An Imperial Romance.

Otago Witness, Issue 2803, 4 December 1907, Page 73

An Imperial Romance.

Time works many changes and modifies many opinions, a reflection which is induced by the fact that the Grand Duke Cyril of Russia, accompanied by his wife, is visiting Princess Henry of Battenberg in the Isle of Wight. It is more than seven yeare 6ince the Grand Duchess Cyril set foot in the kingdom that is ruled by her paternal uncle. King Edward himself is sufficiently broad-minded to live on good terms with all his relations, but the Duke of Coburg's second daughter fell into disfavour with a number of her kin about the time of her divorce from the Grand Duke of Hesse. Husband and wife 6tood in the same relationship to Queen Victoria, and she held divorce in horror, and had veiy decided views as to the submission which is owed by the weaker vessel to her lord and master. For the same reason the Emperor William manifested a decided coolness towards the Princess Victoria Melita, and the Czar and Czarina were wholly on the 6ide of the latter's brother, as was natural enough. The family grievance gathered strength when the engagement of the Princess to another cousin, the Grand Duke Cyril, wa6 announced, and when, later on, in spite of all pro-

hibitive decrees, she was minied to him, the young couple took up th< ir abode at Cannes in wh.'it was practically banishment from all countries ruled by thenrelations, and managed to get .ilong fairly well, consoled by •each other and by

golf. Later on there came a little daughter. Princess Henry of Battenberg took up the role of peacemaker, And worked silently for years od behalf of the exiled pair. " She hatfL always been especially fond of her nieces of Coburg, and the Duchess Marie is her favourite sister-in-law. The Grand Duke of Hesse himself married, and was blessed with a son, and he and his consort were this year invited to visit the King and Queen at Windsor and Buckingham Palace. The Duchess Marie of Coburg was at tho same time staying with Princess Henry in Kensington, and she and her ex-son-in-law met after many years of estrangement. The first result of that meeting was that the Czar promoted the Grand Duchess Cyril to her rightful rank as. a member of his Imperial House, and bestowed upon her the customary Imperial Christian names. The second result is now visible in the sojourn at Osborne Cottage. It is one of the few cases in which a royal romance has been brought to a triumphant issue in the face of long odds.— P. T.. O