3-043-894 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Evening Fete of the Royal Botanic Society's Gardens, Regent's Park, [London], 1872. '...the conservatory and several marquees were crowded with fashionable company. The grounds were lit up with great brilliancy, and the scene was very gay and beautiful. Lime lights fixed in several parts made their neighbourhood as bright as noonday; whilst oil lights, marking the formation of the principal walks, reminded us of the past glories of Vauxhall..In the large exhibition marquee the band of the 1st Life Guards played a selection of music during the evening...It was stated that the Royal visitors would arrive at eleven o'clock, but...[they arrived] half an hour later...The party, consisting of the Princess of Wales, her Royal Highness Princess Mary of Cambridge (Duchess of Teck), his Serene Highness the Duke of Teck and Prince Christian, Earl Spencer, Countess Spencer, Mr. George Russell, Lady Charlotte Russell, and Lord and Lady John Manners joined their Royal Highnesses in their progress towards the conservatory, which was somewhat impeded by the crowd. In the [engraving], the Duke of Teck is receiving Lady Spencer as she approaches the dais...The Maharajah Dhuleep Singh is in the foreground. A strong white glare of lime-light falls on the scene'. From "Illustrated London News", 1872.