Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-03-15
THE KING 3 FIRST COURT
Edwards First Official Function
One OF Great Erilliancy and
Splendor.
Favorable Comment on Charges
Made in Arrangements Since
Victoria Death.
Younger Members OF Royalty in
Evidence-.Some Innovations
Introduced.

LOuuOn, MaTCn IO.-hl1lS EuWaTu las
night held the first court of his reign
His court, simply as a court, was gen.
| modern England has ever seen in bril-
liancy and splendor and to outvie ever
| the traditions of the French court un-
der the empire.
Last nights function did not fall
short of the high expectation. The bril-
liant scene was in striking contrast to
the drawing rooms held by the late
queen. Victoria had for so many years
Withdrawn from public life that hel
court became a name only, and court
| functions consequently became some
| what colorless and featureleSS. Her
drawing rooms We're always held in the
afternoon, and women, whether young
or old, after waiting for long time in
decollette evening gowns, did not APP
pear to full advantage under London's
cold, gray sky of March. In the present
reign courts will be held in the evening.
Last night the king and queen left
Marlborough house at 9:45 in a state
carriage, with an escort of Life Guards.
Upon arriving at the garden entrance of
buckingham Palace they We're received
by the White Slavers," the lord cham
berlain, and other officers of state.
The corridors and saloons of the pal
ace. which recently have been redecor-
ated turnout and refitted with electric
lights, We're bright with floral decora-
tons.
The court was held in the ball room
instead of the throneroom. The ball
room is a magnificent apartment about
100 feet long and. fifty feet wide. lighted
by mems of basket-shaped cut glass
chandeliers holding countless electric
lights which brought out the beauties
of the colored marbles composing the
walls and the magnificent pictures on
the ceiling, which had never yet been
fully brought to view.
1t was at first intended to confine last
nights court to those having claim
to be present on account of their official
positions. This was abandoned, and
some 900 invitations We're issued. Each
was delivered by the hand of gentleman
in waiting.
AS soon as the court opened its differ
ence from the drawing rooms of the
last reign was Immediately noticeable.
The difference was not only in the brill
liancy of the general scene, tho this was
conspicuous. The display of jeweiry
was magnificent, and the toilets UMPIRE
cedented, and these, seen under the
myriads of lights In the great chamber.
naturally eclipsed what was possible
at an afternoon function.
The arrangement of the reception
was also quite different. AT the Draw
ing rooms Queen Victoria stood at one
end of long line of royalties beginning
with the prince and princess of Wales,
and every woman as she was presented
had to make courtesy to each mem-
Der of the royal family placed at short
intervals.
This awkward performance Is now
abolished. The members of the royal
family and other members of the court
are now arranged in a long line behind
the kings and queens throne chairs.
Several yards in front OF the thrones
the king and queen stood. and those
presented bowed to them alone.
This saved much time, as did am
other innovation. Last night none save
ambassadors and ministers shook hands
whereas all the debutantes used to do
so.
Another difference was that the king
and queen remained thruout, respond
ing to each person present with slight
bow, while the line OF royalties and
court personages ranged In the distance
behind stood practically motionless
thruout the rather less than two hours
that the presentations occupied. Queen
Victoria invariably retired before the
end, the highest member of the royal
family present taking her place.
Last night, too, Queen Victoria's
daughters and daughter-in-laws Prin-
cesses Christian, Louise, and Henry of
Gutenberg, and the duchesses of Ar
gyle, Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Albany
any Connaught gave precedence to the
prince and princess of Wales the duch-
ess Of Fife and Princesses Victoria and
Charles of Denmark, who now, as the
reigning monarch's children, are of
higher rank and take the Foremost po-
sition after their majesties.
This substitution of the younger for
the older naturally makes for Il more
brilliant and gayer court and but for
the shadow of war last nights court
would have been the most brilliant and
gayest function London has witnessed
for more than century.
When the presentations were over
another welcome innovation awaited
the company. In the last court refresh
ments were not served, and the great
society function was the drawing room
tea at the houses of those presented,
where the debutantes displayed their
court dresses to admiring friends.
Last night a stand-up supper was
served in a room adjacent to the ball
room and about half its - Here
buffet set out magnificent display of
plate and flowers.
erto has been kept at Windsor castle,
and only brought to London on rare
special occasions. was on view for the
first time since the luncheon at Buck
ingham palace to Earl Roberts on his
return from South Africa. 1t will now
remain at Buckinham palace, another
small sign that the splendors of the
court will no longer remain hidden
The king wore the uniform of a field
marshal, and on his breast We're many
orders. The queen wore a cream satin
dress yelled with cream mousseline de
studded with diamonds and paillettes