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It was on May 25th, my birthday, that Mama announced: “Sibila and you, Susana, are to be presented to Queen Mary and King George on June 4th by Don Agustin Edwards and Senora Olga Budge de Edwards.” Don Cucho, we called Don Agustin Edwards, he was our ambassador to the court of St. James. Mme Edwards called Doña Olga, invited us to tea on afternoon and she announced: “Starting today I shall prepare you girls for your appearance before their Majesties”.

We were instructed on the proper way to walk and curtesy; first to King George and then take three steps sideways, so as not to turn our backs on the King, curtesy to the Queen, and walk backward out of the throne room to wait for supper.

Sibila and I went to the dressmaker right away. It was on Bond Street. The gowns had to be made according to Queen Mary’s specification, long trains three yards long, veil pinned to the back of the head, and three ostrich plumes. Doña Olga selected our gowns.

Sibila’s dress was in silver cloth with along pleated tunic, crystal beads as a trimming and she wore a pale pink rose. The dress was ankle length; the trail was of silver tissue lines with flesh pink chiffon. She wore a string of pearls. My dress was of white charmeuse with two tunics of soft diamante tulle. The train of white charmeuse was lined with white chiffon. The presentation was to take place at 10 o’clock on the night of June 4th.

We had to leave Essex house at 7 P.M. in order to go to the photograph Lafayette, in Bond Street first to have our pictures taken, I shall never forget the photo taken sitting in a gold chair, beside a gold table with a potted Hydrangea set upon it.

Our car was driven by our chauffeur, but we had to hire a footman for the evening, who carried the invitations and special admission cards. We had been issued special cards because the night before some lady who was presented, instead of bowing to their Majesties had presented at the request of Mrs. Pankhurst for “Votes for British Women”. They were asked to leave the palace at once.

We had to wait in a line of cars to get to the palace. It seemed as if we moved an inch at a time. There were two lines of cars, so that we were able to see in the cars parallel to ours, ladies decked in jewels carrying magnificent bouquets of flowers and men in gala uniforms. The streets were lined with thousands of onlookers. People crowded up on the sidewalks for sights of wealth and sometime of beauty. I noticed a beautiful dark-haired girl, blue eyes in the car beside ours, a girl I was to meet a few months later. The British seem to live for these parades.

At the side of the palace, our footman handed cards to one of the guards. Then before us was beautiful sight. Buckingham Palace illuminated by hundreds of small lights. In the center the Grenadiers Guards Band played popular music and before us an immense open door for Sibila and I to enter into the palace of the King and Queen of Great Britain. It seemed like a dream. We walked up a marble staircase carpeted in red through lines of soldiers in their red coats until we reached a cloak room where ladies dressed in black satin gowns helped us to tidy up.

We met the Edwards and our old friends the Bittencourt’s and their daughters. Don Julio Bittencourt, an old friend of Papa’s was now first attaché to the Chilean Embassy. We went into a waiting room full of pretty girls, middle-aged women, and old ones. About two hundred and fifty were presented that night.

I was a nervous wreck by the time we reached the room; my knees shook. All I remember is gold and red. I did not hear the band playing. Sibila went first. Our names resounded in the vast throne room as my Lord somebody or other – dressed in short black satin pants, tail coat, white stockings and patent leather shoes with diamond buckles announced our names to their Majesties. We both did well with our curtsies and Doña Olga said afterwards how please she was with us.

The King wore the uniform of the Royal Horse Guards. The Queen looked handsome in glittering gold and blue brocade, a train of Irish point lace and a superb collar of Emeralds and Diamonds. Other Royal ladies presented were Princess Henry of Battenberg, Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein and her sister Marie -Louise, Lady Irene Curzon was presented by her aunt, Lady Suffolk, and Miss Elizabeth Asquith by her mother. A group of Indian princes and princesses was also presented. Their splendid costumes and rich jewels were dazzling.

After the reception in the wide gallery, where we waited, their Majesties passed into the supper room. As Queen Mary passed by me, the diamond collar almost blinded me with its brilliance. We were invited into a special room for royalty and diplomats where the supper of exquisite ice cream and champagne was served by the lackeys in red coats and white wigs. Don Agustin and Doña Olga took us home in their car.