, 1889-02-14
The Queens Household.
ID

Those who have passed through
the yard loading from Cleveland Row
into st. James Park have possibly
taken an occasional glance at the old
fashioned, low, and rather dingy
house, with painted porticO, just
within the presincts of st. James
Palace, guarded by a sentry. On a
small brass plate on the door is the
designation of the high official who
enjoys second precedence in the
Queen's household-the Lord Cham
berlsin. He it is who has charge OF
tho palaces, state structure, etc, and
who is eommander-in chief of the
Numerous retinus of high-bred gen.
Gemen OF position attending on the
Sovereign, besides a whole host OF
honorary and other officials too nu-
merous TO name in detail, including
ths Fost-Laursate, the examiner OF
Plays, the Keeper of the Jewels, and
the Mistress Of the Robes. who, we
nsy incidentally mention, is always
q nominee Of the Ministry.
The Lord Chamberlain's jurisdic-
tion in respect of Osborne and Bal
moral is limited solely to the person,
mel of his department there in resi-
dsnce. This Office is political; ap.
pointment to it being made by the
Government in power for the time
being. His chief aides are the Vice.
Chamberlain and Comptroller of Ac-
counts. His uniform is blue, richly
embroidered with gold, white kersey-
mere knee bresches, silk stockings
and shoes, cocked-hat, and sword
and he wears a gold key suspended
from blue ribbon worn at the side
IS typical Of his Office as guardian OF
she palaces. He has the arrange.
nent Of all state ceremonies, such as
lseces and drawiRg-rooms, and those
usually Incident to the London sea-
son, and marriages, christenings, fu-
nerals. and the like. 1t is also his
special privilege to conduct the
Qsesn to and from her carriage
The Master Of the Ceremonies is his
deputy in matters regulating eti-
auette, questions of precedence, al
eanquets, and so on, and at the
presentation TO the Sovereign of Am
basssdors, Ministers, and Plenipoten,
tiaSies on appointment or recall by
their sovereign or state. This officer
en- such occasions wears a gold med,
a, suspended from a gold chain worr
around the neck. 1t is unnecessary
to say that ladies-in-waiting anG
maids Of honor are not now hidden
to attend the Queen with the rigii
sanstsncy that Queen Charlottee ex-
ssted Of Fanny Barney. They have
periodical times OF duty, generally
extending to about three weeks
In elden times the ladies' of the
bed chamber assisted the Queen a
at her toilet, as did certain officers O
she Kings household the King. Nc
English sovereign has been quite a:
sffsminats as Louis XIV, who useC
to go through the ceremonies of get
ting up and Of being put to bed il
state; SO tedious that Frederick the
Great once said that he should havt
dsputed some one to go through th'
business. Her present Majesty Ions
ego delegated the minor offices o
ladies of the bed chamber (which b!
lhs way were undertaken in wretch
ed drndgsry by Fanny Burney fol
she Queen of George the third t.
Asr own personal attendants-her
drsssers and wardrobe women, 81
designated, whom she provides fol
out o. her own private purse. Th,
two Highlanders whosordinarily rid'
behind on the Queens carriage, sue
sessors of the Queens devoted ser
wants, John Brown, are also persona
attendants so-called.