The British Royal Court

Queen Victoria’s Royal Drawing-Room

A ROYAL DRAWING-ROOM.—A fair correspondent asks us what is meant when it is said, ’the Queen held a drawing-room.’ We reply that it is a levee, held by Queen Victoria, to receive the nobility and gentry. The ceremonies are as follows. On the arrival of the Queen at St. James’s Palace, she is received by the Lord Chamberlain, &c., and proceeds to the royal closet, where special presentations take place. When these are over, the Queen passes from the closet to the throne-room, attended by the ladies-in-waiting, cabinet ministers, &c. When her majesty is seated, the doors are thrown open, and the company from the ante-rooms advance. On the occasion of a lady (not a peeress) being presented, she comes to the door of the throne-room, takes off her right glove, and lets down her train, which, until that moment, she had carried over her arm; then, upon her name being called, she walks up to the sovereign, kneels on her right knee, and kisses her majesty's hand. She then rises and walks away, facing her majesty as long as she can, and makes her exit by a different door to that at which she entered.

From Merriam Webster (online): Levee:
    1. a reception held by a person of distinction on rising from bed
    2. an afternoon assembly at which the British sovereign or his or her representative receives only men
    3. a reception usually in honor of a particular person

From Godey’s Lady’s Book, January 1864