ROYAL ENTERTAINMENT HOUSEHOLD PERFORMANCES.

Waipa Post, Volume 42, Issue 3314, 25 June 1931, Page 3

ROYAL ENTERTAINMENT

HOUSEHOLD PERFORMANCES.

HAPPY INFORMAL GATHERINGS.

An entertainment club has recently been formed among members of the English royal household to provide informal entertainments for the King and Queen, who now rarely go but in the evening. The club was the idea of Sir Charles Verney, Queen Mary's private secretary. Any member of the staff who can play the piano or sing a song, tell a good tale, do conjuring tricks, or anything else in the entertainment way, was invited to join the club (says Mr J. Harper Lansing in a London newspaper). The club gave the first performance a few weeks ago, and it was the most remarkable informal entertainment ever given at Buckingham Palace. ■ _ The entertainment was held m a room known as the White Drawing Room, where is located one of the six pianos at the palace. It began by one of the equerries singing sea chanties, accompanying himself on the piano. The King walked about the room smoking a cigar, joining himself in the chanty choruses.

| After the chanties, Sir Charles Verney, who is rather a good raconteur, told humorous stories. Then one of the royal servants did some conjuring tricks. At 10 o'clock drinks were served, and then the King and Queen bade the entertainers goodnight. Some of the disciplinary rules in the royal household have lately been relaxed. It has been a strict rule since the accession of King George that when the Court was in residence at Buckingham Palace there should be no entertainments given by the servants in the servants' hall. This rule was made by Queen Victoria, who considered that the whole time of the royal servants should be given to the performance of their duties when the Court was in residence. King Edward described this rule as "most needlessly tyrannical," and dispensed with it. It was revived by Queen Mary, but she has now abolished it. The royal servants can on certain evenings of the week entertain friends in the servants' hall, and dancing is permitted.' Queen Mary has on occasion gone down to open the dancing by waltzing with one of the upper men servants.