BRILLIANT YEARS.

It was a great social innovation when King Edward and Queen Alexandra announced that they should hold their Courts in the evenings. On one occasion – in 1907 – Queen Alexandra’s dress of mauve with Indian gold embroideries, and worn with a daring combination of diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, seems to have impressed everyone.

The first Courts of the present reign were held eleven years ago, on May 9 and 10. For the latter her Majesty wore gold and white brocade with a train of white satin lavishly worked in gold and silver, and with it were seen in wonderful juxtaposition the Koh-i-noor and the splendid sequence of the Stars or Africa – an unrivalled and dazzling combination.

No Courts whatever were held during the war. A notable departure was, however, made in 1919. The list of those who could reasonably claim the privilege of being formally received by the Sovereign had grown to unprecedented length, and a solution was found in a series of three “Garden Party Courts,” to which those on the Lord Chamberlain’s list were bidden, and who could then claim the same distinction as if they had gone in full dress to one of the Evening Courts. They proved exceedingly pleasant ceremonies.