Groups of beauties like the Moncrieffes, Grahams, Conynghams, de Moleynses, Lady Mary Mills, Lady Randolph Churchill, Mrs. Arthur Sassoon, Lady Dalhousie, Lady March, Lady Londonderry and Lady de Grey were to be seen in the salons of the ’eighties.  There is nothing at all like this in London to-day and I doubt if there is any one now with enough beauty or temperament to provoke a fight in Rotten Row between gentlemen in high society:  an incident of my youth which I was privileged to witness and which caused a profound sensation.

Queen Alexandra had a more perfect face than any of those I have mentioned; it is visible even now, because the oval is still there, the frownless brows, the carriage and, above all, the grace both of movement and of gesture which made her the idol of her people.

London society is neither better nor worse than it was in the ’eighties; there is less talent and less intellectual ambition and much less religion; but where all the beauty has gone to I cannot think!

When the Princess of Wales walked into the Duchess of Manchester’s boudoir that afternoon, I got up to go away, but the Duchess presented me to her and they asked me to stay and have tea, which I was delighted to do.  I sat watching her, with my teacup in my hand, thrilled with admiration.

Queen Alexandra’s total absence of egotism and the warmth of her manner, prompted not by consideration, but by sincerity, her gaiety of heart and refinement—­rarely to be seen in royal people —­inspired me with a love for her that day from which I have never departed.

I had been presented to the Prince of Wales—­before I met the Princess—­by Lady Dalhousie, in the Paddock at Ascot.  He asked me if I would back my fancy for the Wokingham Stakes and have a little bet with him on the race.  We walked down to the rails and watched the horses gallop past.  One of them went down in great form; I verified him by his colours and found he was called Wokingham.  I told the Prince that he was a sure winner; but out of so many entries no one was more surprised than I was when my horse came romping in.  I was given a gold cigarette-case and went home much pleased.

King Edward had great charm and personality and enormous prestige; he was more touchy than King George and fonder of pleasure.  He and Queen Alexandra, before they succeeded, were the leaders of London society; they practically dictated what people could and could not do; every woman wore a new dress when she dined at Marlborough House; and we vied with each other in trying to please him.

Opinions differ as to the precise function of royalty, but no one doubts that it is a valuable and necessary part of our Constitution.  Just as the Lord Mayor represents commerce, the Prime Minister the Government, and the Commons the people, the King represents society.  Voltaire said we British had shown true genius in preventing our kings by law from doing anything but good.  This sounds well, but we all know that laws do not prevent men from doing harm.