Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/282

 WORLD OF WOMIM 260 QUEENS OF THE WORLD no- 1 -Queen marp or Cnfllana It was during her girlhood days at mately acquainted with King George and his elder brother, the Duke of Clarence. The latter was three years, and King George only two years, her senior, and many were the frolics and games they had together in the nursery, and it was with genuine regret that she left her playmates behind when the Duke and Duchess of Teck decided to close White Lodge and spend some time abroad. At that time Princess May was sixteen years of age. Her birth month, of course, was May. and not April, as previously stated. For two years the family lived at Florence, where the Princess studied Italian, and had the opportunity of culti- vating those artistic faculties which she inherited from her father. Sketching in water-colours was her favourite pastime during her stay at Florence, and many of the charming landscapes surrounding that city found a place in her sketch-book. She also devoted considerable time to historical reading under Madame Bricka, who was appointed her governess. CDC first Drawing Room In 1885, when she was eighteen years of age, Princess May returned with the rest of the family to England, and again found herself in her old home at White Lodge. It was shortly after her return to this country that she was confirmed by the Bishop of St. .lbans. and the following year saw the Princess at her first Drawing Room, which was held by Queen Victoria on March 23rd, 1 886. From that time she frequently appeared at public functions with her mother, and quickly won the affections of the people by her beauty, graciousness. and charm. It was shortly after her parent? had cele- brated their silver wedding in 1891 that Princess May's engagement to the eldest son of the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke of Clarence and Avondale. was announced. It came as no surprise to the nation, for the intimate friendship which had existed between the children of the Duchess of Teck and those of the Prince and Princess of Wales was well known. And then came the tragic sequel, for while the actual arrangements for the wedding were in progress, the ill-fated Prince " Eddy " succumbed to an attack of influenza on January 14th, 1892, after five days' illness. His loss was a terrible blow to the Princess, and after the funeral she went to pay a long visit with her mother to Georgiana Lady Wolverton in the South of France. She did not return for over twelve months, and then Continued from page loS, Pari J White once again she took her place in the Royal circle, and renewed her friendship with Prince George and Princesses Victoria and Maud of Wales. It was an open secret that both the Duke of Clarence and Prince George were in love with Princess May, and as one who knew the family intimately says, " the obligations of Royalty and deference to public sentiment had to be obeyed in the first place ; but there was no question of the mutual attachment which resulted in the announcement to the world, on May 3rd, 1893, of the betrothal of Princess May to Prince George, or, rather, the Duke of York. J{ popular Wcdditifl The story goes that the proposal actually took place during a walk in Richmond ParK: from White Lodge to Sheen House — the residence of the Duke and Duchess of Fife, where Prince George was then staying. Queen Victoria officially stated that she '^gladly gave her consent to the union," and gave the wedding ceremony — which took place in the Chapel Royal, St. James's, on July 6th, 1893 — all the distinction in her power by attending in State. Not since the marriage of King Edward to the " Sea King's daughter " from Denmark had the nation been so keenly interested. Presents poured in from all quarters, and intense enthusiasm was aroused by the happy thought on the part of Princess May to have an all-British wedding. Every item in the trousseau was of British manufacture. The bridal dress was of satin woven in Spitalfields ; tweeds in the trousseau all came from Scotland ; the flannel represented Wales, and the lace came from Ireland. All the bridesmaids were princesses of the English House — the Princess Victoria, the Princess Maud (now Queen of Norway), Princesses Victoria Melita, Alexandra, and Beatrice of Edinburgh ; Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein, Princess Margaret of Connaught (now Crown Princess of Sweden) , Princess Patricia of Connaught, Princess Alice of Battenberg (now Princess Andreas of Greece), and Princess Ena of Battenberg (now Queen of Spain). The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Benson, performed the ceremony, and was assisted by the Bishop of London and the Bishop of Rochester. Among those who attended were the present Tsar, the late King and Queen of Denmark, and Prince and Princess Henry of Prussia. After a wedding breakfast at Buckingham Palace, the Royal couple w^ent to spend their honeymoon at York Cottage, Sandringham.
 * Lodge that Princess May became inti-