The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-30
ENTRRTAININ ROYALTY
STILL SOMETIMES 4 TICKLISH
THING IN ENGLAND.
The Shah Il Troublesome Guest-KIng Ed.
ward at an U"ncerenionlOus Week end
Presents for Cooks That Pleased
Preparing for the Royal visitors.

W $50 = "-NO -
To entertain royalty is the dream of
some people, the bugbcar of others. In
oiden times the entertaining Of royalty
taxed to their utteImost the resources of
the richest noblemen, who seemed like
monarchs themselves in their power and
prodigality. Queen Elizaheth's progresses
ruined her hosts. though they WED with
each other in Offering her the gorgeous
Mosques. the fantastic Yageants and the
splendid Hastings in which her soul de-
lighted. But in thisd democratic age. writes
Lady Violet Greville in the London Chronicle.
royalty shows itself less exacting. ard
entertaining is conducted on far simpler
lines.
The late Queen Victoria paid brief visits
TO the castles of the great peers. and has
left IN record in her diary the unaffected
pleasure she derived from her stay in High
land homes like plymouth and Blair AthoIl,
where the simple feudal life and the splcn-
did scenery of mountain and loch appealed
to her unsophisticated taste. These So
j%ourns, indeed, decided her TO purchase
the Balmoral estates, where the happiest
hours OF her active life were spent.
English royalty loves to dispense az
IluNI uS IDDhSlDlt WIN ullltCtsSdTN tllNltllt
and TO join in field sports and country
pastimes. Even the foreigners who land
on our hospitable shores enter keenly into
our games-our polo, our cricket and our
hunting. l wildly remember the intense
delight evinced by the Comte de Paris
on the occasion of his landing his first
salmon on the banks OF a wild Highland
river. His pride and JOY were those of
a schoolboy and the fish, carefully wrapped
in heather. was promptly despatched as a
welcome gift to the Comtesse de Paris.
Notwithstanding this laudablc desire FOR
simplicity, the entertaining of royalty still
remains n cklish thing. Kings and princes
are often as eNacting and capricious as
spoilt beauties-the Shah when tired
frequently refused 10 bulge or 10 fulfill
the engagements he had contracted-and
if things do not 90 quite smoothly they are
apt TO visit the annoyance on the unohend-
ing host. 1t is said that Louis NNllI.,
after he was restored TO the throne by
the allied forces. MORALLY attended Car Al
exander by allowing his family TO annex all
the state rooms in the chateau where he
was entertaining. and compelling the Gar
10 content himself with more humble apart
ments.
served first at. dinner, an objectionable
breach Of etiquette, The Gar. in high
dudgeon, ordeTed his carriage and left next
day, feeling himself from that dav onward
more drawn toward the Bonapartists,
who had shown him courtesy and regard.
II is on such lapses from etiquette and
good breeding that hosts are apt To make
shipwreck,
house it is usual TO submit beforehand a list
OF the visitors that are TO be received, which
the great parsonage approVee. deletes or
adds ID as he prefers.
On the occasion Of n Kings visit his apart
ments are redecorated and refurnished in
the style he is supposed to prefer, the daily
menu is passed by him, and his principal
attendant points out the dishes preferred
and the hour at which he wishes his meals
served. Usually the monarch breakfasts
in his own apartments. Queen Victoria
made her midday meal the principal one OF
the day, and her dinner, taken late, served
the purpose Of supper. No mutton was
ever eaten at her table. but chicken always
figured there.
The present Kings ~gastronomio influence
has been exerted in favor Of smaller and
lighter dinners, and he prefers French
cookery, though he also likes such thor
oughly English dishes as beans and bacon.
The late Duke OF Cambridge showed great
partially for ham, which, cold OF hot. always
appeared at dinner.
Cooks of royal houses are much appre-
ciated, and according to the old custom
rewarded mi even decorated. The present
King has given the Victorian Order 10 two
ducal cooks who nave afforded him salts
faction. Notwithstanding the extra trouble
caused in the household the servants are
delighted and fattered by the advent Of
the King, for they are handsomely re-
munerated. while the hos and hostess
themselves generally receive some charm
ing present-a pin or brooch or cigarette
case with the royal initials in diamonds
as n souvenir.
The King is exceedingly careful TO select
gifts appropriate to the friend on whom
he confcrs them, and chooses and bestows
them himself. knowing the Importance
of tact and the personal touch in all such
matters, |
Two kinds Of royal visits take place,
state visits. when everything is ceremonious
and a certain amount Of etiquette is eIacted,
and the informal week end visits TO friends
in which the King delights. On these
occasions he brings only n small retinue
with him. two motors and five chaufleurs, |
including a mecanicien. and he treats
everything with the charming gaiety and
bonhomie which have done 80 much TO in
crease our popularity abroad.
II Is generally expected that every one
should he ready and assembled before
the King appears for dinner, and NJ formal
receptions ladies must always wear gloves. |
even In the house. There Is usually some