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Leader (1850-1860), 30th January 1858, Edition 2 of 2, Page 3

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      Ko. 4,10, January 30, 1858.] T H E !L E ...

      Ko . 4 , 10 , January 30 , 1858 . ] T H E ! L E A T > E B . 89

      The Marriage Of * The Princess Royal. —-...

      THE MARRIAGE OF * THE PRINCESS ROYAL . — - ?—The union of the representatives of two nations took p lace on Monday at St . James ' s Palace , amidst circiimstances of great splendour for the few , and of shabby dulness for the many . A fog ushered in the morning ; and the loyal began to tremble for the Queen ' s weather . But it was not long before the obscurity cleared off , and a bright , mild day , with a clear sky and a wind from the south , shed cheerful influences on bride and bridegroom , on royal guests and courtly satellites , on the golden and many-hued splendours of the palace with its jubilant throngs , and on the West-end streets with their throngs of

      much-forg iving , little-cared-for , ' common people . Along the cliief lines , the somewhat tawdry flags , which have done duty on so many recent occasions , flirted languidly with the still air ; and conspicuous among them hung the gloomy ensign of Prussia , with its black double eagle on a white ground , side by side with the warm aud flushing standard of England . Some wreaths and festoons also drooped from wall and parapet ; the dusky skeletons of what ¦ were to be illuminations showed grimly from the house-fronts ; and transparencies , waiting to be made vital by the kindling soul of light within them , here and there save promise of what the darkness would bring forth . But , though these features of the da y were not of a specially exhilirating

      character , the good-natured ' many-headed—nowhere more good-natured than in England—walked merrily to and fro , enjoying the fine weather , and the unusual holiday , and the infectious sense of something gallant and gorgeous that was being done somewhere ( it might have been in the Bermuda Islands for anything they saw of it ) , and the sheer feeling of good will to the fair , sweet face that was then going , in all the tenderness of its youth , in all the freshness of its unblunted hopes , to enter the strange , new circle of affectionate wedlock . The greater number of shops kept open ; but some were closed , and all were empty , and the streets were alive with holiday faces , and the bells talked from the steeples in their liveliest accents .

      Such were the outside features of the occasion . We must now , by means of the favoured daily press , enter the Palace , and bring before the eyes of the reader the ceremonial itself , in all its processional magnificence , its heraldic pomp , aud its warmth of feminine beauty—the whole glorified by that inexpressible union of exaltation and pathos , of pride and humility , which music can alone effect : — THE ROYAL CLOSKT , & C , AT ST . JAMES ' S . " Upon arriving at St . James's , " says the Times , " the Royal party alighted under a covered way erected at the private entrance from the garden . Hero the floral and other decorations were marked by exquisite taste . The interior of the pavilion was lined with scarlet and purple cloth , and the drapery was arranged in elegant

      folds around the opening at either end . The slender pillars which supported the roof were connected by garlands formed of holly , golden furze , and laurustinus in flower , with pendants composed of tondrila of ivy , A knot with streamers of the the colours of England and Prussia united the garlands over each column . The principal entrance to the Palace was sot in a frame of leaves , flowers , and berries , combined in a highly pleasing manner , and was surmounted by an arch , consisting of palm branches and other exotic plants . Her Majesty was received by the great officers of State , and conducted to the Royal Closet . The banister of the narrow staircase by which the Queen ascended was tastefully decorated with creeping plants , interwoven with roses and caniclias , and much had been done by varnishing and gilding , to deprive this most inconvenient flight

      of stairs of its ordinary mean appouranco . A change , almost magical in its effect , has been made in the Royal Closet . The walla wore covered with rich embossments in white and gold , the ceiling was chastely painted and gilded in the samo colours , while nothing could exceed tho richness ami elegance of the furniture . From the Royal Closet tho Princess Royal , accompanied by Prince Albert aud the King of tho Belgians , was conducted to the Retiring Room , a remarkably handsome apartment , exquisitely decorated for the occasion . Her Majesty , however , passed at once into tho Robing Room , one of tho noblost suloona in tho Pulauo , litted with tho rich and quaint but somewhat sombre furniture of tho timo of Queen Anno . Her Majesty ' s procession was formed in tho Tlirono Room , whore an olegant table , covered with crlra ¥ 6 n ^ volvoT ^ lotir ~ f 6 m ^

      tOBSols , had boon placed for tho diguing of tho marriage xoglstor . Tho windows wore lUlod with flowers , and tho mantelpiece bore a miniature parterre , tho edges of tho whitu mar bio being fringed with delicate twining plants . No attempt sooinod to huvo been in ado , except by the introduction of llowors , to improvo tho Stato apartments . A broad strip of crimaou carpet hud boon laid down the centre of tho rooms through which tho bridal prouosttlona ¦ wo re to pasa j ,. but littlo more had boon donu in tho way of upholstery . "

