The Russellville Democrat., 1892-03-24
TO KISS THE QUEENS HAND.


much simpl6ed, owing, it is said,
to Queen Victoria's Prince Al
bert's arrangements h:11!. ssiiiey would
still seen ,exsfoIre in our unceremo-
NOUS land To be received in court
one must have an invitation in the
lord chamberlain's name, who is
the head of the qeen's household.
This officer walks before her males
ty in state procession, and stands
next to her at the levee or drawing
room, where he announces the name
of each guest who approaches the
royal presence. The lord chamber
lain has the palace key in his Gus
tody, and conducts the queen to her
carriage. There is also vice cham
berlain.
The lord steward "has the whole
direction of the royal houseno,,5l
below the stairs, the treasurer Of the
household, the controller 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 horses is the only one
who can use the sovereign's horses,
carriages, pages or footmen = There
are also attached to the royal person
a captain of the yeoman of the guard,
a private secretary, keeper of the
queens private purse, master of
ceremonies, lord s in waiting, gentle
men ushers of the private chamber.
equerries, pages of honor, etc.
These last are dressed in antique
costume, and attend at receptions and
on state occasions. The groom of
the robes and the young pages carry
her majesty's train on state occa-
sions. There are also maids of honor,
mistress of the robes, ladies in wait
ing, etc. The maids of honor have
the title of 'honorable," and when
they marry receive a present of f1000
from the queen.
Foreign ministers are received at
court after a complicated order of
precedence, which sometimes causes
irritation between these representa-
tives of different nations. In form
er years actual hostilities have
been provoked by disputes concern
ing rights of favor. Only ministers,
among diplomates, can ask an audi
ence of the sovereign. A consul or
a charge de..affaires may, when repre-
sentative of the minister, in his
absence only. AT the present time
there are no fixed rules as to classes,
but there are as to the process of
getting permission. "Full dressp is
prescribed, the lady guests wearing
trains, which carried on the left arm
'until the door leading across the
picture gallery is reached, when it is
spread out by the pages in waiting"
and then the progress for a few
yards is very slow, regulated by the
wearer of the preceding train.
Persons of high rank among ladies
have the privilege of being kissed by
the queen. Other ladies make low
cvrtesy and kiss the queens hand,
which she places on the palm of their
hand. If the queen condescends to
kiss an untitled person this person
still must not expect to return a
kiss in kind, but kiss only her hand.
Of course lady before reaching the
queen must have her right hand
ungloved.
Visitors require two cards to at
tend queens reception-"one to
be left with the queens page in at
tendance in the presence chamber,
and the other to be delivered to the
lord in waiting, who will announce
the name of her majesty To
other members of the royal family
who stand near the queen in receiv-
ing, only courtesy is made, in a
general way to all.
After passing the royal company
at levees only the ministers and
greal officars of the househould re-
main long in the throne room. +"
And at the dssaving rooms only the
ladies of the ministers of the great
officers of the housed old and Of the
foreign ministers cal remain after
the procession has passed along and
separated. joel Benton.