Dresses at a Royal Ball.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue VIII, 22 August 1903, Page 568

Dresses at a Royal Ball.

The programme consisted of sixteen waltzes and quadrilles, the former being played by Herr Gottlieb’s band, and the latter by the hand of the Scots Guards, under Mr F. W. Wood (remarks a London journal, giving a description of the grand ball given at Windsor Castle recently by King Edward and his Queen). • he Queen herself headed the list of I -aiii i fnl women, wearing superb orna- * lent.-. Iler diamond crown was one of the daintiest there, and her collar of p?arls and diamonds, with rows and lows of pearls round her neck, falling beiow her waist, included some of the most valuable jewels worn last night, 1 lie Princess of Wales, too. had some magnificent diamonds, while all the royalties, including Princess Victoria and Princess Christian and Princess Vic-t<-ii:* of Schleswig-Holstein, wore a wealth of precious stones. Many of the loveliest women at the ball were included in the Castle house party. The Duchess of Portland looked like a young empress in a soft creation of cream tulle, lightly sewn with green ribbon*, which matched perfectly her magnificent parure of emeralds. The Duchess of Mari boiough was another noticeable figure among the house party on account of her slender height, which was accentuated by her high pearl tipped tiara ; while Lady Yarborough wore magnificent diamonds with a maize-coloured gown beautified with sprays of pale pink roses. The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire were, of course present, the Duke in court dress, and, like everyone there, wearing his Orders on his breast; while the Duchess looked very stately in white satin, embroidered heavily in gold thread, with which her tine diamond crown ami necklace had quite a gorgeous effect. Lady Howe, who has been with the Royal party all the week, was very noticeable in a dress of cerise chiffon, covered with embroideries of the same tints. A splendid diamond sun blazed in her dark hair, and round her neck was her famous pearl necklace.

A group of pretty women included Ladv Essex—one of the many Americans present at the ball—who wore a dress of ivory lace encrusted with jewels; Mrs George Keppel, in a dress of black jet. beautifully embroidered in cream lace; Lady Feo Sturt, whose dress of peachcoloured satin, worked with peacocks' feathers, was most effective; and Lady Maud Warrender, who has been one of the guests of the Prince and Princess of Wales at Frogmore. and who wore white over pale pink, with iridescent embroideries and pearls. Lady Colebrook? was another of the very pretty women present. and was dressed in pale blue with silver embroideries, with a diamond

tiara in her hair. Lady Dufferin. too. looked well in a wonderful dress of painted chiffon. Some of the finest emeralds were worn by Lady Carnarvon. Lady de Trafford wore white satin with the loveliest of old lace; Lady Pembroke was in a dress of briar-rose brocade, picked out in pale green, with trails of damask roses; and Lady Norreys, in pink tulle, all worked in pink embroideries, looked as pretty as anyone there. Mrs Hwfa Williams had a peculiar dress of brown chiffon, painted in yellow roses; Lady Galway wore emerald green net. embroidered in chenille of the same colour and her beautiful feather-patterned diamond crown; and Lady Hillingdon, like several others present, was attired in pink crepe de Chine. Other guests included Princess Hatzfeldt, who wore her magnificent diamond tiara; Lady Cunard. in a robe of all cream colour, with a lovely diamond necklace and pearls; Mrs Harcourt Powell, who was in grey chiffon, worked with sequins; and Mrs Miller Mundy in orange velvet. Mrs Julius Wernher had some of her lovely diamonds, with a dress of real lace which fell over an under-skirt of pale blue satin; Mrs Avery’s dress was of jewelled white laee; an I Mrs Lionel Bulteel had a handsome gown of jet-embroidered tulle, with silver ribbons winding over the skirt, the sleeves being of diamante tulle.