THE FIRST LADY OF THE REALM.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11347, 9 August 1902, Page 13

THE FIRST LADY OF THE REALM.

SOME INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF THE QUEEN.

H.R.H. Alexandra Caroline Marie Charlotte Louise Julia, Queen Consort of England," is the eldest daughter of King Christian of Denmark, and was born at Copenhagen December Ist, 1844. Among living rulers no illu_triot_ lady has so captivated the hearts and imaginations of the people as Queen Alexandra. The Queen early learned the. lesson tbat she could not have everything she wanted. Her soldier father and wise, tactful mother taught their children obedience; albeit, the little Alex, was vain, for even the most judicious parents could not conceal from her quick discernment that she was the beauty of the family. Her large blue eyes, *>f the deep Scandinavian blue, and lovely skin caused many a strr»lf.er to turn and look as she walked with her nurse. As a child, the Queen's surroundings were exceedingly simple. "Mamma," said the little Princess one day, "why may not Haomar and I wear muslin dresses?" "Because," replied her mother, "your father is not a rich man, and muslin dresses cost so much to be got up." There were not many servants at the Gule Palais, at Copenhagen, where the Queen's early life was spent, and the young princesses were required to dust their own rooms and to make themselves useful at meal times. A gentleman who was invited one day to partake of the informal family luncheon at the Palace recalls tnat the butter dish chanced to need replenishing, and the Princess Louis© (of Denmark), instead of summoning a servant, turned to her eldest daughter and said, "Alexandra, will you fetch some more butter?" and the future Queen of England departed on the homely errand to the larder.

One of the prettiest anecdotes related is that telling how the King first saw a portrait of his future wife. He was whiling away a summer's afternoon with some friends of his own age, one of whom had recently become engaged to be married, and this gentleman drew from his pocket a portrait, which his friends at first imagined to be his fiancee. It was a picture of a young girl simply dressed in a white frock, a band of black velvet Tound her fair throat, and her hair smoothed back from the brows, revealing a face of great loveliness. The Prince, as he then was, desired to know who the beautiful ingenue might be, and received for answer, "The, daughter of Prince Christian of Denmark."

