More than two thousand personalities belonging to the elite of French diplomacy, politics and society, as well as all prominent members of the British colony here, thronged the Grand Opera tonight to attend the Gala function offered to Their Britannic Majesties, while an enormous crowd filled the huge Place -de l'Opera, singing the "Marseillaise" end "God Save the King".
The Sovereigns were received at their arrival by the President of France and ascended the monumental stairs, lined with a guard of honour composed of Gardes Republicains with drawn swords.
The King was dressed in the red uniform of Field Marshal of the British Army, while the Queen wore a white satin gown, adorned with pearls, which was specially designed ior her after models worn by Queen Victoria during her state visit to France in 1855.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.