“Forty-one guns fired from St. James’s Park announced the arrival of the Royal party. It was at this point of overpowering excitement that the heralds first made their appearance. They were gorgeous in red and blue and gold, ornamented with lions, rose, shamrock, and thistle, headed by the Rouge Croix and Rouge Dragon, and followed by the officers of the Lord Chamberlain’s office, Gentlemen of the Court, and the Ushers. After sundry officials had passed, the Lord Privy Seal (the Marquis of Salisbury) appeared. He was looking very, very old, his stoop more noticeable than ever, in spite of his great height; and he was certainly one of the tallest men present, with the exception of the magnificent Lifeguardsmen who lined the staircase. The Prime Minister appeared somewhat more bald, and the hair at each side of his head seemed longer and whiter than usual. The Duke of Norfolk, on the other hand, was looking quite smart, and so was His Grace of Devonshire, who wore his red robes with white bands round the shoulders with manly grace. The Duke of Portland, many years their junior, though getting extremely stout, is still strikingly handsome. Then came the exciting moment; the Sword of State appeared in view, carried by the Marquis of Londonderry, followed by the King, on whose left side walked the Queen. She looked perfectly lovely. Her carriage, the majestic turn of her head, all denoted the bearing of a young woman, instead of one on the wrong side of fifty, and a grandmother. On her chestnut hair she wore a small diamond crown with a point in front like a Marie Stuart cap, and a long cream veil of Honiton lace. This was caught under the crown, and hung down the back, showing to advantage over her red velvet robe, which was borne by pages. She wore a high black dress, high probably owing to her recent illness; but the front of the bodice was so covered with diamonds, arranged in horizontal bands from her deep diamond collarette, that but little of the bodice was seen. She bowed most sweetly, and, as she passed, folk murmured, ‘Isn’t she lovely, and every inch a Queen!’ Her black-gloved hand rested lightly upon the King’s white one, as he led her through the Royal Gallery to the House of Peers. She wore large pearls in her ears, and lengthy chains of pearls round her neck; in fact, she was literally ablaze with diamonds and pearls.