It was presently arranged that the young Prince and Princess should be brought together with a view to marriage, should the meeting result in a mutual attachment. The meeting—or meetings, for there were two—took place at Sperier and Heidelberg, and were eminently satisfactory. Some little time after his father's death, the Prince paid a visit to the Danish RoyaE Family, and on the 9th September, 1862, his engagement was formally announced by the Teigning head of the family, Frederick VET. In England no official announcement appears to have been made until the news was gazetted on November 4tih. The English people—always cordial believers in love matches, received tbe news with unqualified satisfaction. The Danish people were delighted, and their joy was expressed in a gift of 100,000 kroner, known as the "People's Dowry," while innumerable presents of al_ sorts were poured in upon the Princess from all parts of the country, and from all classes of the community. At the wish of the Princess. 3000 thalers were distributed among six poor Danish brides during her first year as a wife. The nation had learned to love the Princess before ever she had set foot on British shores, and when she came to be married she received such a reception as should have left her in no doubt as to her place in the affections of the people. A public reception, remarkable for its splendour and enthusiasm, was accorded her. S"™ met at Gravesend by the Prince °l '\ aJes ' ai2d received by the Lords of the Admiralty and the dignitaries of the town. An address presented on the occasion expressed the delight of the Mayor, aldermen, and burgesses of the borough on the honour conferred on the town by selecting it as that part of her adopted country which she had chosen first to honour with her presence. The journey by rail to the metropolis was performed in a leisurely manner, to afford some satisfaction to the eager crowds which gathered at every station along the line. Probably the most notable feature of the welcome was the decoration of London bridge, -which was taken in hand and completed at great expense by the Corporation. Along the entire route the people were packed in such masses as excited wonder that even so gigantic a population as London could furnish the spectacle. Not a building could be descried from which did not wave some flag, floral device, or other token of welcome; the whole route, too, bering overarched with a canopy of banners, garlands, and streamers. The police arrangement. in the city were unfortunately not of tbe most perfect description for permitting the different deputations to join the procession, and at the Mansion House and Temple Bar the lines of spectators were for hours placed in great jeopardy. From Paddington the Prince and Princess continued their journey to Slough, the welcome at the close of the Royal progress being as cordial and universal as that which greeted them oa their entry into the metropolis. The marriage was solemnised on March 10th, 1865, with great pomp in St. George's Chapel, Windsor, it being the first Royal wedding celebrated their since that of Henry I. Queen Victoria was present in mourning a. a spectator, seated in the Royal closet, above and on the north side of the chancel. Regarded as a work of art, the ceremony was described by spectators as perfect! The incomparable Jenny Lind was a member of the choir for the occasion. Everything had been foreseen, and everything provided for. From the first to the last, one event followed another with a certain ease of action and unity of design which left nothing to be desired. At the words "I, Albert Edward, take thee, Alexandra,' etc., the Prince repeated word for word after the Primate, though now and again, when it was the turn of the young bride she could be heard to answer almost inaudibly. The concluding prayer was solemnly repeated, and Prince and Princess rose* while the Primate joined their hands and uttered the final words—-Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.' Soon after, the guns in the Long Walk were heard booming forth, and the steeples throughout the town seemed to fill the air with sound. Raising his voice, the Primate solemnly pronounced the benediction, during which the Queen, now deeply affected, was observed to kneel and bury he. face in her handkerchief. The bride and j bridegroom then joined hands, and, turn- j ing to the congregation, bowed low to the I Queen, who returned the salvation with a gesture of blessing. In a letter written by Dr. Norman Aiadeod, one of the spectators of the ceremony, he records how deeply affected were all the members of the Royal Family. "Two things struck mc much. One was the whole of the Royal Princesses, weeping, though concealing their tears with their bouquets. The other wa_ the Queen's expression as she raised her eves to heaven while her husband's Chorale was being sung. She seemed to be with him alone before the throne of God."

Then her Majesty quitted her seal, and to strains of inspiring music the whole pageant went pouring out of the choir m a gorgeous stream or flood of colours of waving plumes aad flaming jewels." After a short interview with her Majesty, at tbe Castle, the Prinoe and Princess tet oat for the honepnoon lor o«feor_»,

The festivities attendant upoy the marriage were of the most universal and elaborate description, .bridal banquets were held in every town of note in t_e kingdom; and in the evening the great cities presented a spectacle in the wav of illumination never surpassed for magnificence. In all the principal streets of London tbe ilhuniaation was very general, and especially brilliant in those through which the Royal pageant a day or two before had passed. The banners used on that occasion still floated from the houses in the line of route, while the triumphal arches and all the rest of the varied ornamentation continued to give an additional interest to the spectacle. The people turned out to witness it in incredible numbers, and roamed about till an advanced hour, the greater number being on foot. The shops and warehouses were generally closed, and the day observed as a holiday. Gratuitous performances were given at all the theatres in the evening. It is touohingly described how the Queen bore the terrible ordeal of the death of the Duke of Clarence, and how, retiring from public and social life, she passed most of her time at Sandringham, where her pathetic figure was often seen riding on her pony over the quiet moors in pensive melancholy, or walking about the lanes. The only thing which seemed to arouse her interest was some case of sorrow or bereavement which she could alleviate. Of the various incidents of this period, that of the old carrier woman is most touching.

As the Princess was walking one morning, she met an old woman toiling along the road to Wolferton Station with a heavy load of packages on her back. "Why are you carrying these things yourself? It is too much for you," said the Princess.

"But it cannot be helped ma'am," was the tearful reply. "My poor boy Jack used to carry them for mc, and I must do it myself or starve."

