The Washington herald., 1911-06-14
IN THE PRESENCE OF ROYALTY. !,

and not only the company attending
them. but the people who thronged ths
approaches to St. James's palace wore
new clothes. When there was popular
discomfort people appeared on the royal
birthday in shabby clothes. A notable
instance Of this was the birthday draw
ing-room Of George III Immediately after
the loss Of the American colonies. Queen
Anne, like the fair Eleanor at Conway
Castle. held receptions in her bedroom
seated on chair OF state. and at one
Of these. at Winsor. Dean Swift made
his first bow to "GIorIana.'
The custom Of formal presentations
on ofiicial lines was organized with the
advent in England of the Hanoverian
dynasty, when George / arrived from
Hanover to ascend the British throne
he was totally unacquainted with the
English nobility. Hence individual pres
entation at the court became necessity.
Once begun, 1t remained to this day an
established form Of court etiquette.
Throughout the Georgian period the king
saluted the debutantes upon the cheek
The queen also saIuted the ladies attend
ing her drawing-room when only passing
the throne, and not being presented, but
all below the rank of earPs daughters
kissed her majestys hand. Queen Caro-
line and Queen Charlotte held small
drawing-rooms on certain evenings eacn
week, when the court was in London, IN
addition to the big state drawin-rooms.
Regulations for court dress gradually
sprang up. The Georgian ladies wore
such pyramids of curls, flowers and
feathers upon their heads that the cush-
ions had to be removed from the seats
Of the carriages In which they drove to
the drawing-rooms. In vain Queen
Charlotte set the example Of a moderate
couture. The ladies We'd with each other
IN the length of their plumes, and It Is
recorded that one noble duchess sported
feather an ell and quarter long. The
ladies wore petticoats and hoops, but no
train. BY a regulation Of George ~
the gigantic hoops were abolished, and n
full skirt and train became the regulation
court dress. The mountain of hair was
diminished, but feathers were retained as
the distinctive decoration of a lady at
tending court
At the Early Victorian drawing-rooms
ladies wore large ostrich feathers, fam
tastIcally arranged, and full petticoats
with moderate trains. Gradually it be-
came de rigueur for ladies to wear three
small white feathers arranged upright on
scendng over the shoulders, a bodice cut
low, with short sleeves, a petticost touch
ing the floor and a train not less than
three and a half yards in length.
Queen Victoria adhered to the custom
Of holding drawing-rooms In the early
afternoon, as had been favored by Queen
Adelaide. She stood before her throne
with the prince consort a few PAGES be-
hind her and the members Of the royal
family grouped around her. The EN-
tree" company passed first and had the
privilege Of remaining In the throne
room. Later the general company was
received. the debutantes and those pre-
senting them passing the throne in quick
succession. A page arranged each lady's
train in an ante room. Her card OF pre-
sentation was handed by an usher to the
lord chamberlain. who called her name
as she swept into the Queens presence.
Advancing In front Of her majesty, she
courtesied low, and, IL below the rank
OF an earfs daughter, she placed her
ungloved hand beneath the Queens ex-
tended hand, which she kissed II the
debutante belonged to the higher sranks
Of nobility. the Queen kissed her on the
cheek. The debutante backed from the
royal presence, a page threw her train
over her arm, and she returned to her
carriage.
Drawing-rooms were held at St
James until. in the late eos, Queen
Victoria transferred them to Bucking-
ham Palace. But levees for gentlemen
continued to be held at St James. King
Edward substituted evening courts for
day drawing-rooms. kissing hands on
presentation was abolished After the
formalities OF passing tine throne had
been gone through, the assembly resolved
itself into a social gathering with sup
per buffets. The present King follows
similar procedure FI.ANEUR.
Copyright, 1s1L ty Court Gossip syndicats)