Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-05-31
IMPOSING
WEDDING
CEREMONY
BerIin'S Welcome TO theBrideS
Of PrusSlan Crown
Princes

Friedrich wilhelm, grandson to tn
great elector of Brandenburg, was tn,
first Prussian crown prince to escor
his bride into the Prussian capital A
theage Of l9-as was then the custom
Friedrich Wilhelm was engaged to Prin
cess Sophie Dorothea, daughter o.
King George I of England. On No
vember II, 17O6, the princess and cour
commenced their journey from Han
over to Berlin. The royal train con
sisted Of 40 coaches, 12 commissary oi
supply wagons, and 65 ordinary coun
try wagons requiring many relays anc
figuring a total of $40 horses. On No
vember 30 thetrain arrived at Konigs
thor, at that time the main entrance
to Berlin. On November 30, 1906, the
marriage ceremony was performed and
followed by celebration of the pub.
lie, that lasted fully three weeks. Fried
rich Wilhelm I, his title as the second
Prussian king, reigned from 1913 to
174O
Twenty years later, Princess Elisa.
beth Charlotte Of Braunschweig- wolfon.
buttel was proclaimed, on June 10, 1888,
at the historic castle Of Salzdahlum,
tho Rapeau - Hroxy. nrgnaa I,.s.I.sah
On June "a, the entire wedding party
arrived at Potsdam, and on the eth at
3 a. m. due to the great heat, the
royal wedding procession, composed Of
go state carriages, moved from Chariot
tenburg to Berlin, passing through one
continuous file Of soldiers, who later
on passedin grand review, before the
royal party. King Frederick the Great,
ruled from 1740 to 1880.
More than go years elapse before
Berlin again welcomes a crown princess
and future queen. On December 20,
1898, Princess Louise of Mecklenburg-
Strelitz, as the bridge Of Crown Prince
Friedrich Wilhelm, nephew Of Frederick
the Great, and Princess Friederike, sis
ter Of Princess Louise and bridge of
the brother Of the crown prince, en-
tered Berlin through the old Potsdamer
Thor and there received at the hands
of tho mayor the address of welcome
and witnesses the military and civil
parade held in honor Of the occasion.
Queen Louise imbedded herself deeply
into the hearts Of her people. Her
fght to Memcl, her pleading with Ma
poleon, her early death shortly after
a disastrous war with Napoleon, were
the nucleus OF the present German en-
pire. Friedrich Wilhelm III ruled from
1897 to 1910.
Thirty years later, Berlin again re-
ceived the fancee of Prussian crown
prince. Friedrich wilhelm III hesi-
tated a long time before giving his
consent to the marriage Of the Crown
Prince Friedrich Wilhelm to Princess
Elisabeth Of Bavaria, due to their re.
ligionus differences, the princess being
a Catholic, and the house Of Hohen-
zollern protestant. No little excitement
did it cause, when during the fall ma
noeuvro of 1923 the king announced
the engagement of the crown prince
and Princess Elisabeth Of Bavaria. On
November 27, 1928, the crown prince
and the future queen Of Prussia enter
ed Berlin. Eighty years ago, in com.
parison with today, Berlin was small
city, The celebration and festivities
partook the form of a huge affair.
Friedrich Wilhelm Nv ruled from 1s4O
to 1860, when his brother Wilhelm
was appointed regent, two years later
he died, and Wilhelm became king
and, in ls7O-7l, the first emperor of
the German empire.
June 4, 1908, is the date set for the
triumphant entry into Berlin of the
Duchess Cecilie Of Meeklenburg-
schwerin, as the bride Of Germany g flu
ture emperor The address Of welcome
at the Brandenburger Thor, the mill
tary and civil parade, the decorations
of the city, and the festivities at the
palace are to be carried out on a grand
scale and will eclipse all previous
events.
The kaiser and kaiserin win present
the duchess witha magnificent court.
train thirteen feet long and six feet
wide, exquisitely embroidered in silver
and pink velvet the work Of twenty
needlewomen for three months. A
curious wedding gift for the royal
couple win come from the potters Of
and viii consist Of 100 articles,