _ • • It is within 'the memory of the existing generation that the late Duchess of Cambridge felt herself unable "to accept the invitation of an important peer, who was also an intimate friend, because his rank was then below that of an Earl. On the other band, the right of a duke or duchess to claim an audience of the Sovereign was frequently exercised. j With the enlargement of society, the ' code of etiquette has been sensibly relaxed. In former years, for instance, not only j royal invitations, but private invitations, ' to" meet members of the Royal Family, r_nk?d as commands, the only invitation which was? allowed to. excuse and even to override that of any royal personage being one from the Speaker of the House of Commons issued to a member of Parliament at any entertainment to meet a prince of princess of the blood. No one would think of leaving the party until the principal gnest had retired. Mr Gladstone, in 1883, wrote to the then Prince of Wales : — "I am very much shocked at ttn omission which I made last nigfet in failing to ask yoiir Royal Highness 1 - 1 leave to be the first 'to quit Lord Alcester's agreeable party in order that I might attena to my duties in the Eouee of Commons. In my early day*, not only did the whole company re- ■ main united if a member of the Royal family were present until the exalted perEonaige departed, but I well recollect the application of the same rule in the caae of the Archbishop (Howley) of Canterbury." If a member of the House of Hanover were present at a dinner party, no other guest would be supplied with a fingerbowl in case any ardent Jacobite might observe the tradition of holding his glass over the bowl as a- sign of "ur inking to the King across the water." Any ."lady honoured by a call from a Royal personage would at once deny herself to any other caller during the visit; and anyone paying a visit to a member of the Royal .family would not dream of rising to

take leave until a sign of gracious dismissal was givea. At any ball "to meet" tne heir to the throne sad his consort, unless by special request, dancing would not commence until their arrival ; and if any princess took part in a round dance, no other couple atteapted to occupy tihe floor at the same time. Should an, occasion arise for any private individual to offer a present to any princess of the blood, it would be considered the height of indecorum for the gilt to take the form of any jewellery. At the opera or theatre, no well-bred person would direct an opera glass towards the Royal box, or, however intimate, venture to ask to be received during an entr'-act unless specially summoned. Even the envoy or representative of royalty was formerly treated wtih more ceremony than obtains tp-day. At a funeral service, for instance, the Court official representing the Sovereign would invariably occupy a pew by 'h:m_elf. Certain military traditions have also fallen into abeyance. In former years even the junior princes and princesses were escorted to drawing-rooms and levees by detachments of household cavalry. The abolition of purchase, ended the custom of the Sovereign presenting to the pages of honour a commission in ths Guards ; but it is only recently that two of the household regiments have adopted the practice of drinking the King's health at mess, which they ahvays studiously refrained from doing, as' a sign that their loyalty was beyond suspicion, and required no outward confirmation.