IN THE THRONE ROOM.

As their Majesties passed through the last antichamber the door of the Throne Room opposite opened, and his Holiness, in a white robe, came forward smiling to meet them. According to the ceremonial, they met in the middle of the Throne Room, where two carpets cut the room into two equal parts, as it were. According to etiquette, his Holiness bowed, and the same salutation was returned by the King and Queen, whereupon they shook hands and his Holiness invited them to be seated in the crimson and gold armchairs. The Bishops, Monsignori, and members of the suite retired, and his Holiness and his august visitors were left alone. An instant later the Hon. Theo. Russell, Minister to the Holy See, was called in and took part in the conversation, which, it appears, was carried on in French, although his Holiness reads and understands English fairly well. Instead of the usual presents of solely antique works of art it was arranged that his Holiness and their Majesties should simply exchange presents of their latest photographs in silver frames. I saw the portraits presented by his Holiness to King George and Queen Mary a few minutes later, in beautiful white satin cases, as they were carried out by the Papal attendants. They simply bore the Pope’s signature and coat of arms in gold. The frames were of beautiful plain polished silver.

The conversation lasted about twenty minutes, and at half-past eleven the cortège accompanying their Majesties returned to the Sala Clementina. Their Majesties looked very pleased as they came out, and the Swiss Guards once more saluted with a great clash of steel breastplates and armour.