London, June 15.
Nearly 1,000 guests flocked to Buckingham Palace to attend the first court since 1914 to be held with full pre-war splendour. The white and gold ball room, with its tapestry-hung walls was, for the time being "the Throne room" and it! made a splendid setting for the pageant.
Being the first court of the season every ambassador and minister resident in London presented himself and his womenkind. Their uniforms made a vivid note of colour among the shimmering silver tissue and pearly tinted satins of the girls and the golden brocades and jewels of their chaperons. The German and American representatives wore black, as becomes those belonging to a republic, the Hungarian Ambassador too, was som-bro but he was attended by a gor-geons sword bearer.
Mrs, Harvey, wife of the Ambassador of the U.S.A. made no less than eleven presentations Those who had not the entree pressed outside and found plenty to interest them, the arrival of the Yeomen of the Royal Bodyguard, the King's Marshal Men brave in crimson and gold, the troops of the Household Cavalry to line the grand staircase, and last but not least the guests themselves. Daylight held until long after the band in the quadrangle began to play "God Save the King," signifying to all that thet court had actualfy begun, and down the Mall stretched a queue of motors and carriages. The night was intensely hot, so the windows were down and those who passed had a fine view of the bejewelled dowagers, many looking hardly older than the daughters smiling radiantly beneath their waving feathers.
For sheer purposes of view perhaps he who has the best opportunity is "the King's Tailor!" This worthy stands on the grand staircase with his kit beside him care fully serutinizing'the guests and ready to make any alterations necessary.
Tae Ras Ir Raryeru, Royal Ascot has been a tragedy this year. Our sun has been so radiant of late that we forget the fickleness of "The Clerk of the Weather" and a downpour set in just as the King and Queen (who had motored from Windsor, then changed into carriages at Duke's corner to make their usual spectacular entry), appeared. Their Majesties were half hidden behind umbrellas, the gay, blue-scarlet-and-gelld of the postilions and outrider could only be glimpsed
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.