The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-02-17 00:00:00

THE PRINCE OF WALES' RETURN TO
WINDSOR.

On Saturday last the Prince and Princess of Wales
Journeyed front Sandringham to Windsor amid the warmest
demonstrations of loyalty. In the last-mentioned town the
reception of their Royal Highnesses was of the most gratify-
ing character, as will be seen by the following description of
the journey, from the Daily Ne ws :
The return of the Prince of Wales to Windsor, on
Saturday evening, was an event eminently calculated
to send the pretty little Royal borough into an unusual
flutter of excitement The first appearance amongst
old scenes and associations of a young man, who is
also the Heir Apparent, and who laas just come, as it
were, from the gates of death, was ample justifica-
tion for the pains taken by the people of Windsor to
let his Royal Highness know how pleased they were
to welcome him once more to the town which
he has only visited by fits and starts during late years.
Efforts were made, indeed, to bring about a formal re-
ception, a corporation procession, the presentation of
an address, and the usual et ceteras. But no one
knows better than the inhabitants around the Royal
Castle that the Queen in these affairs has a decided
will of her outs, and that no detail connected with
them, if she takes them in hand at all, is too small to
be overlooked by her. Her Majesty did not favour
the address, but lin the contrary, telegraphed to her
officers that the Prince's arrival was to be regarded as
strictly private. The corporation, therefore, were
compelled to abandon the presentation and recep-
tion, and to resolve that the address should still be
sent to the Castle, so that the Prince might re-
ceive it the same night. "Strictly private," under the
circumstances, was not an expression which the loyal
people of %Vindsor were prepared to understand, amid
they refused to give it that practical interpretation
which the Queen's telegram suggested. It was market
day in Windsor on Saturday, if the few stalls in the
main street may be allowed the title of market;
but the bustle to be noticed was not the bustle of
those who buy and sell in the market-place. it
was the stir of friends trooping into the shops in
quest of window-room ; the carriages of the
local gentry driving down to the South-
Western station in a steady stream ; the towns-
people fixing flags, and putting Up mottoes;
and hundreds of ladies, children, and gentlemen
following in the wake of the carriages. It was widely
understood that, according to the programme, the
Prince would not pass through the town at all ; anti
some who fancied they had reason for knowing that
the Queen's will was law, remained sceptical to the
end, rather laughing than otherwise at the good souls
who were deluding themselves into the belief that by
remaining at the shop-windows they would gratify the
desire of their hearts, and see the Prince.
At the railway station all manner of tricks were
played to gain admission. On occasions like this it
really does seem that the purest and highest-minded
of citizens will descend to any shabby trick, and some-
times positive meanness, to overreach the officials,
quite forgetting that the officials have been so frequently
practised upon that they now see through the most
artful dodger in a moment. The sham passengers who
had taken tickets for stations a few miles down the
line experienced, therefore, the chagrin of losing their
money, their expected vantage ground opposite the
Royal train, and their temper, so true is it that in this
world misfortunes have a habit of coming ea bloc.
Wiser in their day and generation were those who
were content to take their chance in the
Datchetroad. If the arrangements that had been
made by the Queen's sanction, if not direction, were
carried out, the Prince's carriage would simply cross
this road, and disappear in the Park. For that mo-
mentary enjoyment some 500 persons waited for an
hour with exemplary patience and cheerfulness.
Luckily it was a magnificent afternoon. Hatchet-
road lies' low, and Father Thames has only just re-
tired from possession of a good deal of the sur-
rounding meadow land; but the sun, even thus
early in the year, is stronger than it was, and there
was not the dampness to be feared had the day
been less warm. The public park is near the sta-
tion, with its pleasant walks, and in the shrubs
the small birds were all alive with song; the rooks
in half-a-dozen elms by the river came and went,
and cawed directly over the people's heads; the
distant tumble and rush of a weir was a sort of back-
ground of sound; and the blackbirds and thrushes in
the grove underthe Castle walls gave the sentimentalist
a fair excuse for whispering to his companion that
nature had made common cause with mankind to
welcome the eagerly expected visitor. The Castle
seemed alone to frown upon the proceedings; it looked
so aggressively solemn anti grey. These great castles
suffer heavily when the big flags are hauled down ; and
happily the time has not yet arrived when the Royal
standard wavem over the Round Tower for the Queen's
eldest son ! And even as these reflections pass through
the mind the Castle would seeni to relent, and bright
lights appear in the windows of the corner allotted for
the present accommodation of their Royal Highnesses.
Meanwhile, the train was nearing its journey's end.
It had reached Stratford punctually at half-past three,
and from that time till its arrival at the Windsor
Station many a handkerchief was waved from the
walls and windows as the handsome saloon carriage
rushed through the nietropolis. This was especially
the case in the densely-populated districts of North
Londoe, through which the Royal " specials " from
Sandringham now pass. As many of the leading in-
habitants as could be accommodated were permitted
to enter the arrival side of the Windsor Station.
Everything was in order by half-twist four. Flags
were draped, the crimson carpet was laid down
across the platform, the fire was looked after,
and the th ors of the Royal waiting room were closed
with jealous care, and outside the carriages trim the
Castle rolled into the yard, and the servants held
themselves ready to make short work with luggage.
At a 'matter to live to the minute the train drew up,
and stopped amidst hearty cheering. Lord and Lady
Bridport and some other friend were the first to we
their Royal Highnesses. The Prince and
Princess seemed a little surprised at the demonstration,
but most unmistakeably pleased, especially the Prince.
His Royal Highness looks better than he slid before
his illness, but it astonished everyone, when he re-
moved his hat in acknowledgmeut of the cheering, to
perceive how bald he has become. There was no time
lost. Their Royal Highnesses recognised one here and
another there, smiled pleasantly upon all. The Princess
received a present of some spring flowers fromtwoor three
ladies, and she and her husband then passed into their
room. The Princess really looks as young an on
her wedding day, and the ladies all declared that
there was nothing in the world like a black silk
dress, and bonnet trimmed with violets, to set off
to its best advantage a fair face. The Prince saw
at once that the public would thank him if, instead
of reaching the Castle by way of the Slopes, he
took Datchetroad anti Royal-hill, and he resolved
accordingly. First, he ordered the carriage to
be made open, and then gave directions to his out-
rider. The patient crowd outside 1,0011 found their
arrangements set at nought. The walls of human
beings who had flattered themselves that the car-
nage would pass close to their eyes were tumbled right
and left by the police, and before a new line was made,
the Prince's carriage was out of the yard and proceed-
ing slowly thromh the applauding crowd. Perhaps a
couple of hundred persons followed close to the car-
riage, and the entlitisiasm spread as it passed through
the borough, the Prince himself riding to the Castle
gate, not very warmly clad, in an open carriage, and
with his hat off, Peale of bells, the firiag of gun, and

