St. Paul daily globe., 1892-01-22
KISSING vICTORIA's HAND.
Some Things 1t Would Be Well to
Know if You Think of Calling on

some Things 1t Would Be Well to
Know if You Think of Calling on
the Queen.
Court customs now, in England, are
much simplified, owing, it is SAID, to
Queen Victoria's and Prince AIbert's
arrangements, but they would still seem
extreme in our unceremonious land. Tc
be received at court. one must have an
invitation in the lord ehamberlain's
name, who is at the head Of the queens
household. This officer walks before
her majesty in state procession, 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 palcce key in his custody, and con-
ducts the queen to her carriage. There
is also a vice chamberlain, SAYS Joel
Benton in the New York Ledger.
The lord steward "has the whole di-
rection of the royal household below
stairs" The treasurer or 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 the horse is
the ''Only one who can use the sover-
eign's horses, carriages, pages or foot
men." There are also attached to the
royal person captain of the yeOmeu of
the guard, private secretary, keeper
of the queens private purse, master of
ceremonies, lords in waiting, gentlemen
ushers of the private chamber, equer.
ries, pages of honor, etc.
These last are dressed in antique
costume, and attend at receptions and
hn Of = ~
robes and the young pages carry Her
Majesty's train on state occasions, There
are also 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 a present
of 91 900 from the queen.
Foreign ministers are received al
court after complicated order of pre-.
cedence, which sometimes causes irrita.
tion between these representatives OF
different nations. In former years actual
hostilities have been provoked by dis.
putes concerning rights of favor. Only
ministers, among diplomates, can ask an
audience of the sovereign. A consul OF
charge d'atfaires may, when represen-
tatlve of the minister, in his absence
only. At the present time there are ne
fixed rules as to classes. but there are as
to the process of getting permission
Full dress" is prescribed, the lady
guests wearing trains. which are carried
on the left arm, until the door leadins
across the picture gallery is reached
when it is spread out by the pages il
| waiting" and then the progress for
few yards is very slow, rel egulated by the
wearer Of the preceding train.
Persons of high rank among ladie.
have the privilege of being kissed b,
the queen. Other ladies make Low
curtsey and kiss the queens hand
which she places on the palm of the
hand. If the queen condescends to kis
an untitled person, this person must still
not expect to return kiss in kind, bu
must kiss only her hand. OF course,
lady before reaching the queen mus
have her right hand ungloved.
Visitors require two cards to attend
| queens reception-"one to be left witt
the queens page in attendance in tn
presence chamber, and the other to b.
delivered to the lord in waiting, VIII
| will announce the name to her majesty.
To other members of the royal famiIy
who stand near the queen in receiving
only a curtsey is made, in genera
way, to all.
After passing the royal company a
levees only the ministers and grea
officers of the household remain long il
the throne roOm." And "at the draw
ing rooms only the ladies of the minis
! ters, of the great officers of the house
hold and of the foreign ministers cal
remain after the procession has passe,
along and separates.