Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-10-02
SOME ROYAL CUSTOMS.
How to be Received at Court-Kissing
the Queen,

Joel Benton in the New York Ledger
A royal funeral is usually attended by
night. When one happens "the great
officers of the household approach
the grave, at the conclusion of the burial
service, and break their rods of office,
which they place upon the coffin before it
is lowered into the grave, their tenure OF
office being ended" When Prince Albert
died, Mrs. Armytage says, and after the
style of the deceased parsonage had been
named by the Garter-king- at the
grave, 'the final words of the proclama-
ton, ending with the prayer for Queen
Victoria's preservation in health and hap
piness, were omitted" As happiness"
seemed then impossible to her, the words
" long life and honor" were substituted for
the one word omitted.
Court customs now in England are much
simplifed, owing, it is said, to Queen Vic
toria's and Queen Albert's arrangements
but they would still seem extreme in our
court, one must have an invitation in the
Lord Chamberlain's name, who is the
head of the Queens household. This Off
Ger walks before her Majesty IN state pro-
cession and stands next to her at levee
or drawing room, where he announces the
name Of each guest who approaches the
royal presence. The Lord Chamberlain
has the palace key in his custody, and con-
ducts the Queen to her carriage. There is
also Vice Chamberlain. The Lord
Stewart has the whole direction Of the
royal household below stairs" The Treas
urer of the Household, the Comptroller of
the Household, the Master of the Horse
and the Master of the Buckhounds have
duties which their titles mark out, and
they carry wands of office. The Master Of
Horse is the one who can use the soyer-
eign's horses, carriages, pages or footmen."
There are also attached to the royal per-
son Captain of the Woman of the Guard,
Private Secretary, a Keeper of the
Queens Private Purse, Master of Ceremo-
MES, Lords in Waiting, Gentlemen Ush-
ers of the Private Chamber, Equerries,
Pages of Honor, etc.
These last are dressed in antique cos
tune, and attend at receptions and on
state occasions The Groom Of the Robes
and the young pages carry her Majestys
train on state occasions There are Maids
of Honor, Mistress of the Robes, Ladies in
Waiting, etc The Maids of Honor have
the title of Honorable" and when they
marry receive present Of 81 600 from the
Queen.
Foreign Ministers are received at court
after a complicated order of precedence,
which sometimes causes irritation between
these representatives Of different nations.
In former years actual hostilities have been
provoked by disputes concerning rights of
favor Only Ministers, among diplomats,
can ask an audience of the sovereign. A
Consul or a Charge d'Affaires may, when
representative of the Minister, in his abb
sence only. At the present time there are
no fixed rules as to classes, but there are as
to the process of getting admission. Full
dress" is prescribed, the lady guests wear
| ing trains, which are carried on the left
arm "until the door leading across the
picture gallery is reached, when 1t Is
spread out by the pages in waiting and
then the progress for few yards is very
slow, regulated by the wearer of the pre-
ceding train. Persons of high rank among
ladies have the privilege of being kissed
by the Queen. Other ladies make low
curtesy and kiss the Queens hand, which
she places on the palm of their hand. Ii
the Queen condescends to kiss an untitled
person, this person must still not expect to
return kiss in kind, but must only kiss
her hand OF course, lady, before reach
ing the Queen, must have her right hand
ungloved.
Visitors require two cards to attend a
Queens reception" one TO be left with
the Queens page in attendance in the
presence chamber, and the other to be de-
livered to the lord in waiting, who will
announce the name TO her Majesty" To
other members of the royal family who
stand near the Queen in receiving, only a
low curtesy is made, in general way, to
all.
After passing the royal company at
leyees, only the Ministers and great Off
GERS of the household remain long in the
throne ROOM And, at the drawing
rooms, only the ladies of the Ministers, OF
the great officers of the household and OF
the foreign Ministers, can remain after
the procession has passed along and sepa-
rates.
Anachronistic and strange as all these
ceremonies seem to citizens of republic,
they are probably valuable in those coun-
tries where shadow Of divinity still
halos the monarch and ruler. All freely
agree to condemn them here; but, on going
abroad, it is not noticed that this condem-
J nation lessons the calls upon American