'After speaking some kindly words of sympafhv, the Princess passed on. A few days later, a trim little donkey cart was sent to the old woman's cottage by the rcval lady, who, too, had lost a son, and found solace in ministering to the necessities of one similarly bereft. In an article in a recent magazine, Miss Spencer Warren gives the outside world some idea of,, the Queen's home life at Sandringham when Princess of Wales : — "Breakfast was usually served at Sandringham at nine o'clock, and after that the Royal hostess would often send for one or two of the lady guests to chat with her in the boudoir, or possibly would invite them all to accompany her on her morning visit to the kennels, the aviary, the poultry pens, or, maybe, her own stables. In the latter would be found, amongst others a beautiful team of Hungarian ponies, for her Majesty is a skilful whip, driving four-in-hand or tandem; she is also a graceful rider, although not seen so much on horseback during the last few years. Sundry lumps of sugar found their way from the pockets of the Princess to the horses' mouths ; indeed, they always turned their pretty heads for it, well-knowing that they would not 'be disappointed. "Visitors who stayed l over the Sunday would accompany the Royal Family to the little church within the Park. There is a narrow footpath from the house, which leads directly to the lych gate, and, as a general rule, the whole of the party walked that way to church, only very occasionally carriages being ordered out to convey the Princess round the carriage drive. Sunday is a day of rest at Sandringham, and no unnecessary work of any description is ever allowed. Only in very exceptional circumstances dons a train run into the Royal station, and attendance at church is rigorously punctual every Sunday morning. Dinner was at 7.30. The handsome apartment in which the dinner was served has some very beautiful" Spanish tapestry on its walls, a magnificent collection of plate on the buffets, and always flowers in abundance. Her Majesty Queen Alexandra, ns is well known, is a great lover of flowers, and her favourites are lilies of the valley. It is scarcely necessary to say that as host and hostess the Prince and Princess of Wales were extremely affable with iheir guests, all of whom were very goon placed at their ease, and the conversation round their oval table was bright and animated. "Her Majesty is a brilliant pianist, inheriting the gift from her mother, with whom she often played duets; and one of her chief delights has been good music. There was always plenty of music after dinner at Sandringham, more especially fine when such skilful artists as SignoV Tcsti and the late Sir Arthur Sullivan were present. Sometimes, too, there was a carpet dance or tableaux vivants, and of course billiard-room, and smoking-rooms for the gentlemen. In the summer the conservatories and terraces, with the gardens beyond, Mere much in request.." With referenoe to Miss Warren's allusion to the Queen's skill as a. horsewoman, it is interesting to note that when at Windsor just before the King, illness began, her Majesty had an hour's riding in the Park early one morning. "Her Majesty," says a London paper, commenting on the incident, "is a fearless and skilful horsewoman. In ealier days, soon after her arrival upon these shores, she rode much with the King (then, of course, the Prince of Wales) in Windsor Great Park. Lord Ronald Gower thus describes her hunting prowess when she and her royal husband visited the Duke of Sutherland at Trentham in 1866: —'The Princess lcoked very lovely on her horse King Arthur, and rode like a bird. The Princess took ths hurdles beautifully;' she has simply no sense of nervousness. Returning from the hunting after dark riding through the woods where these hurdles were, she leapt them aeiain, although both the Prince and Stafford liad avoided them/ Professor Sidgwick said at the t-me that her courage and nerve 'came from the grand old Norse breed."' Years ago rheumatism brought a stiff knee-joint, but the Queen was not to be daunted nor driven from a favourite pastime'; she had her stirrups reversed, and rode on tbe off-side For years no weather was bad enough to keep her from a 'meet" in the Sandrinsrham country, and her trophies are many 1-he name of her favourite Hungarian hunter Kinsky wiil long be remembered in that country. The Queen has also been an enthusiastic and expert angler, she enjoyed tricycling years ago at Sandringham. her fondn__ fodogs and for some sorts"of poultry is well 'known, and her model dairy was one of the sights of Sandringham. As the Consort of King Edward, though performing duties different.in character to those of the Queen regnant, she has discharged them in a manner which has further enhanced tbe love which all classes bear her. His Majesty has lost no opportunity of paying honour to his beautiful Queen. Precedents have been scattered to the winds in her favour. She has received the Order of the Garter, driven in the State coach with the King to the opening of his first Parliament, and a verse has been added to the National Anthem in her honour.