strictl,

bands of music, were all in full chortle as the carriage
entered the precincts of the Castle.

On Monday afternoon their Royal Highnesses the
Prince and Princess of Wales left Windsor Cantle,
and continued their journey to Osborne, on a visit to
her Majesty. They left the Castle about a quarter
to two, and drove in an open carriage to the station of
the Great Western Railway. As on Saturday, when
they arrived, the town was gaily dressed with flags,
and even greater numbers than welcomed their arrival
assembled to witness their departure, numbers having
remained at home on the former occasion out of respect
to the supposed desire that the stricteet privacy should
be observed. Before leaving Windsor their Royal
Highnesses visited the Mausoleum at Frogmere, and
, the 'Royal farms and gardens. Lon! Caringtou paid
a short visit to the Prince at the Castle on Sunday.

In taking leave prior to the journey to Osborne, the
Prince of Wales very cordially thanked the municipal
authorities of Windsor for the kind reception which
they had accorded him on his first visit to the Royal
borough after his severe illness. In reply, the Mayor
said : " With all her Majesty's subjects throughout
the British Empire, the Corporation and inhabitants of
Windsor felt the most intense anxiety during the
serious illnessiof your Royal Highness, and we feel ex-
treme gratitude to ifind that your Royal Highness
has regained on much strength and vigour. In reference
to her Royal Highness, the Princess, you will permit
use to say, is a universal favourite, and we are ex-
tremely grateful to find that the Ltigne and anxieSgi
she must have necessarily undergone have not had,
providentially, such an effect upon her as we might
have anticipated."