The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-25 00:00:00

The Marriage of the Prince of Wales.

The preparations for the Royal wedding are
going forward with all activity at Windsor, both
within the precincts of the Castle and in the town.
The arrangements in the interior of the Chapel and
choir itself are now nearly all completed as far as
regards the accommodation for the visitors, and the
ioug rows of seats rising tier above tier, all covered
with scarlet, cast quite a rosy hue over the nave.
As a very large proportion of these seats will
be occupied by ladies, they will doubtless be glad
to hear that the Board of Works has taken a
very liberal view of the requirements of fashion,
and allowed a width of not less than two feet to
each seat. These seats are arranged in blocks,
spreading backward into the aisles and tapering
to a narrow frontage between the columns of the
nave, so as to allow of Yeomen of the Guard
being stationed in front of each column. The whole
of the centre of the nave is to be covered with a
carpet specially made for this occasion, with an em-
broidered border, having the Prince's coronet and
the monograms of the Prince and Princess entwined.
Very large platforms have been erected en the right
and left of tte organ-loft—that on the right, over
Sir Reginald Bray's chapel, being for the use of the
musicians and choir; that on the left, for a limited
number of the members of the Queen's household.
Within the choir itself no galleries have been at-
tempted, and the old oak carving of the Knights'
stalls is not forced into unseemly companionship
with temporary arrangements. Only a raised wooden
dais, immediately in front of the Communion-table,
is placed here, and on this the ceremony will take
place. With the side aisles of the choir, however,
no reserve in the matter of seats is attempted, and
every possible nook from which even a glimpse can
be had into the interior, and very many from which
none can be had at all, have been handed over to
the carpenters to fit with materials, either for a
sitting or a standing, according as the architecture
permits. But for those not seated in the Knights'
stalls, or immediately in front of them, it is really
very difficult to provide anything like good places,
so as to at once command a view of the altar and
the choir. Even the places of honour—those seats
specially set apart for the corps diplomatique
and the 'nest distinguished of the guests invited
on this occasion, are limited in their view
almost to what passes immediately in trout of
them on the dais. In fact, the anxiety evinced
to be present in the building in any place, no
matter what the view it commands, is so in-
tense that it is necessary to economise every inch
of space, and still refuse the applications of nine out
of ten who are now bringing every interest to bear
to be honoured with a card of invitation to the cere-
mony. The carved oak panelling in front of the
Royal pew over the Communion table has been quite
removed down to within a few inches of the floor of
the pew itself, so that her Majesty will not only see
the ceremony from the spot, but be as plainly seen
herself as if she sat on the raised dais. In tact, her
Majesty's attending the ceremony privately only
eans that she does not take part in the procession
nor attend in Royal state; but, notwithstanding
these exceptions, she will, as we have said, be as
visibly present on this happy occasion as either the
bride or bridegroom. The memorial window dedi-
cated to the memory of the late Prince Consort by
the Dean and Chapter of Windsor is almost finished,
and the last remnants of the glass painting with
which West disfigured the building have been quite
removed. The new window is a really noble addi-
tion to the general effect of this fine old interior.
The Wolsey chapel, in which the Ambassadors are
to assemble on the morning of the marriage, is also
in course of completion. The centres which support
its groined and beautifully carved roof havo been
struck, and theugh all the elaborate glass mosaics
which are to cover it cannot, of course, be placed
before the 10th of March, enough will he done to
make it appear worthy of the occasion, of its historic
name, and of its new purpose as a memorial chapel
from the Royal children to the memory of their
late parent. The temporary buildings, the proces-
sion halt, and waiting and retiring rooms which
are being built outside the Chapel are fast ad-
vancing, though by no means so forward but that
one can see at a glance it will require hard and
extra work to get them done before the appointed
day. The short space of time in which it is neces-
sary to complete these outbuildings will, it is said,
prevent much being attempted in the way of mere
decoration.

Atter the procession through London on the 7th
inst., the Princess with the Prince of Wales will
alight at the Sough station of the Great Western
Ra.lway, and not at he Windsor terminus, as was
first intended. From Slough they will drive to the
Castle through Eton and through the tow❑ of
Windsor, entering the Castle by the Henry VIII.
gateway. Already the townspeople of Windsor are
making great preparations to do honour to the
arrival. One very fine arch is nearly completed at
Windsor-bridge, and another still larger is being
erected across the entrance to the Castle itself.
Both of these are to be illuminated at night, and
both, if we may judge from the money that is to
ne spent on them, are likely to be very splendid
filings of their kind. It may save many of the
public an unnecessary journey from London if we
Mate at once that on the morning of the marriage
:tine will be admitted within the precincts of the
(3,;-t le on any pretence without tickets.
Up to the end of last week the applications sent
in from the commanding officers of Volunteer corps
o be present in Hyde Park on the 7th showed evert
then that the total force would be at least 16,000
men. We believe we are correct in saying that the
royal carriage containing the Prince and Princess
will diverge from the roadway through the Park, so
as to pass close along the front of the massive line
wnico the Vo unteers will form there on that day.