Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-02-18
BY BERNARD O'BRIEN
Star Staff Writer

BY BERNARD O'BRIEN
Star Staff Writer
PALM BEACH, Fla. - En-
PERTAINING is continuing this
week, but not in the style
of last week in this famed
social resort.
Fashionable parties will al
ways be in Palm Beach dur
ing the season, but seldom
are as plush as the very few
given for his majesty. King
Saud of Saudi Arabia, who
went from here to Washing
ton this week. And Capital
socialites were in the center
of activities.
Little is known about one
of the most exclusive affairs,
a stag dinner given for King
Saud. There were only 80
guests at the party, hosted by
Herbert A. May at the large
May villa on South Ocean
boulevard.
A Royal Dinner
But the world knows about
the plush dinner party given
his Majesty by Mr.. and Mrs.
Stephen Sanford and former
Ambassador Stanton Griffis.
In the royal party were
about Is members of the
kings encourage. Approx
mately 200 top social guests
attended the major portion
of the entertainments minus
liquor and smoking devoted
to music, magician's acts and
dance numbers, including a
ballet selection.
At one end of the famed
Celebrity Room at the Royal
Poinciana Playhouse, King
Saud's table, slightly elevated,
proved to be the focal point.
Ambassador Present
The main table had the
guest of honor and his sons,
Prince Fahd ibn Saud, Prince
Kahlid ibn Saud, Prince
Thamer ibn Saud and Prince
Mansour ibn Saud. Also
seated at the head table were
three sheiks and the Arabian
Ambassador to the United
States, Abdulla Al-Khayyal.
In addition were the host
ess on the right of the King
and Mrs. Jospeh P. Kennedy,
mother of the President, on
the left. Then, too, Mrs. May
was seated among the royal
visitors.
Other socialites at the hon.
oree's table were Mrs. c. V.
Whitney, Mrs. Ricardo Con-
zales, Mrs. John r. Mclean,
Mrs. Odette Benjamin, Mrs.
Arthur Wheeler, Mrs. Lucius
Pearle OrdWay, Mrs. Cloyce
Tippett, Mr.. Sanford and Mr..
Griffis, several-time ambaS-
sador in various Middle East,
European and South Ameri-
can countries.
This was the only formal
function for the royal group
as all other entertaining has
been impromptu gatherings.
All arrangements for the din
ner first had to be cleared
through the United States
State Department with ex-
IRENE security measures sur
rounding the King and his
retinue.
King Saud appeared wear
ing a costume typical of his
country, an abaya over his
robe and a gold and black
agal, or braid, around the
kujiy "a white cloth over his
head and shoulders.
Mrs. Sanford, wife of the
former internationally known
polo player, set the pace for
what probably was one of the
most glamorous and elegant
arrays of gowns and jewels
displayed here this season.
She wore a gold and white
full-length gown highlighted
by emerald and diamond
jewelry.
Guests arrived early, max
ing certain to precede the
royal encourage, which made
a side entrance sharply at
7:30 pm.
The function bore all the
earmarks of a state affair.
Masses of orchids and crystal
candelabra were used in aug
menting the already royal at
mosphere of the room. Ad-
herring to Moslem custom, no
liquors were served and no
one smoked.
Mays Accept Post
Mr.. and Mrs. May have &C
cepted the honorary chair
menship Of the American