THE PRINCESS OF WALES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3543, 16 November 1882, Page 4

THE PRINCESS OF WALES.

Alexandra - Caroline - Mary - Charlotte-Louise-Julia is still well on the right side of that bourne of forty from whence no lady ever returns. She came into the world on the Ist of December, 1544, when lier father was simply a Duke with a very long title and a purse of by no means proportionate dimensions. Neither the Powers of Europe nor the Danes had quito made up their minds as to who should be King of Denmark failing issue to Frederic, son of Christian YL, Avho then reigned. When, however, Frederic the seventh of that name became King iv 1848, it was decided that a settlement must "be effected without further delay. As soon, therefore, as the revolutionary storm had subsided, the late Lord Derby and Lord Malmesbury, together with Bud sen, ' the faithful Stockmar,' and Uncle Luopolde arranged this little matter for the Danes. These, in their turn, made a virtue of necessity, and in 1853 passed a law which, on the main point, confirmed the Treaty of London. Thus Duke Christian of Sehleswig-Holstein - Sonderburg-Gluoksburg found himself recognised heir presumptive to the little Northern throne. But for ten weary years longer he had to live on his great expectations and little besides. His children were accordingly brought up in Spartan simplicity, and marvellous were the stories told a couple of decades ago on the subject. All one can say is that if certain great ladies mended their own dresses they showed both sense and spirit. The years of deferred hope came to an end in 1863. In March, Duke Christian's eldest daughter became Princess of Wales • in June, his eecond son ascended the throne of Greece • in November, he himself was a King, Christian IX, descends from Christian 111., the first protestaut Sovereign of Denmark ; also, on the mother's side, from George 11. of England and the aforementioned Caroline. Tho Prince of Wales is therefore his wife's cousin ; indeed, it is dillicult to find a Christian ' royalty ' who is not cousin to all the rest. The King of the Sandwich Islands stands almost alone in this respect. Most of us can remember that early spring day when the Princess made her entry into London and won all hearts. She had drawn the grand prize in the marriage lottery, and yet was deserving of just a little pity as well as congratulation. Tho amount of coaching Her Royal Highness had to go through on all subjects was portentous ■ while the Queen, with the best intentions, gave so many verbal directions and sent so ninny telegrams for her daughter-in-law's guidance that the latter felt slightly bewildered. At one of the first drawing-rooms after the marriage a certain peer had the pleasing duty of telling Her Royal Highness the names of all the peoplo who came, and the princess tho not less pleasing duty of remembering them. She had not quite the Guelph memory, yet a su-icicntly serviceable one for all ordinary purposes, ' And who is that ?' inquired the Princess as Sir Cresswei Cress well made his appearance. ' That,' replied her mentor, -■milling,_ •is a gentleman of whom your Royal Highness is not likely, I hope, ever to have need.' Whether a joke on divorce was altogether in perfect taste, especially when addressed to a lady in the enjoyment of her honeymoon, is another matter. " The multitude of presents she received somewhat disconcerted the royal bride. With all her affability the Princess had a just pride, and she seemed to entertain an' uncomfortable feeling that the acceptance of costly gifts might appear to place her under obligation to the donors. Hence somebody coined an anecdote to the effect that the Princess insisted on having tho price of every present she accepted slated to her, with a vicAY* of returning its equivalent. Worse stories have been invented touching crowned and eoroneted heads. The first year of a happy union was somewhat marred by the tidings of disaster from home. 'Ihe Princess could, of course, take only one vicav of the Danish question, and was zealous for Avhat she supposed to be her father's rights. At breakfast one morning an umvise equerry read out a telegram which announced some success of the Austro-Pmssian forces, when tho Princess could not restrain her tears, Avhile the good-natured Prince for once lost his temper and rated the equerry in vigorous old Georgian style. It was about this time j that a foreign Serenity asked the little Princess Beatrice what she would like for a present, While the child stood in doubt, the Princess of Wales beckoned to her. The result of a whisper conference between the two was that the Princess Beatrice declared aloud that she would like to havo Bismarck's head on a charger. The Queen looked grave, and the conversation was changed. As to English politics* Avbatever preferences the Princess may have, no one can complain that in her public character she has ever displayed them. The days of Marlborough House are not the days of Leicester House or Carlton House, and a debt of gratitude if due to the Prince and Princess that they are not. Ten years ago it seemed too probable that a Regency Bill would have been introduced into Parliament, Avhen so entire was the confidence reposed by the nation in the Princess that every one agreed that she must be Regent in the event of a minority. One has no fear of being misunderstood, therefore in saying that the chari.es of the Princess ersr being called,

upon to exercise the supreme power are not happily remote. On the Bth of January, 1882, Pr'nce Albert Victor completed his eighteenth year, so that even two deaths (absit omen !) would still leave us a sovereign old enfflugh to discharge all the functions of a constitutional ruler. The Princess is sincerely religious in a quiet way. High Churchmen, if not Ritualists have claimed her for their own. It has oven been asserted —but no ; the story is to dreadful a one to repeat, though it would delight the hearts of all those nuns in French convents who piously (and mendaciously) hold that tho Q.ueen of England is a Catholic at heart. What is true is that a renowned ecclesiastic of the Eoman eommunisn (who has affected more noble and honorable conversions than any man living) was once asked whether any member of the Eoj'al family had ever shown feelings of sympathy with the ancient faith. ' None,' he sorrowfully replied, ' with a single exception.' But even in this case one suspects the wish to have been father to the thought.—London Truth.