ce they
make their way to the ball-room _unannounced_; and there is no official
reception accorded to them, either by "Royalty" or by the Lord
Chamberlain.

Dancing does not commence until the arrival of the royal party, when the
guests rise and remain standing while the Royal Quadrille--with which
the ball opens--is being danced.

The King and Queen act as host and hostess on these occasions, but
confine their attentions to those with whom they are personally
acquainted.

Ladies attending a State Ball at Buckingham Palace should wear the usual
full evening dress; but they should not wear Court trains, or plumes, or
lappets.

Gentlemen attending State Balls should wear uniform or full Court
dress--dress coat, breeches and silk stockings, shoes and buckles;
trousers can only be worn as part of a uniform, and not with a Court
dress as generally worn at a levee.

A gentleman intending to dance should remove his sword, otherwise he
should not do so.

When the Court is in mourning, ladies attending a State Ball should wear
mourning according to the official notice which duly appears in the
_Gazette_.

Gentlemen should wear crape on the left arm, which is supplied in the
cloak-room of the Palace to those who have forgotten to provide
themselves with it, as it is imperative, when the Court is in mourning,
that a band of crape should be worn at either State Ball or State
Concert.

The balls given by the princes and princesses of the blood royal are not
State Balls, therefore Court dress is not worn by the gentlemen present.

They act as host and hostess at the balls given by them and receive
their guests, shaking hands with them as they are announced.

Ladies and gentlemen do not take their cards of invitation with them to
Buckingham Palace.

CHAPTER XIII

DINNER GIVING AND DINING OUT

=Dinner= giving is perhaps the most important of all social observances,
therefore dinner parties rank first amongst all entertainments.

Dinner giving is so thoroughly understood to rest upon the principle of
an equivalent, that those who do not give dinners hardly come within the
category of diners out. This rule, however, is open to many exceptions
in favour of privileged individuals, popular and prominent members of
society whose presence at dinner parties is appreciated and welcomed in
most circles.

Dinner-parties are of more frequent occurrence, and are of more social
significance, than any other form of enter