First Courts of the New Reign.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 25, 21 June 1911, Page 62

First Courts of the New Reign.

NEW ZEALAND DEBUTANTES. BRILLIANT SCENES. (From Our London (Correspondent.) LONDON, Alay 12. Anything more brilliant, imposing and effective than a Court at Buckingham Palace it would be difficult to picture, and, knowing that New Zealanders at home are always interested in the doings of New Zealanders abroad, I yesterday sought out a young New Zealand debutante who made her bob' to the King and Queen on Wednesday, and persuaded her to describe the scene. “1 expected it would be magnificent,” she said, “but it was simply thrilling, every bit of it, from the time we joined the long queue of carriages and motors till it was all over. There must have been thousands of people watching everyone arrive, and when 1 say that our motor had to stand in a queue at Buckingham Palace for over half an hour you’ll have some idea of how dense the crush of Vehicles was. However, a band was playing in the courtyard, and it was a wonderfully interesting sight to see all the pretty- women being handed out of their carriages. Once in the entrance hall, a footman in a. gorgeous livery took our cloaks and a maid—just dressed in black and white like any other maids—came and arranged our trains. Then we went into a great drawing-room and sat down in rows till another elaborately-uniformed man—probably an official of some kind—marshalled us out to enter the Throne Room.

"It was really amusing to watch this fine person's methods. He walked to the end of a row, raised the hat lie held in his hand, and all the row of ladies at that signal rose and followed him. As we advanced towards the Throne Room I could see a double row of the men in attendance on the King standing rather like a guard of honour at a Wedding. Air. Winston Churchill was there, looking very, much at his ease and talking to his friends, and evidently much enjoying himself. Each lady .was her train's length—that is, four yards—distant from the next, and so one was well coached in what to do before one's own turn came. Just lie fore I actually advanced to the dais, a footman arranged my train.

and then the great moment arrived. Did I feel nervous? No; it’s all too exciting for that. One’s name is absolutely bawled out, so that it seems as if the world outside could hear. IN THE THRONE ROOAf. \ “One thing I was very surprised at, even though I’d been told of the Royal Family’s remarkable memories. As each one's name was called both the King and Queen (who were seated through the two or three hours of presentations) looked! as if they took an intelligent personal interest in the debutante, and that, of course, gave one a delightful feeling of being part of it all. Then, after being presented, we found ourselves at liberty to watch other presentations, and as I turned and looked round the room it was a really lovely sight. The first thing that I noticed was a sort of sea of soft white feathers and veils, then all sorts of exquisite gowns and jewels, and pretty graceful women wearing them. Several things are altered in this reign that will be much appreciated. For one thing, the Courts are held an hour earlier, and so are over before midnight, and for another, one no longer has to leave the presence backwards—something to be thank, ful for, indeed.”