      TUB CHAPEL ROYAI * . " Among all the alterations , " says the * same journal , " which the Chapel Royal has undergone , those which have been made for this ceremonial are by no means among the least . Holbein himself would not have known his' work among yesterday ' s ^ improvements , and that they are great improvements may be judged from the fact that the interior of the building looked not only rich but almost spacious , and as if it really was meant to accommodate a number of visitors . The old high pews had been entirely swept away , and a sufficiently broad path left up the centre of the building from the doorway to the altar . On either side of this , rising one above the other , are four rows of seats , covered with crimson and bordered with gold lace . These accommodate one hundred , and fifty persons , the gentlemen being allowed a space of twenty inches , and the Iadie 3 no more than two

      feet . The latter indulgence , however , as it turned out , was a most feeble and inadequate concession to the fashions of the day , and great was the struggling and grievous the injury to robes of State before the ladies could reduce themselves to the required standard . Above these seats and along the walls at each side , at about eight feet from the ground , two galleries have been erected , which are intended to be temporary , but which have been so massively constructed , so richly adorned , and effect-such a great improvement in the interior , that it is to be hoped they will be suffered to remain . The cornice of the galleries is ornamented with a handsome scroll-work of carved oak , in keeping with , the rest of the chapel ; light blue and gold columns support them in the front , and from the spandrils of the arches spring gold headings , marking the outlines of the whole in the most tasteful manner . Over each , column is a shield

      wtth the Royal cypher surmounted with the crown , and a light handsome railing of blue and gold closes the whole in front . These galleries held on Monday , when full , rather less than one hundred and fifty peers and peeresses , making the total nnmber of seated visitors who could witness the ceremony from all parts of the chapel not quite three hundred . There were other places than these , however , in which many peers and peeresses -were placed , but angels' visits are frequent compared with the number of glimpses which they could have had of what was passing . We presume , however , the privilege of Being under the same roof when the ceremonial took place was considered all-sufficient . The seats provided for the representatives of the public were really excellent and well placed , affording ample accommodation for all

      the journalists present . They were on the basement floor , on the left-hand side , and corresponded with the seats occupied by most of her Majesty ' s Ministers on the right of the chapeL According to a popular Court fiction , however , no reporters were supposed to be present . " At the upper end of the Chapel , round the haut-pas and altar , nil the walls had been hung with , the richest crimson silk velvet with a deep and massive bullion fringe . The effect of this was rather too heavy , and in the shadows and corners of the sacred building it seemed so dark in tone as to have almost the appearance of black drapery . But for the extra window which has been added to that end of the chapel , this would have been a most serious error . The altar is draped in the same style , and a beautiful semicircular communion

      rail runs round the whole . The communion table is heightened to bear the gold plate , which shows gorgeously upon tho crimson velvet . Tho plate here is most massive , though not so antique as is generally supposed , the Saints of tho Commonwealth having manifested a most carnal weakness for the beautiful service which was given to tho church by Charles I . One noble flagon of thLs sot , however , still remains , though the history of its hairbreadth , escapes from the grasp of the Fifth Monarchy men would almost fill a volume . Tho rest of tho service , including the noble and lofty candelabra and tho largo salver of tho last supper , is mostly of the timo of Anne and the first George . It includes a massive gold service of Anne ' a reign—tho only

      one of tho kind in the possession of the Crown . Round the altar on tlie right and left , forty or fifty magnificent settees in crimson and gold wero carefully arranged . Tho low chnir of State on tho left , with five littlo stools , two at one aide and three at tho other , showed at once where her Majesty would sit , surrounded by her Royal children . Her Majesty ' s pew , over tho entrance , was richly drossod and decorated anew for the accommodation of the Corps Diplomatique , all tho chief members of whloh were , of course , to bo prosont on such an occasion . Tho old rocosa of tho organ-loft and that facing it have boon much enlarged—tho former for tho accommodation of tho mombora of the choir , tho latter for her Majesty's private band . " this rnocussiONH . Wo now borrow from tho excellently written acss ^ ti ^^ MsMiJM ^ Bj ^^ JsyM ^ : ^ ^ - ^ . ..,. "A dim atmosphoro , as if from clouds of inconso , porvadod everything ; the rarest perfumes floated on tho air , and ever and anon tlio solomn stillness of expectation was interrupted by soino now arrival , perhaps some groat figure In futuro picturoa , but now paying homage in hia or lior apparel to tho gonoral splendour , und tending by their presence to add otto more itani to tho dreamlike miitfiiiflceitco of tho scono . Thoro i » a hush , a stillness that may bo heard ; then tho distant boom of artillery ; then tho faint strain of dintaut trumpets , wliiul ) , gradually swells into tho martial

