Royal Weekend in Virginia Countryside

Metromedia founder and chairman John Kluge and his beautiful wife, Patricia, are throwing the kind of country house party the English are famous for. Money is, of course, no problem. In May, Kluge sold his Metromedia television and radio empire to Australian press lord Rupert Murdoch for $2 billion.

The Kluges’ house, Albemarle, is deep in the Virginia countryside, and by party time the foliage should be turning those marvelous shades of gold and russet. The weekend will begin with a black-tie dinner-dance in honor of ex-King Constantine of Greece and his Queen Anne-Marie. And then the royal couple and the Kluges’ other friends will be treated to a picnic on the golf course, to a harvest barbecue and cabaret in Albemarle’s Cattle Pavilion (dress: country-Western) and finally to a farewell Sunday brunch. It’s all being designed to make everyone feel rich and pampered.

Dr. and Mrs. Armand Hammer (Kluge is on the Occidental board) are just two of the guests who’ll be flying in from all over for the house party. A fortnight or so later, the Hammers will be in Washington greeting another royal pair, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, who’ll be feted grandly during their three-day stay in the capital as royal patrons for the “Treasure Houses of Britain” exhibition at the National Gallery.

From Washington the Prince and Princess of Wales, accompanied by Armand and Florence Hammer, will fly to Palm Beach where the night before their arrival Lord and Lady Romsey (he’s the grandson of the late Lord Mountbatten) will have officially opened the show of the Hammers’ collection of Old Masters at the Norton Gallery. In Palm Beach the royal pair will help Hammer raise money for the Armand Hammer United World College. Prince Charles will compete in a polo match at the Palm Beach Polo Club, the Princess of Wales will present the winning team with the Princess Diana trophy, and later that evening the royals will lead off the dancing after dinner at the Breakers.

The Philadelphia String Quartet Foundation is staging a “Tribute to India” on Saturday night at the historic Embassy Theatre and Hotel. It’s a celebration of the “Festival of India,” a cultural event that has taken Washington and New York by storm. First Lady Nancy Reagan is the honorary chairman, and among the patrons are Gov. George Deukmejian and Mayor Tom Bradley.

The evening will include a concert by the Philadelphia String Quartet and classical Indian musicians and dancers. Earlier at the reception, guests will get a chance to taste Indian delights and sip champagne. More champagne will be served during the intermission.

Norma Foster, president of the foundation’s board, is chairing the “Tribute to India,” which will benefit the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund of India, Californians for Drug Free Youth and the Philadelphia String Quartet Foundation Scholarship Fund. Besides the governor and the mayor the patrons also include Deb Mukharji, consul general of India; Niranjan Desai, minister of culture at the Embassy of India, and Supervisors Edmund D. Edelman, Pete F. Schabarum, Deane Dana, Kenneth Hahn and Michael D. Antonovich.

Mehli Mehta, director-conductor of the American Youth Symphony, KFAC’s Carl Princi and Bikram Choudhury are just a few serving on the foundation’s board of advisers. And on the honorary Indian Committee for the evening are chairman Dr. Amarjit S. Marwah, Dr. M. P. Khemka, Kirpal Singh, Inder Singh (he’s chairman of the Federation of Indian Assns.), Air India’s Vijay J. Cassyhyap, Mrs. Gulshan Kohli of the India Tourism Office, Dr. Syed M. Alvi and Ranjan Guha, president of the Indo-U.S. Business Assn.

For this evening formal Indian attire or traditional black tie will be fine.

The Social Scramble: Oscar Koppens, president of the Brazil-California Trade Assn., was discussing his group’s upcoming gala honoring a man and woman of distinction (names later) as he lunched on sand dabs at Le St. Germain. The May gala at the Beverly Wilshire will be the local association’s first awards dinner, but in New York the Brazil-California Trade Assn. has been

doling out achievement awards for the past eight years.

The Southwest Museum hosts its first benefit dinner on Saturday and follows that up with the opening on Oct. 15 of its latest permanent installation, “The People of California Hall,” with its collection of California Indian art and artifacts.

Although Harry and Marilyn Lewis’ Hamlet Gardens in Westwood won’t be completed until perhaps the middle of next month, Marilyn is already looking forward to the opening-night party. “I’ll wait two weeks after the doors open,” she was telling Contessa Cohn and Jack Lowrance the other day as she showed them through the premises. This latest in the Hamburger Hamlet chain isn’t like any other you’ve ever seen, Marilyn promises.

Bob and Margie Petersen, co-chairmen for the Thalians’ 30th Anniversary Ball (Oct. 12) have formed a committee that includes, among others, Ruta Lee, Mac Krim, Gloria Luchenbill, Ken Dibbs, Jerry Franks. The ball will have Lana Turner as the Thalians’ Ms. Wonderful and the theme is, of course, “You Stepped Out of a Dream.” Appropriate, isn’t it?

The Love Beat: Attorney James H. Kindel Jr., a senior partner in Kindel & Anderson, and Nancy Livingston, the daughter of Paul and Marjorie Tramz of El Toro and a member of the Junior League of Los Angeles, were married at her Bel-Air home last month. They’re honeymooning in Yosemite.

Red Letter Days: Wednesday, when the National Network of Hispanic Women host an “evening under the stars” on the terrace of Le Mondrian. The evening honors artist Esperanza Martinez and will feature her latest works. Tickets are $50 per person.

Saturday, when Senor Jack Lowrance hosts a “Down-Home Western BBQ” at his hacienda for the Premiere Patrons of the American Cinematheque. It’s the annual membership event for those cowboys and cowgirls. Dress: Western duds.

Sept. 17, when the Liver Assn. for Research and Education hosts a dinner and benefit preview of Meryl Streep’s new film, “Plenty,” at the 20th Century Fox studios. Polly Bergen is honorary chairman and the evening will pay tribute to June Jacobs, the late wife of television writer Seaman Jacobs. On the benefit board are the Armand Hammers, former Gov. and Mrs. Edmund G. (Pat) Brown, Audrey and Billy Wilder, Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky, Barbara and Marvin Davis and more.

Sept. 24, when president Toni Webb and her Les Dames de Champagne International Hostesses hold their annual meeting at Kathy Kilroy’s Capo di Monte estate. The season’s first reunion for Les Dames will also feature “a very special talent, Reymond Berney . . . not just another young pianist.”

Sept. 26, when the National Art Assn. hosts a fashion show luncheon at the home of Patti Lewis. Through its annual Orchid Ball, NAA raises money for art scholarships, the Americana Project of the Department of State, the County Museum of Art and the Young Musician’s Foundation.

Oct. 25, in San Francisco when Alex and Faye Spanos host a cocktail party and buffet featuring fashions by Galanos and jewels by Cartier. The following night they’ll host the seventh biennial Evening of Elegance featuring Bob Hope and other stars. Both events take place in the Hotel St. Francis’ Colonial Room and both benefit the Children’s Hospital of San Francisco, the Dameron Hospital in Stockton, the Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage and the Children’s Hospital and Health Center in San Diego.