The herald., 1894-04-20
FOR BETTER OR WORSE.
Royal Nuptials Celebrated
at COburg.
Houses Of C0burg and Hesse
United.
Princess Melita and Duke Ernest
Married,
Nearly Every Royal Family in Europe
Rerressnted at the Wedding.
Queen Victoria Master
of Ceremonies.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CoBURG, April 19.-Her royal high
ness, Princess Melita OF Ssxe-Coburg-
Gotha, granddaughter of Queen Vic
toria, was married today in the chapel
OF the ducal palace hero, to Duke Ernest
Louis Charles Albert William of Hesse,
grandson Of Queen Victoria. The
weather was splendid and the city was
packed with royal and imperial gueuts,
foreign vsitors and German sigh t-seers.
At first the sky was overcast and rain
was the prospect. but by 8 O'Clock the
sky had cleared. The ducal chapel,
which had been thoroughly redecorated
for the occasion, is an ancient oblong
building, full OF elaborate paintings and
frescoes, its interior being surrounded
by a gallery supported by broad, fiat
pillars, terminating in frescoed arches.
On the plain altar, draped with crimson
velvet and gold. stood G handsome ivory
and ebony crucifx, hanked by tail
waxen tspers and gold candlesticks.
Garlands of fir hung gracefully from
pillar 10 pillar, and the pulpit was en-
bedded in beautiful white flowers. This
being primrose day in England, in
honor of Queen Victoria primroses
brought especially from England formed
one OF the leading features OF the elab-
crate decorations of the grand little
chapel
According to the ceremonial decided
upon by Queen Victoria Gall the arrange
ments had been submitted to her in
FioreDce), the marriage WAS to take
place at noon precisely in the private
chapel of the ducal schloss, with full
state, in the Lutheran style.
Following the German precedent,
there were no bridesmaids, but the
bride, supported by her younger sister
and Queen Victoria, WAS accompanied
to the chapel by the duke OF Saxe-Co-
burg Gotha (the duke OF Edinburg), the
an arn-cSfr In IN 1trohE 81 fo% f7S"'efd 81 dis g.
tinguishsd guests. Next, Emperor
William of Germany, by whose side was
the duchess of Sake -Coburg- Gotha (the
Grand Duchess Marie OF Russia), sister
to the czar.
The ceremony commenced with a
brilliant and impressive function. In
the wedding procession Emperor Will
lam escorted the duchess of Coburg and
ex-Empress Frederick followed alone.
The prince of Wales and the czsrowitz
came next, walking together. The
bridegroom entered with supporters,
his uncle, Prince Henry OF Hcsse, and
his brother-in-law, Prince Henry of
Prussia. The bride came in last, sup.
ported by her father and brother
and accompanied by her sisters.
The prince of Wales sat beside
e4-Empress Frederick OF Germany (eld-
est daughter of Queen Victoris). Then
came the czarowItz. Distinguished guests
occupied the front seats on the other
side of the aisle, corresponding with
those occu pied by Queen Victoria, EN-
peror William and the duchess of Co.
burg. Other important personages
filled three rows behind the royal and
imperial notabilities already mentioned,
but the suites of court officials and min
isters in attendance remained standing
throughout the ceremony.
Among other distinguished persons
were the duke aud duchess OF Con-
naught; Prince and Princess Henry of
Prussia; Grand Duke and Grand
Duchess Vladmsn OF Russia; Grand
Duke Sengius of Russia and wife, form.
erly Princess Elizabeth of Hessee- Darn
stadt: Princess Alexander of Hesse the
crown prince and princess of Rcumania;
Sake Meiningen Primes and Princess
Phillips OF Coburg; Prince George of
Greece; Prince Aribert of Anhalt and
Prince Henry and Princess Louise of
Battenburg.
The distinguished assemblsge OF ladies
in court toilets, sparkling with Jewels, |
contrasted beautifully with the gorgeous
uniforms of the male portion of the
guests. The elaborate floral decorations,
the grandeur of the old chapel and the |
natural solemnity of the surroundings,
formed a magnificent spectacle, not ri.
vailed in recent years in aAy country.
Queen Victoria wore the broad blue |
RIBBON OF the Order of the Garter. Upon
her head eparkled q magnificent crown
Of diamonds. Her majesty remained
seated throughout; age and infirmites
her standing with the other
" Wedding guests, who arose during GER
tain portions OF the marriage ceremo-
MES.
The general superintendent OF the
Lutheran church, Pastor Muellen, offici-
ated, assisted by the court chaplain of
the grand duchy of Hssse and fvs local
,lergymen. Alter an address had been
the bride and bridegroom
oliShted troths, wedding rings were ex-
changed aAd the benediction was pro.
after which Mendel5sohn's
Wedding march was grandly played, and
he ceremony was at an end.
The newly married couple afterwards
Kissed their relatives in turn and the
procession reformed and left the chapel
1t O'Clock amid the booming of cannon
md the joyful ringing of all the church
,ells within miles of the ducal chapel.
The whole party, shortly after leaving
ne chapel, entered the Riesendal, where
,reskfast was served. An especially
,earty cheer was raised by the crowds
n the plaza when the newly-married
ouple and the duke and duchess OF CO.
,urg crossed the square to the palace.
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