Omaha daily bee., 1910-05-07


was his meeting with Princess Alexandra OF
Denmark and his courtship. which was
however. interrupted by the death Of his
father. the prince consort
The prince first became attracted to Prin-
cess Alexandra by her photograph. In No
vember, while on a visit to Germany, he
met the princess for the first time.
The formal betrothal took place in 1852.
but it was not until the evening before the
prince became OF legal age that his en-
gagement was formally announced. The
marriage took place in ST. Georges chapel
on March 10. 1863 The young couple began
housekeeping with an income OF over $780,
600 year the House Of Commons being
liberal in its grant.
In July, 1854 the prince. by laying the
foundation stone OF the new west wing OF
| the London hospital. evinced the first signs
of that love Of charitable acts which never
| forsook him. After a visit to Denmark
Germany and Belgium, he paid his first
state visit to ireland in 1866, opening on
May OF that year the international ex-
| hbition of Dublin. on the Sd OF the fol-
lowing month Prince George Of Wales was
born at Marlborough house. In this year
the prince of Wales attended his first
public dinner as president of the Royal
literary fund and inspected the telegraph
eable-then a great novelty-in the Great
Eastern off sheerness. In this year also
the prince suffered the loss of Lord
Palmerston. whose friendship was greatly
esteemed by him.
Visit to India.
=, on March 90 1876. the projected visit of
the prince OF Wales TO india was an
nounced. and, strange to relate, a great
deal of criticism was caused by the state
ment. IL seems odd now to read that a
mass meeting was held in Hyde park to
protest against the tour on the score Of
/ expense. 1t was estimated that the prince
would have to travel with presents, to
| be given to his various hosts in India, to
the value of 100000; his personal expenses
were set down at $500, 600 and the ad-
miralty estimat> the expenses of the
voyage out and home at 100000. His suite
was extensive, for, although he went to
India officially as the heir apparent of
the crown, the native princes and the
people of India regarded him as the direct
representative OF the crown.
Leaving London on October II for Brln-
dist, whence he sailed on the Indian troop
ship Scraps. he landed in Bombay on No
vember Z, 1875 In seventeen weeks the
prince Travelled 5000 miles by land and $500
miles by sea. thus seeing more of the coun-
try than any other Englishman of the time,
and making the acquaintance OF more ra-
jahs than had all the vceroys who had
ever reigned over India" Pouticaily as
we'll as from an economic point OF view the
visit Of his royal highness to India was a
success.
On January %, 1901, the day following
the death Of Queen Victoria. the prince OF
| he IN
palace. His accession to the throne was
marked by noteworthy revival OF cere.
monial forms and pageantry, which neees
sarily lapsed during the long reign Of Vic
toria. After the queens funeral, at which
the new king and his nephew, the emperor
of Germany, were the central figures II
the procession, King Edward remained II
secusion at Windsor until February 4. o.
that day he issued the three messages, on
, to the British people one to the people o
the colonies and the third to the people o
India, In which he pledged himself to striv
= to the utmost of his power to maintain ant
= promote the highest interests of his people
King Edwards first appearance in pub
= lie after his accession to the throne wa
4 on February IA, when he opened the frs
Parliament of his reign in state. Tn
. spectacle had a novelty and a splendo
unprecedented within the memory of tn
. oldest Londoner then living, 1t was
A spectacle that carried London back to tn
a days of the ehiyalry of medievalism.
q Not a feature of ceremony was omitted
A King Edward moved in procession witt
9 his court from St. James to Westminste
and received the homage of the Houses O
Lords and Commons just as King Henri
- VIII did 400 years before.
), There were beefeaters in red and hlac
a medieval garb, life guards in brilliant re
:. cloaks and white plumed helmets. posti
p ions and walking men in scarlet and gold
laced llveries, ushers, silversticks and
,, score of officials In royal insignia
IS Arriving at Parliament house, the kin
,r and queen marched between a living wa
% of peers and peeresses, all clad in the robe
representing their rank, Before the kin
e walked the marquis of Londonderry, carry
II ing the gorgeously- jeweled sword of stat
d and the marquis Of Winchester, hearin
1t the cap OF maintenance. When seated upo
IS his throne the king took the oath and rea
le his first speech to Parliament.
ID all Of w