It was a magnificent ceremony , and the bride and bridegroom walked hand in hand under a canopy of purple velvet embroidered with little pearls . Then there was a State Banquet , which lasted for five hours . The Prince and Princess sat at the top of the Great Hall and drank out of a cup of clear crystal . Only true lovers could drink out of this cup , for if false lips touched it , it grew grey and dull and cloudy . `` It 's quite clear that they love each other , '' said the little Page , `` as clear as crystal ! '' and the King doubled his salary a second time . `` What an honour ! '' cried all the courtiers . After the banquet there was to be a Ball . The bride and bridegroom were to dance the Rose-dance together , and the King had promised to play the flute . He played very badly , but no one had ever dared to tell him so , because he was the King . Indeed , he knew only two airs , and was never quite certain which one he was playing ; but it made no matter , for , whatever he did , everybody cried out , `` Charming ! charming ! '' The last item on the programme was a grand display of fireworks , to be let off exactly at midnight . The little Princess had never seen a firework in her life , so the King had given orders that the Royal Pyrotechnist should be in attendance on the day of her marriage . `` What are fireworks like ? '' she had asked the Prince , one morning , as she was walking on the terrace . `` They are like the Aurora Borealis , '' said the King , who always answered questions that were addressed to other people , `` only much more natural . I prefer them to stars myself , as you always know when they are going to appear , and they are as delightful as my own flute-playing . You must certainly see them . ''
So at the end of the XXXXX 's garden a great stand had been set up , and as soon as the Royal Pyrotechnist had put everything in its proper place , the fireworks began to talk to each other .
Banquet Borealis Hall King Prince Princess Rose-dance hours midnight second