The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-06 00:00:00

MAY 6,

HER MAJESTY'S STATE BALL
The Queen gave a State Ball last evening at Buck-
hthe
inobilityn andu
egde,n
sadtr3,
on:
jar: two thousand invitations
irghaaa Palace, which was most numerously attended by
to her Majesty's gracious
permission-dispensing with the Court mourning on this
occasion (except for the ladies of the household), the
ball presented the brilliant . and magnificent character
usual at the State receptions of the Sovereign.
The grand hall was decorated with beautiful flowers.
This hail, composed of white marble and supported by
marble columns, has two recesses or alcoves at the foot
of the gruel staircase'; thsse ' were filled with the
choicest plants, grourei with excellent taste, springing
from a border of Mosses and mignionette, the one
group surmounted with a beautiful specimen of
the " acacia artnata," and the corresponding
group with the " erslea Indies alba." The sculpture
gallery adjoining the grand hall was filled with sofa
Whirs and-settees for the accommodation of the visitors.
The grend staircase was brilliantly illurninatd; at
the foot wore two tripods, hearing a mass of globes of
light, interspersed with cut crystal, the upper portion of
the staircase being hung with whole-length portraits of
various members of the Royal Family. The ante-roc m
at the top of the staircase is a most beautiful specimen
of internal decoration, The arched ceiling is supported
by 'columns of white marble with gilded capitals. This
room contains Gibson% statues in,marble of her Majesty
and hifelloyal Highness Prince Albert, in which colour
is sparingly dad with much delicacy' introduced in the
ornaments and drapery. This apartment leads to the
green drawing-reern, the-throne-room, and the picture-
gallery; and on the other side of the picture-gallery
are the yellow drawing=room, the saloon, the ball-
rootn, and the supper-room.
The throne-room was appropriated as a second ball-
room, the orchestra was formed in the deep alcove in
which the throne is situate ; it was but slightly raised
shove the floor, mud the front was hung with draperieS
of crimson velvet embroidered in gold.
The ball-roeme which has a massive arched roof of
great magnificence, being pannelled in architectural
eompar(ments, profusely enriched with gilding, is sup-
ported by columns of crimson scagliola of the Corinthian
order with gilt capitals. The permanent orchestra is a
gallery at the north end.
The haat pas, on which the seats of state- were placed
for her Majesty and Prince Albert, was covered with
crimson. The draperies enclosing it were of amber-co-
loured satin and white lace, and at the back, forming a
back-ground to the seats, was a most brilliant assort-
ment of beautiful flowers, rising to a considerable height
above the seats. The draperies were surmounted by a
broad and massive gilt cornice.
Full-length portraits of her Majesty and Prince Al-
bert, by Wintorhaltor, ornament this apartment.
Adjoining the ball-room is the supper-room, having a.
deep recess at the end, within which a buffet was ar-
ranged, on which the more exquisite specimens of
jeeelled and ornamental gold plate were meat effectively
displayed, with the aid ot a background of dark crimson
and numerous lights from golden candelabra. This room
contains the portraits of George IV., in the robes of the
Garter, by Sir Thomas Lawrence, placed in the middle,
with those of George 111. and Queen Charlotte, by
Gainsborough, on either side, Frederick, Prince of
Wales, and the Princess of Wales, and the Duke and
Duchess of Cumberland.
The tables for the supper were ranged round three
sides of the apartment.
The Yeomen of the Guard lined the grand ball and
staircase under the command of Captain Kincaid, the
exon in waiting. Captains Bellairs and Rickfords, exons
of
Athe
tic,,orrjo
os ,f were au lrs o seo
fpirhe
the Palace lawn, with the band of the regiment.
eFlioLot Guards was on duty on
The company began to arrive at the Palace at nine
o"cleek, those having the entrée alighting at a tempo-
rary entrance in the garden, and the general company
entering from the principal portico.
andT Princess the lIo),a Highnesses
et se
arriveds the
Duchessatten
of
o'clock, C a
amt
tberni ddge.cie.
by Lady Suffield and Major Baron Knesebeck.. Then.
Royal Highnesses were received by the Maids of Ho-
nour, the Grooms, and the Equerries in Waiting, by
whom they were ushered to her Majesty.
Soon after ten o'clock the Queen and Prince Albert
were conducted by the Lord Chamberlain from the yel-
low drawing-room, through the saloon into the ball-room.
Her Majesty and his Royal Highness were accompanied
by their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge
and the Princess Mary, and were attended by the Mis-
tress of the Robes; the Countess of Charlernont, lady in
waiting; lion. Matilda Paget and Hon. Mary Seymour,
maids ot honour in waiting; the Lord Steward, the Vice
Chamberlain, the Treasurer of the Household, the Comp-
troller of the Household; Lord Polwartb, lord in wait-
ing; Sir Edward Bowater, groom in waiting; Lord
Charles Fitzroy, equerry in waiting; the Pages of
Honour in Waiting; the Groom of the Stole to the
Prince; Lord George Lennox, lord in waiting to his
Royal Highness; Lieut.-Colonel Francis Seymour,
groom in waiting to his Royal Highness; and Lieut.-
Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon, equerry in waiting to his
Royal Highness.
' The Queen wore a dress of white tarlatan over white
watered silk, trimmed with black and white flowers and
diamonds. Her Majesty's headdress was composed of a
wredth of black and white flowers and diamonds.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge wore
a dress of black net over black glace silk, embroidered
with black bugles, the stomacher ornamented with
pearls and diamonds. Her Royal Highness's head-
dress was formed of a magnificent tiara of large pearls
and diamonds, with black lace lappets.
Her Royal Highness the Princess Mary wore a dress
of white net over white glace silk, elegantly trimmed
with white bugles and white roses, with ornaments of
pearls and diamonds in the stomacher. Her Royal
Highness's head-dress was composed of white roses,
pearls, and diamonds.
The assembled visitors followed her Majesty and her
august circle from the saloon and picture gallery into
the ball-room.
A quadrille was immediately formed, and the Qieen
opened the ball with the Duke of Beech utile the vis
being bin Royal Highness Prince Albert end her Royal
Highness the Princess Mary.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge arrived
at half-past ten o'clock, et:ended by Lord William
Paalet and Major the Hon. James Mr..edonald.
The ball having been opened, dancing was com-
menced in the throne-room with the " Quadrille of All
Nations." The brothers Labitzky attended with their
orchestra in this ball-room, 'and played the following
dances :
WALTZES.

Flying Letaves
Lovely Rhine ... Strauss.
.
Tory Labitzky.
The Berthe (Ist amp)
Summer Night's Dream
______

QUADRILLES._

Qudrille of All Nations
Martini
St*thof
Alartha Strait s.

POLKAS.

Allce
Vieeha Labitz'Ay.
The Royal hlarienette ., T. Browne.
GALOPS.

Military
The Laura Keene
The quadrille band of Mesrs Ccote cnd 'Pinney were
stationtd in the ball-room,. nr,d perforined a nuciber of
quadrilles, wabz polkas, end galops.
R4resbtuents were s.erved during the evening-to the
numerous assembly in the green drawing room and the
garter room, and between twelve and one o'clock supper
was served to bar Majesty and her illustrious guests in
the state dining room. The service was entirely of gold
pixie, and some of the most beautiful specimetis of ar-
tistic skill in the precious metal 3 were displayed on the
lang tango of.tables on which the repast was laid. Single
fbwer3 of great. beauty, nod groups of plants in full
blossom, relieved occasionally the gorgeous mcgnificence
of the golden service; the whole being brilliantly lit with
gold candelabra,