THE WEDDING OF PRINCESS BEATRICE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 3410, 1 September 1885, Page 3

THE WEDDING OF PRINCESS BEATRICE.

The marriago of Princess Beatrice and Prince Henry of Battenberg took place at St. Mildredj Church, WhippiDgham, Isle of on July 23rd, as already reported m our telegrams. The weather, we now learn, was lovely, a gentle breeze tempering the heat. Flags of all nations flouted from the hotlietopa, and the river and bay were full of yachts, brilliant with bunting, and presenting from the land an enchanting appearance. The Royal yachts stood out prominently from the rest of the fleet, with the Royal standards at their main heads, and they were decked with wreathß, evergreens and flowers m profusion. Over a hundred of tho Queen's guests breakfasted at the palace. At 11 o'clock the guests started for the church. The officials present, resplendid m court dress and wearing glittering orders upon their breasts, presented a peculiar appoarance m the Royal carriages as they passed along the country road. The Prince of Wales and family lauded from their yacht and were driven to Osborne. Prince of Wales wore the uniform of a field marshal. His son Victor was dressed m the uniform of an army officer, and his son George m that of an officer of the navy. The 93rd Highlanders guarded the approaches to the- church, while the road traversed by Ihe procession was lined by Volunteers. The sailors belonging to the Royal yachts took up a position between the Volunteers and the Highlanders. The crowd of people who came to witness the pageant was immense, and ihe church was thronged. The bridal procession started from the palace at 1.15. Enthusiastic shouts and cheering greeted the pageant as it emerged from the gates, and tho demonstration was taken up and continued by the people along tho whole route to the church. Five bands of music, posted at different points along the route, played at intervals. Inside tho church demi-toilots were enjoined for ladies who Blept last night on the island. Guests who arrived from London to-day wero permitted to appear m morning dress. When all was m readiness the choir, followed by the clergy, paused to the altar to prepare to receive the bride. The Queen left the palace for the church shortly before 1 o'clock. The procession made its entrance into the church along a covered way through the churchyard. The equerries passed m first, then followed the foreign guests, and then the Royal family. When nil had entered the edifice, the organist played Handel's "Occasional Overture." All the ladies present wore dresses of white gossamer silk. The Prince and Princess of Wales did not join m the procession. Prince Henry, the bridegroom, wore a white uniform, and on the front of his coat were numerous orders. He passed into the church, accompanied by the members of the royal house. The bridesmaids left the vestry, m which they had been waiting, for the entrance to tho churchyard, to receive, tho bride. The arrival of the Queen, with the bride, waa heralded with cheers and a royal salute. The pipers played tho march " Highland Laddie," and tho Spithead and the Solent's guns thundered a grand salute. The Queen entered the church on the bride's left. The Prince of Wales was on the right of the bride. The Princess of Wales and the bridesmaids looked charming. The Princess bowed to tho guests on either side as sho advanced up the aisle. The scene, aa the Queen, richly dressed, and wearing a miniature diamond crown, entered tho church, was very impressive. The bride looked very pretty. She wjis dressed m ivory satin, trimmed with honiton lace. Her hair was artistically arranged, and its effect was made more oharming by the wreath of orange blossoms she wore. Prince Henry stood at the south side of the altar, and awaited the brido. The Princess walked with a firm step up tho aisle, while Wagner's bridal march was played. The Archbishop of Canterbury read the service, the bride and bridegroom responding m clear tones, which were heard throughout the building. The Queen gave the brido away. At the close of the service Mendelssohn's anthem was sung. The Queen, Prince Henry, and relatives on both sides kissed the bride. As the bridal party left the church Mendelssohn's wedding march was played. Tho, dress which Princess Beatrice wore m starting on the bridal trip was of figured China crepe of soft creani color, looped up on tho left eido by long loops with ends of cream moire ribbon. Sho alao wore a dolman of the same material, having two square ends m front trimmed with Irish lace. The New York papers of the 24th print despatches to tho offect that the marriago is regarded with extreme disfavor at the Gorman Court, and that tho Crown Princess protcstod against tho alliance. No invitation to tho weddiug was sent to any member of tho Gorman reigning family. Moreover, the Princo and Princess of Wales and Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh preferred to remain on hoard their yachts at Cowes during their visit to the Isle of Wight, going on shoro solely for the ceremony, and immediately returning on board and steaming away at midnight after the fireworks. Tho Prince, whoso duty it was to givo tho brido away, rofuscd tho offico, and only bore his part m tho ceremony because ho could not holp it. Tho Times despatch say it is not charged that Princo Henry is vicious or specially bad, but m Germany he is spoken of always as a " Schofkoph," and m England evory ono thinks of him as a "dull, Dutch boggar." The refusal of tho Gorman royal family to attond tho wedding waa extremely curt. On tho evening of tho 24th, Princo Henry was gazetted as His Royal Highness and Knight of the Garter. The honeymoon was spout at Whippingham. A man between 50 and (10 years of ago wan arroatod m London on tho 24th for making throats against tho life of Princess Beatrice. Within an hour after the marriago ceromnny a tumultuous crowd entered St. Mildred Church, and stripped it of its decorations, the police remaining inactive. I