The Sun.
London, England, 1851-05-20 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S STATE BALL.

The Queen gave last evening a State Ball at Buck-
ingham Palace, to a most brilliant Court, the invitations
exceeding 2,100. The arrangements were similar to the
first reception this season, the entire suite of State
Saloons being opened and brilliantly illuminated with
handsome crystal lustres and gilt chandeliers; the Gar-
ter-room and Ante-room at the aouih end of the Picture
Gallery were also opened for the accommodation of the
numerous visitors. The choicest exotics and fragrant
flowers were tastefully arranged in the alcoves behind
the elevated seats reserved for her Majesty and her
Royal guests, both in the Ball-room and also in the
Throne-room; groups of flowers also adorned the Pic-
ture Gallery and the Grand Hall.
The company began to arrive soon after 9 o'clock,
those having the entree alighting by the temporary gar-
den entrance, and the general circle entering the Palace
by the Grand Hall. All the visitors were conducted by
the principal staircase through the Green Drawing-
room to the Picture Gallery and the Grand Saloon.
Her Majesty the Queen and his Royal Highness
the Prince Albert entered the Grand Saloon at a quar-
ter before 10 o'clock, accompanied by her Royal High-
ness the Duchess of Kent, their Royal Highnesses the
Prince and Princess of Prussia, his Royal Highness
Prince Frederick William of Prussia, his Royal High-
ness Prince Henry of the Netherlands, his Royal High-
ness the Duke of Cambridge, their Royal Highnesses the
Duke and Duchess of Saxe Coburg Gotha, his Royal
Highness the Duke Ernest of Wurtemburg, His Serene
Highness the Prince of Leiningen, and his Serene
Highness Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar.
Her Majesty and her august circle passed through the
assembled company in the Grand Saloon, and were con-
ducted by the Lord Chamberlain to the Ball-room,
where Mr. BOOECS quadrille band was in attendance.
The general circle followed the Queen and Prince Albert
and their Royal guests into the Ball-room.
The Queen wore a blonde dress over white silk, with
'coloured flowers of various kinds worked on it, orna-
mented with bunches of flowers to correspond, and dia-
monds. Iler Majesty's headdress was formed of a wreath
'of 11)wers of various kinds to correspond with the dress,
ornamented with diamonds.
Her Majesty opened the ball with his Royal highness
the Prince of Prussia, in a quadrille, at five minutes be-
fore ten o'clock; the vis-a-vis being his Royal Highness
the Duke of Saxe Coburg Gotha and the Duche.ss of
Sutherland. The other members of the Royal party
joined in this quadrille.
After this dance, a number of quadrilles, waltzes, and
other dances were performed in the Ball-room, by Mr.
Boost's quadrille bind.
Dancing afterwards commenced in the Throne-room,
(where Jullien's hand was stationed) with
The Great Exhibition Quadrille

In the orchestra were Herr Koenig (cornet 1 piston),
M. Collinet (flageolet), Messrs. Baker, Cooper, Doyle,
Lavigne, Cioffi, Jarrett, C. Harper, Anglois, Collins, &e.
The following dances were played by the band during
the evening:—

Quadrilles.
La Tempesta, from Halevy's Opera.
The Nepaulese Jullien.
Enfant Prodigue Auber.
Valses.
Debutantes
Marlette ...
La Mandoline

Polkas