Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-10
ROMANCES OF CHAPEL ROYAL.
Scene Of Royal Weddings and
Christenings-Chil Choir.

From the London Mail.
The Chapel Royal, st. James Palace.
where Miss Reid. daughter of the Ameri-
can ambassador was married to the Hon.
John Ward, Lord Dudley's brother and
equerry to the king, is little known to the
vast majority of Londoners
Visitors to the metropolis who make
point of seeing all the historic buildings
to which they can obtain access, well
know the transformations position of the
chapel, which is entered from what is
called the Color court of the palace. But
to how many ordinary Londoners who
wend their way through the courts Of the
palace, past the sentries who keep watch
and ward beneath the Henry VIII gate
way, as a near cut from Pail Mall to
Belgravia, does the large window to the
right of the portal mean more than
mere window?
and princes have been married and have
worshiped for hundreds of years and
many babies of high degree have been
baptized. 1t was in that chapel that King
Charles / attended service before walking
through the park to the headsman's block
in Whitehall
1t is a mark of great honor to receive
permission from the king TO be welded
peculiar and "extraparochial' places of
worship in the realm. and not often is the
little edifice used for the celebration of
the nuptials of a subject. Queen Victoria
and Prince Albert were married in the
Chapel Royal, ST. James, and their
daughter. the princess royal, was welded
there to the Crown Prince of Prussia. aft
erward the Emperor Frederick The pres
ent Prince and Pincess of Wales were also
married within the small precincts. In
former reigns Prince George of Denmark
and the Princess Anne (afterward queen),
Frederick Prince of Wales and the daugh-
ter of the Duke of Coburg and George ~
and Queen Caroline were united there.
OF recent years several infants of aris-
tocratic lineage have been baptized in the
Chapel Royal. and among the most recent
were the twin sons of Lord and Lady
Dudley, the brother and slster-in-laW OF
the bridegroom of today. to whom the
king and the Prince of Wales stood
sponsor.
1t is commonly reported in descriptions
OF the Chapel Royal that it is uninter-
beauty, save for the Holbeln ceiling. with
its exquisitely colored paneling, among
which short inscription and the date
1910. with the name Of Henry VIII. are
discernible. Small 1t is-it measures
only sixty-two feet long and seats only
about 200 persons-but SO we'll proper
toned, despite its galleries, that the ulti-
mate impression conveyed is that Of
stateliest dignity. The royal gallery faces
the altar: at one side is the organ gallery.
and there are galleries for peers and
peeresses. members of parliament and
other privileged persons.
On the floor of the chapel there are old
fashioned pews, and the quaintest are
those reserved as seats of honor at the
sides of the altar. Even for morning
service the chapel very frequently has to
be lighted throughout. and when from
each sconce a candle CLEANS the effect is
very beautiful. More so is it when to
the candles flowers are added in glorious
profusion. For a royal wedding the pews
are removed and low seats take their
place. This was done for the marriage
Of the Prince and Princess of Wales.
When Queen Victoria was married so
elaborate were the preparations necessa-
ry that the sum Of e1O,OOO was spent upon
them,