Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-06-16
A PICTURE OF ROYAL LIFE.

A PICTURE OF ROYAL LIFE.
HER TIME-HER ROUTINE OF OFFICIAL BUSINESS
a STATE DINNER AND ROYAL ETIQUETTE -
s.DaAw1NG ROOM DAY "-How PRESENTATION
IS MADE TO THE oUEEN-INsIDE VIEWS OF BRIT
IsH ETIQUETTE.
Queen Victoria rises at haif-past six O'Clock in
the summer, ard half-past seven In the winter
After the toilet and morning service in the chap
ell of the palace, she breakfasts. Coffee, bread
butter, eggs and cold meat, constitute the usual
repast. One or two ladies in waiting and an
equery have the privilege OfpaTtaking the morn
ing meal with the royal family Breakfast over
the Queen salIies forth to walk on the slopes al
Windsor or in the garden of the palace, ana
generally visits, when at Windsor, the farmer or
aviary. loo king at her horses and examining the
aquarium.
Re-entering her dwelling, she goes into the
nursery or the room which the princes and prin-
cesses are going thro., gh their studies; then
| gIancing at the ssPimes'' and s.Morning Post, -
she enters her library and receives the master OF
the household. This officer lays before her Maj
esty memorandum of al the letters addressed
to the Queen and reports how ne has disposed OF
them He is allowed a considerable latitude in
regard to the dispensation of the monarch char
tiles; for, of course, the Queen herself cannot
Gus applicants. On the departure of the master
of the household the lord stewards dep
uty enters to receive orders as to the invitations
that shall be issued to persons of merit and dis
tinction to visit her Majesty. These persons ar
rive to dine one day, remain all the next day,
enjoying TIE adiv;daa, attentions Vi one or the
| otner OF the members of the household, and re-
turn home on the third day. These three days
are called the days Of crest" reception and
sEdeparture. -
AT eleven O'Clock the dispatch boxes of the
principal Secretaries of State arrive or are
brought by the ministers themselves. There is
one from the Foreign Minister, one from the
War Minister, one from the Lords of the Admi-
rally, and one from the Home Secretary, with a
supplement- box from the Premier, who is either
First Lord to the Treasury or Chancellor of the
Exchequer.
The box of the Foreign Secretary receives pri-
mary attention. 1t contains prects, carefully
written and signed by the Secretary or one OF
| the under secretaries, of all the correspondence
that has recently taken place with foreign pow
ers, together with drafts of the replies which it
is proposed to send. If any knotty question is
at issue the Queen will probably desire to see
the original dispatches, If her wish In this re-
spect has not been anticipated. 1t is a fiction to
say that a constitutional sovereign sscan do no
wrong.'' In her alone is vested the power to
declare war and make peace, though the respon-
sibility is borne by the Premier. Hence 1t be
comes her duty to watch the progress OF every
discussioD and to stop, ere 1t be TOO late; the a.
doption of any policy which may compromise the
peace of the na!ion.
The Foreign Secretary box being closed, that
OF the War Minister receives attention. This
box IN tsle Of peace contains report of all that
has been done IN respect to new military lnven-
tions, and alterations IL the clothing and equip
ments OF the troops recommendations OF certain
general officers for important military commanCs
al "
of all tfe promotions and appointments it is pro-
posed to make. These latter inscribed on
large sheets of paper, and it there is nothing OBJ
iectienable IN any of the candidates Tor prefer
| ment, the Queen attaches her sign maBuai to
each sheet. The lords OF the admiralty make d
communication corresponding with that of the
War Secretary.
The Homo Secretary box contains warrants
and patents for the Queens signature, which
warrants confer judicial or ecclesiastical appoint
ments upon the higher members of the bar and
the clergy, the signal for the execution of
general criminals. 1t is subject Of deep sor-
row to the Queen when the Home Secretary does
not see reason for recommending her to exercise
the royal perogatve OF mercy. To consign "a
fellow creature to eternity is revolving to her
christian spirit, and especially when the fellow
creature is woman. Indeed, since he last par
oxism Of anguish which the Queen endured on
this account, it has been customary to assume
for life.
The public affairs of the nation are at an end.
the Queen now receives visitors, who have beeE
specially invited, or persons who have been hon.
ored with her sscomaa nds'' TO attend at the pal
ace. Among the latter are artists and publish
ers, who have rare and novel works TO snow to
her Majesty, or her likeness to take persons in
trusted with presents for the ayary; foreigners
with special introductions from -heir own sover
eigns, tradesmen with articles which the Queen
is desirous of purchasing, and SO forth. After
these folks have been dismissed, the royal fami-
ly take their lunch, at which the Queen eats and
drinks heartily. The horses and carriages are
then brought to the door, and her Majesty either
rides or drives out for three or four hours, fre-
quently taking the opportunity of visiting some
of the nobility, the Duchess OF Inverness, or ev
en- Gin the country poor but worthy people who
are confined by sickness. Her Malesty's kind
ness to the sufferings OF her own is proven
bal. 1t is on record that when Mrs. Warner,
tragic actress of excellent character was i'll of
disease which ultimately carried her to her
grave, the Queen sent a carri age every day that
she might have the advantage of pure air. On
her return home the Queen spends an hour in her
private boudolr or library, and then dresses for
dinner.
A dinner at the palace has always been very
stately, dreary, tedious affair. The table service
IS, of course, superb gold plate, SeVree, porce-
lam, alabaster vases, flowers, brilliant chande
liers servants in scarlet coats and powdered
heads, a military band performing In an ante
room. and many ladies and gentlemen at table In
full dress costume. A profound silence reigns
throughout the meal, only broken by the voice
of the Queen, addressing herself to one or other
of the guests, who are expected to limit Them
selves TO direct reply. General conversation
is carried on IN whispers only. great variety
of wines are drank at the royal table, the Queen
and Prince Albert confnng themselves chiefly to
German (Rhine) wines