The record-union., 1894-04-20
Nuptials of Princess Victoria and
the Duke of HeSse.
NOTABLE GATHERING OF IMPERIAL
FAMILIES.
Spectacle. Unrivaied in
Recent Years, in the Old Chapel
Where the Ceremony Was Solemn
nized-Prominent Buildings In the
City Buried Beneath Decorations
in Honor of the Event.
Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
CoBURG, April 19.-Her Royal High
ness Princess Victoria Maud of Saxe-Co-
burg-Gotha, granddaughter of fQueen Vic
toria, was married to-day in the chapel of
the Ducal palace here to Duke Ernest
Charles Albert William of Hesse, grand
son of Queen Victoria. The weather was
splendid and the city was packed with
royal and imperial guests. foreign visit
ors and German sightseers. at first the
sky was overcast and rain was the pros
pect, but by O'Clock the sky had cleared.
The Ducal chapel, which had been thor
oughly decorated for the occasion, is an
ancient, oblong building. full of elaborate
paintings and frescoes, its interior being
surrounded by gallery. supported by
broad, flat pillars, terminating in fres-
coed arches. On the plain altar, draped
with crimson velvet and gold, stood a
handsome ivory and ebony crucifix,
fianked by tall waxen tapers and gold
candlesticks. Garlands of fir hung grace
fully from pillar to pillar and the pulpit
was EN- bedded in beautiful white flowers.
This being primrose day in England, in
honor OF Queen Victoria lEinroses
brought especially from England formed
one of the leading features of the elab-
crate decorations of the grand little
chapel.
Early in the day the sky cleared and
the sun beamed gloriously on the tempo
rary headquarters of representatives of
nearly all the imperial and royal families
of Europe. According to the "ceremo-
nial' decided upon by Queen Victoria (aIl
tod To har
Florence) the marriage was to take place
at noon precisely in the private chapel OF
the Ducal schloss with full state and in
the Lutheran style. Following the Ger
man precedents, there were no brides
maids, but the bride was supported by
her younger sisters. Queen Victoria was
accompanied to the chapel by the Duke of
Sake -Coburg- Goth (the Duke of Edin-
burgh), father of the bride, and was es-
corted to the armchair in the front row of
distinguished guests, next to Emperor
William of Germany, by whose side was
the Duchess of Saxe-Coburg- (the
Grand Duchess Marie of Russia, sister of
the Czar). A
The ceremony commenced with brill
liant impressive functions. In the we'd
ding procession Emperor William es-
corted the Duchess of Coburg and the ex-
Empress Frederick followed alone. The
Prince of Wales and Czarowitch came
next, walking together.
The bridegroom entered with his sup
porters, his uncle, Prince Henry of Hess,
and brother-inlaw, Prince Henry of
Prussia. The bride came in last, sup
ported by her father and brother and ac-
companied by her sisters.
The Prince of Wales sat beside the ex-
Empress Frederick of Germany, the eld-
est daughter of Queen Victoria; then
came the Czarowitch. The distinguished
guests occupied front seats on the other
side of the aisle, corresponding with
those of Queen Victoria, Emperor Will
lam and the Duchess of Coburg. The
other important personages filled three
rows behind each other and the imperial
notabilities already mentioned, but the
suites, court officials and Ministers in at
tendance remained standing throughout
the ceremony.
Among other distinguished persons
present were the Duke and Duchess Of
Connaught; Prince and Princess Henry
of Prussia; the Grand Duke and Grand
Duchess of Vladimar, Russia; Grand
Duke Sergius of Russia and wife, for
merly Princess Elizabeth of Hesse- Darn
stadt; Princess Alex of Hesse; Crown
Prince and Princess of Roumania; hered-
itary Prince and Princess of Sake Mein-
ingen; Prince George of Greece; Prince
Aribert Of Anhalt, and Princes Henry
and Louis of Battenberg.
The distinguished assemblage OF ladies
were in court toilets, sparkling with
Jewels, their bright dresses contrasting
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 solein-
nifty of the surroundings formed mag
niticent spectacle, not rivaled in recent
years in any country.
fntn h1t,n
ribbon of the Order of the Garter, and
upon her head sparkled magnificent
crown of diamonds. Her majesty re-
mained seated throughout, her age and
intirmities preventing her from standing
with the other wedding guests when they
arose during certain portions of the mar
riage service.
The General Superintendent of the Lu-
theran Church, Pastor Mueller, officiated,
assisted by the Court Chaplain of the
Grand Duchy of Hesse and five local
clergymen. After an address had been
delivered, the bride and bridegroom
plighted troths and wedding rings were
exchanged.
The benediction was pronounced, after
which endelssohn's wedding March"
was grandly played and the ceremony
was at an end. The newly married couple
afterward kissed their relatives in turn
and the procession reformed and left the
chapel at o'clock, amid the booming of
cannon and the joyful ringing of church
bells within miles of the ducal chapel.
The whole party, shortly after leaving
the chapel, entered the Riesendal, where
breakfast was served.
An especially hearty cheer was raised
by the crowds on the plaza when the
newly married couple and the Duke and
Duchess of Coburg crossed the square to
the palace.