The Snow Queen Reigns in the White Drawing Room

In Waddesdon Manor's White Drawing Room the terrifying Snow Queen held sway amidst 2007's glittering decorations. Among this room's treasures is an ornate silver table service designed for King George III. A large portrait of Louis XVI also adorns this room. During selected evenings in November, dancers from the West London School of Dance brought Hans Christian Anderson's characters to life.

The royal silver table service, just visible on the right, was made for use in one of George III's Electoral palaces in Hanover. Created in Paris in the 1770s and 80s by Robert-Joseph Auguste it includes 120 pieces engraved with the Royal monogram. Together they make up the largest element of the only surviving royal dinner service on public view. According to the experts at Waddesdon, there is no other French silver of this scale and magnificence to be seen in Great Britain.

The service is displayed on a semi-circular table, in the French style of the 18th century. It includes tureens, oval and round dishes with covers arranged as they would have been 200 years ago. Among the other treasures on this table are a mustard and cruet set loaned to Waddesdon Manor by the Louvre.