Part 12 (2/2)

The wives of members of the Cabinet and of the amba.s.sadors or ministers at the Court of St. James's usually attend at each Court, and have the privilege of doing so by reason of the official presentations made by them at each Court.

=It is compulsory for a Lady= making a presentation to be herself present at the Court at which the presentation is to be made, though it is not necessary for her to accompany the person whom she presents, but simply to attend the same Court.

=When a Lady intends making a Presentation= she should, on or after the 1st of January write to the Lord Chamberlain and inform him of a wish to attend a Court, and forward the name of the lady to be presented by her.

=Ladies are not expected= to attend Court more than once in every three years, unless under exceptional circ.u.mstances.

=A Lady attending a Court= may present one lady in addition to her daughter or daughter-in-law.

=A Lady presented for the First Time= can only present her daughter or daughter-in-law at the Court at which she is presented.

=No Applications can be received= from ladies who wish to be presented.

Their names must be forwarded by the ladies who wish to make the presentations.

=Summonses are issued= about three weeks before the date of each Court.

Ladies may be accompanied to Court by their husbands if the latter have been presented, but gentlemen do not pa.s.s before the King and Queen.

Ladies are requested to forward the names of their husbands at the same time as their own, in order that they may be submitted together, as once the summons has been issued the amending of a summons card in order to include a lady's husband can only be permitted under the most exceptional circ.u.mstances.

=Those who have the Privilege of the Entree= enter at the gate of the Palace situated outside Buckingham Gate. Those who possess this privilege are the diplomatic circle, the Cabinet ministers and their wives, and the members of the Household. The rooms, two in number, next to the Presence Chamber, are appropriated to them. All who have the privilege of the _entree_ are received by Their Majesties before the general circle, and according to their individual precedency, and they have also the privilege of making the first presentations.

=When a Lady arrives at the Palace= she should leave her wraps in the cloak-room with one of the maids in attendance. After crossing the Great Hall, she then makes her way up the Grand Staircase to the Corridor, where she shows her invitation-card to the page-in-waiting, and then pa.s.ses on to one of the saloons.

When a lady arrives early she gains admission to the saloon next to those reserved for the _entree_. When she arrives late she has to take her place in a further room of the suite according to the number of persons present.

The gentlemen-at-arms stationed at the door of each room close the gilt barriers when they consider the saloons are full. Chairs and benches are placed in the corridor and in these saloons for the accommodation of ladies thus waiting their turn to enter the Throne-room or Presence Chamber.

As the ladies quit each room for the Presence Chamber, others take their places, and the barriers are again closed, and this is continued until every one has been received.

A lady has to pa.s.s through the two _entree_ saloons before reaching the Picture Gallery.

At the door of the Picture Gallery a lady's train, which she has. .h.i.therto carried on her arm, is let down by two officials in attendance, and spread out by them with their wands; she should cross the gallery with her train down to the Presence Chamber, at the door of which she should give the card of invitation she has brought with her to the official stationed there to receive it.

=A Lady on being presented=, curtsys to the King and curtsys to the Queen. The King bows in return, as does also the Queen. A lady presented does not kiss the Queen's hand, as she formerly did. The King does not shake hands with any present, however high their rank may be, neither does the Queen shake hands with any present.

A lady on being presented does not now curtsy to any member of the Royal Family when she has pa.s.sed Their Majesties, and leaves the Presence Chamber, stepping backwards, facing the royal party, until making her exit from the apartment, when an official places her train on her arm at the threshold of the doorway.

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