Dear L.,--The opening of the Rigsdag is a great event in Stockholm. The
_Corps Diplomatique_ met in the room in the palace called Kronesal. The
walls are covered with the three gold crowns of the Swedish coat of
arms painted on a blue background. They passed on through the rooms of
the Order of the Sword, which had just as many swords on its walls as
the other had crowns. You can never make a mistake as to where you are!
The ladies were told to wear _toilette de ville_, and the gentlemen to
dress in gala uniform.
Just before the time the King was to come in we were ushered down a
little narrow staircase which led into the Rigsdag, passed in front of
the throne, and went up a still narrower staircase to the gallery
reserved for the diplomats, which seemed very shaky. Some day when the
Rigsdag is opening there will be a collapse of diplomats.
The body of the hall was filled with the gentlemen, all the members of
the two Chambers in evening dress and the court officials in their
uniforms.
When the Queen is present, which is not often, she sits opposite the
_Corps Diplomatique_, surrounded by the ladies of the court, who wear
little white fur capes over their shoulders.
The galleries on both sides were filled with the nobility and society.
The throne on which King Oscar sat is on a raised platform filling the
whole end of the hall. The throne is unique, made of silver, silver
lions supporting it on both sides. Back of the throne was a long blue
velvet curtain hanging from the canopy.
Everything was ready and every one in his place. A deep silence reigned
throughout. There was a blast of trumpets; every one stood up, and the
King came down the same little staircase we had. He looked very
majestic in his splendid robes of ermine, over which hung the blue
Order of the Seraphim, the highest order in Sweden, and of course all
his other decorations. The crown he wears is magnificent, made of
costly jewels, and, I should think, very heavy, causing the King to
hold his head very straight and steady. He looked up at the _loge_ of
the diplomats, made a slight inclination of the head, then mounted the
few steps of the throne and sat in his silver chair.
The Crown Prince came next, followed by Prince Carl and Prince Eugen.
The three are as tall as the King. They wore blue velvet mantles
trimmed with ermine, their uniforms showing underneath, and as if they
had been handed down, but not let down, from former and shorter
Princes.
They wore crowns which seemed difficult to balance on their heads.
The King took the Proclamation from the hands of his _Rigskanzler_ and,
standing up, read it in a loud and clear voice. He did not use his
eye-glasses, because the letters were made so large that he could read
without them. It was a fine and thrilling moment.
The Rigsdag being opened, the King left as he had come.