The Bridal Gifts.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8375, 22 July 1905, Page 3

The Bridal Gifts.

DEPUTATIONS TO THE PRINCE

AND HIS BRIDE

The reception of the deputations bearing congratulations and wedding gifts to the Iloyal pair was a lengthy ceremony. On the morning previous to the wedding day the Crown Princa and the Duchess Cecilia stood for hours in the Braunschweiger hall of the castle, receiving deputations representing all the provinces, cities, regiments, universities, and other organisations dear to the • Kaiser and the Empire, delivered congratulations and wedding gifts. Many of the latter were not- delivered personally because it was impossible, for they included gigantic horses, a splendid coach of state and rare wines sufficient to fill the couple's cellars. They were from the vineyards of all the winegrowing .districts. ' Th£ir Royal Highnessess received so many useful gifts in the form of wine, beer, hams, etc., that their steward will have an easy task of housekeeping for many months. There wo7e moir-e than a thousand gifts, including many services in gold and silver. Among the most cherished S resents were wedding rings for the rown Prince and Cecilia made of Silesian gold. For centuries the- Hohenzollern brides and bridegrooms have received these offerings. DELIGHTED WITH GIFTS. Their Royal Highnessess were delighted with the gifts, the Crown Prince smilingly saying that he was glad to follow the Imperial family tradition and accept them. Rings, exquisitely chased, contained in gold cases and especially designed by the famous artist, Hacker, their Royal Highnesses received graciously. A splendid gift from the Mikado was presented by Prince Arisugawa, two gigantic silver vases, marvellously wrought by the cunning silversmiths of Japan. The King of Saxony has given lour Meissener vases, the French Government two Sevres vases and some Beauvais tapestry* the Sultan of Turkey rare rugs and porcelains, the Austrian Kmperor a carriage and two horses, and the province of Posen a state carriage. A "splendid performance at the Imperial Opera House followed the dinner. The interior presented a magnificent spectacle. His Majesty himself selected the artists who sang the first act from "Lohengrin" and the third act of "Die Meistersinger." The house was a blaze of light and colour ; uniforms of the men and costumes of the women being reflected in the silver-framed mirrors. It was like a dream, a story from a thousand and one nights made real by the Emperor's magic As carriage after carriage deposited the uniformed men and women, who were splendidly dressed, the crowd outside uttered a long " ah "of admiration.

.The Duchess Cecilia looked very beautiful. The Kaiser, Kaiserin and Kron ■ Prinz were obviously delighted at her loveliness and vivacity. She wore a gown of blue gauze with broad stripes of velvet draped crosswise over tulle. The velvet was richly ornamented with tiny pearls and roses and heavily-em-broidered silk, the corsage was decorated with filmy blue laoe, and fastened at the left by a velvet hand of embroidered roses. The corsage glittereS. with gems. The Grand Duchess wore an exquisite Paris gown. The curtain fell on the meadows of " Nurnberg " on " Walter and Eva's Love," and the Kaiser, the Kron Prinz and Cecilia rose and withdrew, the splendid audience bowing farewell in unison.