Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-02-24
BE1ROTHAL OF ALFONSO
Announcement Made Of the APP
preaching Marriage.
THE KING IS REALLY IN LOVE
Captured by the Personality Of Prin-
cess Ena- Rejoicing IN Spain
and England over Wedding.

Madrid, Feb 20. Formal annonce-
ment was made today of tile bethrotal
of King Alfonso and Princess .Ena of
BattenberR. The wedding, as now
planned, will take place the first weak
in June.
AS Spanish etiquette demands that
an exch ange of signatures be made
before the bride enters the kingdom
of her future husband, a SPECIAL am
basador will visit Princess Ena to
obtain her signature to the marriage
contract and its ratification bv King
Edward. This will be done shortly
before the Princess makes her state
entry into Spain by way of Irun.
The Princess will stay with her
family either at the Prado or at the
Palace of Aranjuez, but probably at
the Prado, and special station will
be made on the railway to avoid a
long drive from Madrid, hitherto
necessary to get to the palace. her
stay at the Prado is fixed by precedent
at six DAYS, during which she will re.
ceive official visits from all author.
tiles, the officers of the Kings house
hold the Cortes and the Senate. Two
days before the marriage the cere.
mony of "Toma de Dichos, the sol
emn reading of the marriage con-
tract, will be performed
Throuhgout her stay at the Prado,
the princess's trousseau will BIZ
shown to the public, probably in the
senate house, and her jewels, which
will also be shown, will be guarded
by the Kings halberdiers. The Prin-
cess will not put on her wedding
gown until she arrives at the Senate
House, after making the journey
from the Prado in complete incog
nito The incognito is required by
be most ancient customs
The Princess must leave the Prado
in an ordinary carriage which does
not betray her rank, ana without
escort or outriders. Some distance
from the palace she will be met by
the King ON horseback, attended by
two aides de camp. He will salute
the Princess and her mother on meet
ing them, and will gallop beside the
carriage as far as the gates of Mad
rid. There he will take leave of his
fiancee until meeting her in the
church
Madrid-Spain Is rejoicing at the
announcement that King Alfonso will
wed Princess Ena Of Battenberg in
April. The boy kings" subjects and
ministers have long wished to see him
married, but the youthful, lively and
somewhat eccentric monarch has
shown . great deal of reluctance to
assume the bonds of matrimony, and
when he did turn his attention to the
task OF finding a queen for Spain he
proved very difficult to please.
Processes of various royal houses
Pf Europe have been reported as hav-
ng won the young kings heart, but
he reports proved not well-founded
During his recent visit in England
King Alfonso displayed great admira-
lon for Princess Beatrice, King Ed
Yards niece, and it was heralded far
nd wide that the pretty English
rincess would become queen OF Spain
his proved another error, for Alfonso
burned TO Spain, still heart-whole
pd fancy free
When he met Princess Ena of Bat
|nberg, however, although she is a
Fotestant, the young monarch capitu-
ted at once 10 her charms. He paid
dent court 10 her and won her con-
mt 10 share his throne
The personal cnarm and beauty OF
incess Ena have already made hel