Year: 1867

proposal of marriage should come first from
her, must necessarily appear painful one
to those who, deriving their ideas on this
subject from the practice of private life,
are wont to look upon it as the privilege
and happiness of q woman to have her
hand sought in marriage instead of having
to offer it herself


The same day the Queen thus wrote to
the King of the Belgians


WINDSOR CASTLE, Oct. Is, 1899


My DEAREST UNCLE This letter will, I am
sure. give yOu pleasure, for you have always
shown and taken so warm an interest in all that
concerns me. Ny mind is quite made mp, and |
told Albert this morning my love. The warm af-
festion he showed me on learning this gave me
great pleasure He seems perfection, and think
that have the prospect of very great happiness
before me. I loye him more than I can say, and
shall Go everything in my power to render this
sacrifice (fOr such in my opinion it is) small
can. He seems to have great tact-a very ne
cessary thing in his position. These last few days
have passed like dream to me, and [ am SO
much bewdered +" It all that know hardly how
to write but do leel very happy. It is abso-
lutely necessary that this determination OF mine
should be known to no one but yourself and to
Uncle Earnest until after the meeting of Parlia-
ment. as it would be considered, otherwise neg
lectful on my part not to have assembled Parlla-
ment at once to inform them of it.


Lord Melbourne, whom have of course con-
suited about the whole affair, quite approves my
choice, and expresses great satisfaction at this
event, which he thinks in every way highly de-
sirabe.


Lord Melbourne has acted in this business as
he has always done towards me, with the greatest
kindness and affection. We also think it better
and Albert quite approves of it, that we should
be married very soon after Parliament meets
about the beginning of February.


Pray, dearest Uncle, forward these two letters
to Uncle Earnest, to whom beg you will enjoiI
strict secrecy, and explain these details which
have not time to dc, and to faithful Stockmar.
think you might tell Louise of it, but none OF hel
family.


wish to keep the dear young gentleman here
till the end Of next month. Earnest's sincere
pleasure gives me great delight. lie does &C
adore dearest Albert. Ever, dear Uncle, your de-
voted niece. V. Il.


What Prince Albert himself felt on the
subject we can learn from his own letters
He thus wrote to his grandmother


The subject which has occupied us so much O


late is at last settled. The Queen sent for mt
alone to her room few days ago and declared tt
me in IL genuine outburst OF love and affection
(Eigpsss UOn HeTzlicike1 uatd Iiebe) that hat
gained her whole heart, and would make her in
tenscly happy (otberglucktich) if [ would mak
her the sacrifice of sharing her life with her; fo
she said she looked on it as a sacrltice the onl,
thing which troubled her was that she did no
think she was worthy Of me. The joyous open
ness of manner in which she told me this quite
enchanted me, and quite carried away by it
She is really most good and amlable, and an
quite sure Heaven has not given me into evl
hands, and that shall be happy together.


Since that moment Victoria does whatever shC
fances I should wish or like, and we talk together
a great deal about our future lfe which she prom
Uses HE to make as happy possible. Oh, the
future does it not bring with it the moment WheI
| shall have to take leave of my dear, dear home
and Of you! I cannot think of that without deel
melancholy taking possession of me. 1t was OF
the 18th of October that Victoria made this de
caration, and have hitherto shrunk from telling
you but how does delay make it better
To his college friend, Prince Lowenstein
he wrote thus


| Yes. 1 am actually bridegroom, and about the
fourth OF February hope to see myself united tt
| her love.


| You know how matters stood when [ last saw
| you here. After that the sky was darkened more
| and more. The Queen declared to my uncle O
Belgium that che wished the affair to be consid
| cred as broken of, and that for four years she
could think of no marriage. I went, therefore
with the quiet but firm resolution to declare, OF
my part that also, tired of the delay, withdrew
entirely from the affair. It not, however, thus
ordained by Providence; for on the second day at
| ter our arrival the most friendly demonstration
were directed towards me, and two days later
was secretly called to private audience, in whcl
the Queen ffered me her hand and heart.


On the 18th January, 1910, the Queer
! opened Parliament in person, and an
nounced her intention to marry Prince AL
bert. On the 10th of February tho mar
Wage took place.