Year: 1867




18th of October the Queen personally Of
fered her heart and hand to the Prince at
private interview, which is thus describ-
ed:


son that day, the 18th, the Prince had
been out hunting early with his brother,
but returned at twelve, and halt an hour
afterward obeyed the Queens summons
to her room, where he found her alone.
After few minutes conversation, on other
subjects the Queen told him why she had
sent for him; and we can well understand
any little hesitation and delcacy she may
have felt in doing so /; for the Queens po-
stion, making it imperative that any pro-


posal 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 a woman TO have her


hand sought in marriage, instead Of having


TO offer it herself"


On the same day the Queen announced


her intention to the King of Belgians, by


letter:


WINDSOR CASTLE, Oct. Is, 1889.


My Dearest Uncle This letter will, /


am sure, give you great pleasure, for you


have always shown and taken so warm an


interest in all that concerns me. My mind


is quite made up, and told Albert this


showed me on learning this gave me great


pleasure. lie seems perfection, and !


think that | have ihe prospect of very


great happiness before me. / love him
more than / can say, and shall do every


thing in my power TO render this sacrifice


for such in my opinion it is-as small as


can. He seems to have great tact, a


very necessary thing in his position.


These last few days have passed ike a


dream to me, and i am SO much bewilder-


ed by it that hardly know how to write


but ! do feel very happy. 1t absolutely
necessary that this determination of mine
should be known TO no one but yourself
and Uncle Ernest until after the meeting
: of Parliament as it would be considered
/, otherwise neglectful Oh my part not IL
have assembled Parliament at once to in
form them of it.


wish TO keep the dear young gentle
/ at I.
| E.rnAs.,. ~:----- i----- s'---.-- -
delight. lie does so adore dearest Albert
Ever, dearest uncle, your devoted niece,
f V.R"
The King replied that he had been con-
vinced for years that the union would be
, The best Victoria could form, and a happy
one for both. He also dropped this piece
/ of advice:


$ You say most amiably that you con.


slider it sacrifice on the part of Albert
r This is true in many points, because hi:
r position will be difficult one; but much
f may say all, will depend upon your af
0 fiction for him. If you love him and arr
e kind TO him he will easily bear the bother
n of his position, and there is a steadiness
: and at the same time a cheerfulness, in hi
: character which will facilitate this
r Prince Albert's feelings on the subjec
e are revealed in letter to his grandmother
d the Duchess of Gotha, to whom he wrot
IS as follows:


i " The subject which has occupied US S
A much of late is at last settled. The Quee
n sent for me alone TO her room few day
n ago, and declared to me in genuine ou
; burst cf love and affection, that | ha
q gained her whole heart, and would max
Is her intensely happy if l would make he
N the sacrifice OF sharing her life with he
d for she said she looked on it asa sacrifice
r. the only thing which troubled her was ths
,r she did not think she was worthy of m
r The joyous openness of manner in wlic
sr she told me this quite enchanted me, and
lie was quite carried away by it. She


really most good and amiable, and Al
ut quite sure Heaven has not given me I'M
TO evil hands, and that we shall be happy +
&c gether.


lis Since that moment Victoria does wha
n ever she fancies l should wish or like, ar
ce we talk together great deal about OF
tn future life, which she promises me to NAL
he as happy as possible"


he The marriage of the royal lovers too
,w place on the 10th of April 1910. III
Queens tender affection for her husban
rst and the emotions awakened by the ever
en- are pathetically expressed by an entry
he her journal on the departure of his fami
at after the marriage:
DO " He said to me, that l had never kno,
of father, and could not therefore feel wi
of he did. His children had been very Ia
re- py. Ernest (he hereditary prince, W


remained some time in England after
,ne brothers marriage), he said, was now I