Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/570

 WORLD OF WOMEN 546 Cojitiimed from Mgd 41 -, Part 3 Che continued her journey to the Castle of ^ Rumpenheim, where was a family gather- ing. Rumour had preceded her, and when she arrived, the Hessian cousins came around her to know if it " was true," and " what he was like." "He is as beautiful as Lohengrin," she replied. " I have got him here." And drew a portrait of the Prince of Wales from her pocket. The formal betrothal of Princess Alex- andra to the heir to the British throne took place on September 9th, 1862, at the Palace of Laeken, where Queen Victoria was visiting her uncle, Leopold I., King of the Belgians. The unparalleled welcome given to the bride when she made her entry into London, and the stately and resplendent wedding at Windsor on March loth, 1863, have been described in glowing periods by Dickens and Thackeray, and many another famous writer. The veteran historian of " Our Own Times " was recently (1910) recalling to me his impressions of Queen Alexandra when she made her first progress through London. " Her beauty," said Mr. Justin M'Carth}^ " had been so noisily trumpeted abroad that one's natural instinct was to feel disap- pointed when she came in sight ; but it was impossible to feel disappointment, or anything but admiration at the sight of that bright, fair face, so transparent in the clear- ness of its complexion, so delicate and refined in its outlines, so sweet and gracious in its expression." Queen Alexandra's career as Princess of Wales is unique in history — for though there have been many of the title, she undoubtedly created a new role. When she came to England, Queen Victoria was a deeply sorrowing widow, averse to Society gaieties and State functions, and the beautiful wife of the Heir-Apparent became the virtual leader of Society. Her tact, joyous nature, and natural grace and charm made all things easy to the young bride. Though but a girl, with no experience of English Court life, she held the Drawing Rooms as to the manner born. The first was one of the largest on record. It took four hours for the company to pass the throne. Queen Altxanora, clad in goiocn sheen and sparkling with gems, made her neverno-be-forgotten progress up the venerable Abbey to the Coronation Chair Pho'o. //'. &■ D. Downey