The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-14
%T HE twelve-month which ends with
the 1st of next June, should sure
Il IL w, lourn infn hiStnrv 40 the

the 1st of next June, should sure
- ly 90 down into history as the
year of imperial and royal weddings.
It was on the 9Th Of last June that
Crown Prince Frederic William and the
Grand Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenberg-
Schwerin were married. On Oct. II oc-
cured the wedding of Duke Karl Ed
ward of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and
the Princess Victoria Adelheid of Hol-
stein Gluecksburg. Next month this
dukes chum, the second son of the
kaiser, Prince Eitel Frederick, is to
meet Duchess Sophie Charlotte of Old
enburg at the altar; while the Span
ish court is soon to experience two we'd
dings. King Alfonso XIII is to take as
queen the Princess Victoria Eugene
Julia Ena Of Battenberg, niece Of King
Edward VII; and the kings only living
sister, the Infanta Maria Theresa, is to
become the bride Of Prince Ferdinand
Of Bavaria, her cousin.
Not for many years have the reigning
families Of Europe been SO busy wooing
and wedding-nor the relatives of the
interested parties so frequently called
on to put their hands in their respec-
tive pockets for suitable wedding gifts.
The wedding Of the Infanta Maria
. ,1u0ISSd dAl buo ASpAOT VI Cudt oSOu
character, Prince Regent Luitpold of
Bavaria, was set some time ago for
Jan. 90. Since then Alfonso has
been fortunate enough to gain the love
Of the Princess Ena, and late reports
have it that at the request of the king,
his sisters wedding will be postponed
to take place simultaneously, with his
double royal wedding, if you please,
and as such something Of a novelty even
TO jaded royalty. ~
\ j. j.
But whether there is double wed.
ding or no, the king, in all likelihood,
will be married in Atocha church, where
his father was married twice and where
Spanish royalty has been wont to wed
for generations. ~...-..... e
The church contains the image Of the
ehird most holy saint in all Spain-that
Of the Virgin of Atocha This virgin
has been the especial protectress of the
royal family since the day, in 1913,
when she became national saint. When
In Madrid, Alfonso and his court gather
round the high altar, where the image
rests, every Saturday afternoon for
divine service. Since time immemorial
the royal bride has given her wedding
dress to the Virgin, and when Queen
Isabella was stabbed on her way to the
shine the dress that she wore went to
swell the now quite extensive wardrobe
Of the Virgin. Ir =
i. !. !.
In all major respects, the wedding
ceremony will be an exact duplicate of
that which was witnessed by the court
the grandees, the bar, the judges, mem
bers Of both houses, provincial councils
and the foreign representatives when
Alfonso XII was first married.
Following "a short mass, conducted by
the large body Of clergy within the
railing, the king and the Princess Mer
cedes moved to their seats on the right
of the altar, the king taking his place
a few minutes ahead Of the princess
The bride wore white veil and dress
trimmed with Alencon lace and orang
blossoms. On her head was diaden
of pearls and diamonds, given to he
and the princess Of Asturias stood clos
on her left.
With the king and the princess a
the altar, the titular King Francisc
and the princess of Austrias stood clos
behind them as sponsors. Then the Pa
triarch Of the Indies went thru the ce1