Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-07-22
THE QUEEN.
how THE GREATEST OF WOMEN
SovEREIGNS RECEIVES.
Commanded to windsor-What 1t Means
-ceremoutals OF Royalty
Guest and Host.

The Queen of England never resides at
Windsor Castle for more than four months
in each year, and it is only during that Pc
Rod that her Majesty can be said to live in
sovereign state. The rigid etiquette OF the
English court is never relaxed at Windsor,
but -t Bilmoral and Osborne il is a COM
parativelY quiet life, with no guests except
an occasional Minister or member of the
royal family, with hardly ceremony in a
month. and with a reduced court, for ex-
cept for an odd day or two for special &C.
casions, the Queen never takes either lords
or grooms in waiting to her private resi-
dences. When at Windsor on the con-
trary, the castle is an almost perpetual
stream and scene of hospitality. Minis.
tiers, ambassadors, the "old nobility" no.
table personages of every description, and
members of the royal family, are coming
and going almost daily and not week
passes but there Is some ceremony of state,
involving the attendance of the great Off
GERS OF the household.
10 WINDSOR.
Invitations to Windsor were formerly
Tor two, and sometimes three, nights, which
gave the guest the opportunity of having
some quiet conversation with the Queen,
and allowed time for him to view the mag
niticeRt collection of pictures and objects
of art with which every part of the castle
is crowded, or to pass few hours in the
library. which contains a very fire selec-
ton of books and prints. OF late years,
however, ordinary invitations have been
for one night only-an arrangement which
precludes the possibility OF the visitor en-
ha
which is positively disadvantageous to the
Queen, as when on the intervening day the
guest used to be conducted to the aviaries.
kennels, farms and gardens, it often trans
pired that at home he possessed some bird,
dog, beast, implement or plant which was
not to be found in the royal domain and
when this was the case, permission was
usually requested to be allowed to supply
the deficiency, so that in this way the
Queen received great number OF valuable
presents. Invitations now are merely to
dine and sleep, and they are usually sent
by Sir John Cowell, the Master of the
Household, but occasionally from the Lord
Chamberlain Office. As rule, very short
notice is given. A command (which it is,
de faeto) has been known to reach a guest
late in the afternoon of the very day on
which he was expected at the castle.
HOW TO co.
Royal guests leave Paddington either at
or half.past o'clock. On arriving at the
visitors entrance of the castle, they are re.
ceived by the pages OF the chamber, who,
after consulting table on which each per-
sons location is written out, conduct the
guests to their respective apartments. The
visitors rooms are spacious, warm and
thoroughly comfortable; they are hung
with interesting pictures, and each contains
large bath, with perpetual hot and cold
supply. If the guest is known to sny one
in waiting, he will probably be speedily
looked up by his friend if he is acqusint-
ed with a lady of the household, he may be
hidden to drink tea with her. In any case,
he probably receives visit from Sir John
Cowell. About half-past o'clock it is
time to prepare for the Queens dinner
party, as it is Indispensable to appear at the
royal dinner table in full dress. The old
and ugly Windsor uniform is usually worn
by those who have a right to it.
ARRIVED.
Soon after the visitor finds his way into
the grand corridor, where the dinner COM
pany assemble. This noble gallery, which
extends all around the quadrangle, is hung
from end to end with pictures, and is filled
with cabinets of china, vases, and other ex.
quisite objects. 1t would look splendid
with the electric light, but at present it
is sparsely illuminated with lamps. The
cabinets and the portraits are the special
features of the gallery, which, of course, are
never shown to the public. There are par
ticularly admirable portraits of Mr.. Can
ming, Mr. Pitt, Lord Thurlow, and Arch
bishop Markham, and close to the entrance
to the dining-room is a portrait of Lord
Beasonstield. But it would take hours
even to give cursory glance at the con.
tents OF the corridor.
THE CHINA.
The collection of china is UNIQUE. There