      fulness which no other instrument can imitate , and at last the first great incident of the day ' s pageant is made manifest to the straining eye 3 of the spectators in the Cliapel Royal . A lady of most regal bearing but pale and slender , is seen at the threshold , and , attended by aprincely train , she walks majestically up the aisle . It is the Princesa Royal of Prussia , the mother of the j-oung son-in-law of England , and never was royal personage more emphatically distinguished by a noble aud queenly presence . The great ladies who crowd the reserved benches are

      almost audible in their commendations , and a general obeisance is cheerfully accorded to the impressive and dignified bow of the august visitor . In a moment her Royal Highness is seen seated on her tabaret of state on the hcait-pas , surrounded by some young officers of the brilliant Prussian body guard , and the coloured light from the window overhead gives a rich distinctness to the figure of the sitting Princess . This was the first great incident of the day , and derived additional interest from being the known harbinger , of the successive processions into which the Master of the Ceremonies had

      divided the marriage ceremonial . Music now added its never-failing charm . The trumpets again sounded , but this time with a more prolonged note , swelling gradually into a solemn march of triumph as the Queen ' s procession approached the entrance . In came the heralds , ranging themselves quickly right and lef t ; then in quick succession the officers of state , in their splendid blue and gold uniforms , the only exception being the Earl Marshal , who wore his roj'al scarlet with much grave dignity . The entrance of the Princess Maiy of Cambridge made a profound impression , and very general indeed were the expressions of praise at her Royal Highness ' s graceful and dignified carriage as she walked slowly up the aisle . Her salutations were affectionately as well as respectfully returned , and many a wish was

      expressed that soon she might be the centre figure m a pageant similar to the present . Then came the Commander-in-Chief , the very ideal of a soldier , with his fine countenance , his martial beard , and careless manly bearing-. Now the eye becomes dazzled with stars , and gold , and embroidery . A venerable lady approaches , her countenance full of mild dignity , but , it is a pity to be obliged to add , bearing the expression of broken health and exhaustion . It is the Queen ' 3 mother , the Duche 38 of Kent ; and we have too much for which to be grate ^ ful to that illustrious lady to allow her to pass without a special recognition . The trumpets still sustain their subdued march , the peculiar music producing an effect which every one mentions with a sort of involuntary admiration , but which no one can exactly describe , and presently another lady of the Royal House approaches . The great ladies recognize the Duchess of Cambridge ; and again there is a general rising and rustling of silks , a general exchange of salutations , graceful and

      condescending on the one side , graceful and respectful , and obviously affectiona t e , on the other . Still the martial strains swell louder and louder ; the Lord Chamberlain and Vice-Chambevlain approach , and presently tho Prime Minister is seen manfully grasping the huge sword of state , and looking as if only with his life would he yield up this muchcoveted badge of the highest office in the nation . Lord Palmerston looked well , but seemed a littlo feeble ; but his was too familiar a face to excite much curiosity . A general smile of welcome told of the entrance of the heir apparent and hi 3 next brother ; and then came her Majesty , leading her two younger sons by tho hand . The living typo of tho greatest earthly power walked slowly up the aisle with her wonted dignity ; and her countenance wore that serious , almost sad , expression that belit 3 a mother when about to part , perhaps for ever , with her first-born child . The royal head is adorned with a castellated crown that blazes with

      diamonds , and the royal train sweeps long behind , or sways to and fro in tho heedloaa yonng hands of the two pages of honour . Then come tho three princesses , and the interest in tho great procession has a pauso , -while every eyo watches for tho entrance of the bridegroom . Now is heard more solomn and almost unearthly music , and Prince Frederick William of Prussia walks , almost quickly , up tho aisle , tho tonsion of tho face indicating high mental excitement , and a flickering blush showing tho einbarrasBmont of youth at boing thus tho observed of all observers . There is ono feature left , one figure in the picture still to bo painted , last and fairest of all , and in tho entrance of which the interest of this ovontful day may bo fairly said to culminate . ' Last but not least in lovo , ' tho figure of the young Princess Royal is seen approaching , her Royal Highness followed by her bovy of

      fair and youthful bridesmaids ; and a shock , almost ol surprise , is felt at her jnvonllo , almost ohildliko , appeatv anco . Smaller of stature than her mother , tho young Princess boars strongly tho physiognomy of tho royal JhnUtowJisJUGM ^^ tho figure plump , but agilo and euscoptiblo of much grace and dignity of carriage . Thoro in confusion , thero is childlike wonder , thoro is an oppression almost of awo on that young face , as hor Royal Hlglinoiw glances timidly round and hositutiiigly returns tho curtseys which coma us it wuro in uhowora from ovory aide . But sho soon becomes reassured \ hor « top becomes firm , sho pussoa on , and wo liavo timo for a glance at tho bridesmaids , who , ouoh bearing a bouquet almost an blooming as herBolf , follow up , and at tho altar form a flornl Bomicirolo round tho young I ' rinooss . "

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 30, 1858, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_30011858/page/3/