ROYAL GARDEN PARTY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 225, 22 September 1931, Page 10

ROYAL GARDEN PARTY.

Muslin Frocks and Muffs are Worn. RETURN TO FEMININITY. (Special to tile " Star”) LONDON, July 23. The beautiful gardens of Buckingham Palace in a riot of colour and of lush green basking in brilliant sunshine, quite tropical in intensity, formed a fine setting for the Royal Garden Party to which were bidden ten thousand guests. The dress parade on the vivid emerald lawns might have been dated 1870, such a throwback was it to the Victorian. Frilled organdie skirts swept, or nearly swept the velvet lawn. Muslin frocks abounded and little muffs to match were worn. The short velvet jackets carried one back to the pages of “Punch” and du Maurier. Bowler hats feather trimmed were sheltered from the sun’s rays by tiny lace parasols.

But the Victorian was not the whole picture. There were also smart silk tailored suits with the modern short skirt. In fact there is to be seen absurd contrasts side by side. Side by side with one New Zealand girl who wore a frilled frock of organdie and a parasol of ridiculously tiny diameter—it had belonged to her grandmother—could be seen a “tailored girl” complete with bowler. The King, who looked well, wore a buttonhole, and the Queen wore beige lace with a gold turban hat. Princess Mary wore pale pink and carried a sunshade to match. The Duchess of York was in powder blue under a cloak with a very deep feather fringe. Princess Patricia was in pale grey figured chiffon with large hat to match, while Princess Ingrid of Sweden was in and white figured chiffon and large straw hat. To those who yearned to see Royalties there were a-many—the romantic w 7 ere eager to see the Rumanian exile and her mother the Queen of Greece, the ex-Queen of Portugal. Among the thousands it was difficult to find one’s friends, unless one haff a rendezvous. Lord and Lady Jellicoe, the latter was in royal blue and black, were greeting their many New Zealand friends. Lady Gwendolen was in pink and wore a large straw hat. Lady Myrtle in yellow figured, chiffon and picture hat. Lady Jersey in mauve lace too met many Victoria League friends. Sir Thomas, Lady Wilford and Miss Wilford were there. The High Commissioner presented Colonel Collins as representing N.Z. Parliament, and Sir George Elliot as a leader of New Zealand trade and finance, and Lady Elliot, who was with him, to their Majesties. A personage who challenged attention was Sir Harry Lauder, who, of course, wore the kilt.