The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-04-09
AROYAL CoURTsIIIP.
svictoria = Prince A~lbert-How the
Queen Of England Was wooed. Won and

- zM e~y -
comfort from the knowledge that the
our Of true love did not az, first
run altogether smoothly, even the
case of such august personages as
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
The sdistraetions OF ruling put mar
riage out of the royal maiden's head
for time, it seems; but the Queen
has herself said that she never had
any idea that if she married at all it
would be any nj else than the Prince.
tt was in 1888 that her uncle Leo
pold-a pitiful old protligate, to have
been one OF the guardians OF a pure
young ~girl--urged her to fix upon a
husband. More sensible than most
at her age, she thought herself and
Albert too young for marriage. More
over, her lover knew England very
mperfectly and she wisely reasoned
that this would not do at all. In
the autumno Of thefollowing yeass Prince
Albert and his brother Ernest visited
the young queen, Poor young men!
They arrived before their clothes, and
had to appear in the drawing-room
after dinner in their trayel-stained
suits. Throughout October, Windsor
castle and its surroundings were the
scene. OF love passages OF eyer'increas-
ing tenderness. and two illustrious
young people had some difficulty in
preserving etiquette at the dances that
were given three times q week after
dinner, Tor inclination led them to
dance together oftener than was expe-
dent.
There is a pretty story extant that
& nh 1,,nGIpS t1,aNH S,ayyar.L + n haf o,.cvn ~ a,
dances, the queen presented the prince,
who dared not venture to ask for
her hand, with a flower. The
significance OF the act was not lost
upon him. He wore a close-fit-
ting uniform, buttoned up to the
throat; but wishing to wear the pre-
cious gift upon his hesrt he cut a slit
in his coat with a penknife and placed
the blossom in it. How to let him
know that her heart had gone out to
him was a source OF genuine distress
to Her Majesty. He wouldn't pro.
pose, SO she must. And she did in
this way. The Prince or one occasion
was thanking her for the gracious re-
ception she had accorded him and ex-
pressing the delight his visit was CIV
ing him, when the Queen replied shyly,
III indeed your highness is so much
pleased with this country, perhaps
you would not object to remaining in
It and making it your home2" The
hint was unmistakable. What fol-
lowed concerned only the happy pair,
and Her Majesty has never divulged
it; but the sweetness OF it can be
imagined.
After the young people had had q
monthtogether Prince Albert returned
to Germany, and the counting had to
be continued through love letters. To
tell her privy councillors and Parlia-
ment her love story was the Queens
next trouble; but shegotoverit brave
", seeking courage ongthese trying oc-
casions from q bracelet containing a
portrait Of the Prince that she wore
clasped on her arm. When Her Maj
esty tremblingly made the statement
in the House OF Lords every yoicerose
in congratulations. But vexatious
incidents followed. A rumor rot
abroad that the queens tiance was
a Roman Catholic, and it was noteas
lily disposed OF. Greater unpleasant
ness still arose out of the question o
the annuity to be settled on the prince
for he was portionless, like nearly al
the Germans who have come afteI
him. In the end, 100000 a year wa,
voted him.
Various snubs took off the bloom
and brightness of the young man.
hopes considerably, but he wrotet to hi
beloved, "All have to say is, tina
while / possess your love they canno
make me unhappy and on arriving
at Dover he was pleasantly SURPRISED
at receiving a war; welcome. III
reached Buckingham palace on Sat
urday afternoon, February s., ant
found his bride with her moth
Ell. at the door to be the first to mee
and greet him. Thefollowing Monda,
was the wedding day. The mornin
was cold, foggy and wet, but its in
clemency damped nobody's ardor, TIL
crowds in st. James park being dens
indeed.
The wedding was celebrated with o.
due magnificence in the Chapel Roya
St. James, the altar OF which wa
made to look something between
florists shop and a goldsmith's, $
great was the %profusion Of flowers an
plate. -Four imposing state chairs wer
set, being one each for the bride, bride
groom, queen dowager and duchess
Kent, who, by the way, gave herse
over to copius weeping and refused t
be comforted, her behavior contrast
ing strongly with that OF her daughte
who was quiet and conident, althoug
pale and misunderstanding.
The royal bride was robed in heav
white satin with orange blossoms,
wreath of the same gracing her heat
while q rich Honiton veil fell abor
her face, but did not conceal it. TT
reason for this, it has been said, we
that Her Majesty accounted herself q
belonging to the people and must
seen by them. Since then the soye
eign has altered her opinion consi,
erably upon this subject. Her jewe
were the collar of the order of tt
Garter and q diamond necklace an
earrings, and she had twelve bride
MAIDS. Her first act after the Ger
mony vast to trip across to the 9th,
side Of the altar and kiss the Quee
Dowager; then, hand and hand, tt
Prime and she, passed down the aisl
and the Queen confessed that they d
not unclasp hands until Buckingha;
Palace was reached.
The wedding breakfast was OF owe
uhelnling grandeur, and the weddil
cake wonderful indeed, weighing al
did 800 pounds in weight, measuril
three yards in circumference, al
standing fourteen inches high. 1t WI
ornamented with q device i'll sugar
Britannia blessing the happy pair.
dog reposed at the feet of the sug
Prince, and apair Of turtle doves
the feet otSthe sugar Queen. humble
of Cupids were placed around, one
them registering the marriage IN
h0nk. and saveral hnunueta Of VIII