Year: 1867

THE MARRIED LIFE OF PRINCE ALBERT AND


THE QUEEN VICTORIA.


The long expected volume, prepared under
the directions OF Queen Victoria aud entitled THE Early
Years OF his Royal Highness the Prince Consor has
just appeared in London. II was prepared under the
superntendence Of the Queen, by LeutGen the Hon C.
Grey; but others which are 20 follow will be edited by Mr.
Theodore Martin. The translation Of the Princes letters
are with few merely verbal corrections by the Princess
Helena.


The possibility Of marriage between the Queen and
the Prince was seems fondy looked forward 10 by the
DowagerDuchess Of Coburg from very early period
and the Prince used 10 relate that when he was a child
Of three years old, his always told him that he
should marry the Queen and thatwhen he first thought
Of marrying at ALL he always thought Of her" As the
children grew up this idea warmly encouraged by
the King of'the Belgans from whom indeed the Queen
first heard OF H. but the idea Of such marriage met with
nue., opposition and the late King William " did
everything III bis power to discourage It. No
fewer than five other maria es had been contemplated
for the young Princess; and the King though he
mentioned the subject to the princess here
especially ANXIOUS TO bring about ali alliance between
her and the late Prince Alexander of the Heherands
brOthef to the present King OF Holland In his anxiety
TO effect this object he did he could, though
Intellectually 10 prevent the Duke of Coburgs visit 10
England in 1899, When he came with his and
spent nearly four weeks at KensngtOn Palace with the
Duchess 6f Kent Queen Adelaide, in later years said
10 the Queen that If she had told the King that was her
own earnest wish t9 msfy hc. cousin and that her own
happiness depended Gh IT, he wond at once have given
up s opposition t6 IT, he very fond Of and always
very kind 70 his niece II then that the Queen and
Prince met for the first time Her Majesty thus records
her impressions of the visit


The Prince at that time much shorter than his
brother already very handsome, but very stout which
he entirely grew out Of afterward He was most amable
nd NJ IN
thing playing ON the piano with the Princess his cousin
drawing; in short constantly occnped He always paid
tho greatest attention all he and the Queen
members well how inently he listened 70 the sermon
preached in 81. Paus, where he and his father and
there the occasion OF the service attended by the
children Of the different charity schools IL is indeed
prince. not yet II years OF age, bestOwinl
such earnest attention on a sermon.


1t probably in the early part of 1893 that the Kine
Of the Begians in writing TO the Queen first mentioned
the idea OF such marriage. Both the Prince and his
father seem to have objected from the first TO the proposal
that few years should elapse before the marriage
should take place, he being then IS years Of age
ready" he said 10 King Leopold submit 10 this delay
il have only certain assurance 70 20 upon But,
after waiting perhaps for three years should find that
the Queen longer desired the marriage would place
me in very ridiculous position and would to a certain
extent ruiz all the prospects OF my future life" Tho
Queen says she entertained any idea OF this and
she 8ferward repeatedly informed the Prince that sf
would have married anyone else She expresses
however great regret that she had after
kept up her correspondence with her as she had
done before il. "Nor can the Queen nOw" she adds


Think without indignation against herself of her wish
10 Keep the Prince waiting for probably three -four
year al the risk Of running all ms prospects for lHe or
untI she might feel inclined TO marryl Aud the Prince


has slnce told her that he In 1889 with the in
ehtOn 0 telling her that II she could not then make IN
he ulhd she must understand that he could now
walt iOr decision, he had done at former period
when tns marriage was first talked about. The only
excuse inc queen can made for herself is in the fact
me sudeh chage frOm the secluded life az KensngtOn
10 the independence OF her pOston ms Ouee repnf
The age o is put al IDEAS Of marriage out OF her mind
~hlc she now most bitterly cepents school for
ngg ana a objections, % cannot WI be imagined than the
out hn5pandto guide and sapport her This the Queen