Page:The Queens of England.djvu/582

 528 - THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND. the marriage at Kew on July 13, 1818, of the Duke of Clarence with Princess Adelaide. The Duke and Duchess of Kent were re-married at the same time, the service being performed in the queen's drawing room, where an altar had been erected for the occasion, the Prince Regent giving away both the brides. They took possession of Clarence House, and shortly after proceeded to the Continent, having previously bid a last farewell to the aged Queen Charlotte, who died in the follow- ing November. The ensuing winter and spring were spent with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Hanover. Prince George of Cambridge was born there on the 26th of March, and on the next day the Duchess of Clarence was delivered of a seven months' female child, which lived but a few hours. In conse- quence of a debility of constitution, which displayed itself at this early date she was recommended to travel, and she accord- ingly visited for a month her birthplace, Meiningen, where she was entertained with a series of fetes and public rejoicings. Their royal highnesses thence repaired to the waters of Lieben- stein, and not long after started on their return to England. The fatigue of the journey, however, was too great for the weak state of her health, and she was detained by illness, first at Dunkirk, and afterwards for a period of six weeks at Wal- mer castle. During these serious attacks the duke never quitted her side. The year 1820 beheld the birth and death of the only other living child of the Duchess Adelaide. That year, so eventful as regarded the succession to these realms, by the death of the old King, George the Third, and of the Duke of Kent, ex- tinguished also all hopes of heirs to this third branch of the royal family, and left the little Princess Victoria, after the death of her three uncles, presumptive heiress to the Crown. In June, 1822, the Duke and Duchess of Clarence again pro- ceeded to the Continent, for the benefit of the health of the duchess. They visited most of their relatives in Germany on this occasion, the result being most beneficial to the health of the royal invalid, and they were accompanied on their return to England by the family of Saxe Weimar. In the intervals between their foreign tours they alternated their residence between Clarence House, St. James and Bushey Park, which latter residence had been prepared for their reception soon after their marriage. In 1825 they returned to Meinin-