“The King was looking better than formerly, only a little paler and thinner. He wore a scarlet uniform, which rather clashed with the dark red velvet of his robe, but his deep ermine cape with small black tails broke the discordant tones. The Royal couple bowed slightly as they moved slowly along, and a deathlike stillness prevailed after the first blare of trumpets which heralded their approach, when the doors were first thrown open, and they entered the gallery. Immediately behind the Queen came the Countess of Antrim, the Lady of the Bedchamber; the Duchess of Buccleuch, as Mistress of the Robes; and Lady Alice Stanley, who bears the strange title ‘Woman of the Bedchamber.’ They were all dressed in black—their Court dresses cut low—and wore black feathers and spotted black veils, with diamond pins in the hair. “One of the chief features of the procession was the Cap of Maintenance, which was carried immediately before His Majesty by the Marquis of Winchester. Then came the Duke of Devonshire, bearing the State Crown, which resembled an extremely large peer’s crown of red velvet with an ermine border. Then came Gold Sticks and Silver Sticks, pages and officers in uniform, truly a magnificent procession, as it wended its way along the Royal Gallery. The Yeomen of the Guard lined the aisle, and looked as delightfully picturesque as usual. Now came the moment of disappointment. These much-prized tickets did not admit us into the House of Peers to hear the Speech from the Throne. We had to wait patiently for about a quarter of an hour for the return of the procession, which—by the by—had been a quarter of an hour late in starting, and then wend our way down the Royal staircase and out through the funny little oak door towards home. Wonderful carriages were waiting below, with hammercloths and wigged coachmen, and all the glories of nobility. Truly a regal entertainment.