ROYAL ALLIANCE NOT LOVE MATCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10753, 26 April 1913, Page 6

ROYAL ALLIANCE NOT LOVE MATCH.

Union of KohenzoUern and Guplph Will End a Forty-year-old. Foud. (Berlin Correspondent New* York "Sun.")

It can hardly bo said, even by a stretch of the imagination, that the engagement of Princess Victoria

Louise, the only daughter of ' the Kaisfir 3 and Prince Ernst of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Braunch-woig-Limeburg, who has been erroneously called the Duke of Cumberland, is a love match. Despito the often re-

ported statement that the Kaiser's daughter - would follow tlio dictates of her heart , and would never bo sacrificed on the political altar, the impression prevails that the alliauc© is largely if

not, entirely political. . It is a typical German "practical marriage," an alliance ivhwin the heart's inclination may not bo ©xclud-

Ed, but w,'ir:ro Wo probably figures fcss than high politics, just as many marriages in other stm-ia in German society where practical questions in regard to property, society and bvsiness are usually considered first- and are regarded aa the. soil in which, lore will

sprout later. UNTON" TO KJTD 3.0X0 FKT'D. The alliance of thd .voung couple will bring a practical solution of the Guelph question and will end the fortyyear Tend between the English Guelph

house and the reigning iieuso of Hohonzollern. Prince Ernst is tho grandson of the English King of Haiiover, blind George, who ■vn.s deposed in 1866 by Princes Bismarck and the

Kaiser's grandfather. Hanover vras annexed to Prussia because King George refused to join Prussia in tho war against Austria. Prince Ernst's mother is a sister of Queen Alexandra of England. As a result of a resolution of the Federal Council of the Empire, no Cumberland can mount the throne ol Brunswick until the Omnberlands re-

nounce their claims to the Hanoverian throne. _ While it is said- that this renunciation will shortly be forthcoming, that being one of the conditions of the marriage other reports hare it the present auke has refused to renounce his claims, but that his eon will d° so after his father's death.

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Germany is considered as being the happiest possible solution, of tho old feucl. It is expe-oted tlint the old Guelph party, which has always managed to elect several members of the Reichstag, now will disappear as a

political entity, though it never was a considerable factor.

Ibo house of Guelph is one of the oldest of the noble families of Germany, older even than the Hohenzcllerns. It, traces its origin to Richard Benno, A.IX 761.

The death of Prince Ernst's elder brother in an automobile accident in 1912, ivlieu the Kaiser expressed his condolences in an unusually sympathetic manner, which action was i'ol-

Wed by Prince Ems-fc calling on the Imperial family at Potsdam to thank the Emperor, was one of the first steps )!! closing the gulf between the Hohenzollerns and the irreconcilable Guclpli Duke of Cumberland, who still maintained his claims to tho Hanoverian

throne. AIXIAKCE LOSG TALKKD OF. The negotiations between the Kaiser and the Duke of Cumberland, the claimant of the Hanoverian throne, for the latter |s soil to marry Princess Victoria Louise have been going on since last autumn. The Duke of Cumberland.

it is reported, for a long timo declined to even listen to a proposition that his son should marry a daughter of Hohenzollerns.

When the Kaiser and the duke met recently there was an awkward Pause, but tho Kaiser, with, his usual tactfulness and gracionsness of manner which few can resist, saved tho day with a hearty greeting and the remark that he was glad to meet the father of his future son-in-law.

The coming bride and bridegroom made their royal entrance into the capital through the Brandenburger gate, thence up Unter der Linden tlirough crowds of cheering people. They were escorted by the entire regiment of the famous Zieten Hussars, who were commanded in their time by the great-grandfather and the grandfather of Prince Ernst. The Empress sat by the side of her daughter on the front, seat, the emperor and Prince Ernst facing them. MARRIAGE SET FOR AVTUMN". The marriage will probably take place

on the birthday of the Empress, October 2'J. Princess Victoria Loniso will, be twenty-one years old in September. Sho has been much, petted, but has not become spoiled. She is a favourite with the Ymperit-t family. Slip, cn.miot be termed beautiful, but is attractive and has a certain charm. Sho is a favourite with the German people, because of her girlish simplicity, her unaffected manner and and her close attention to her mother, the Empress, which has always appealed to German women.

There seems to be some probability that "Prince Ernst will bo given the

throne of Braunehweig-Lunebm'gjater on. There is even talk that tho Kaiser may endeavour to have BrnuuchweigLuneberg raised to a kingdom so his daughter may be a queen. Prince Ernst is now an officer in the Bavarian heavy cavalry. It is announced that- he will receive a commission in the Zietan Hussars, one of the oldest and most famous regiments in REPORTED EXGAGKD SEVERAL TIMES. Princess Victoria. Louise has been reported as engaged to almost every eligible young prince in Europe. Last year it was reported that she had fallen in love with Count Fugger, an officer in the Emperor's bodyguard. Count Fuggor is a scion of a family which was the financial Rothschild of Germany duriug the reign of Charles V.

The Kaiser soon took her to Corfu, for the purpose, it was said, of enabling her to forget the count. A few months later it was reported from Neustrelitz, where site was visiting, that she had fallen in love with Prince Adolph, the heir to the throne of the grand duchv of MecklenburgStrelitz, and that- the engagement might- soon be expected. Princess "Victoria Louise was brought home and the prince was sent away for a time. The Cumberland family is one of the richest in Germany to-dav. It is said that Princess Victoria Louise's dowry, for that reason, was- not much of a faotor, but for the sake of regularity it was specified in the agreement it will be sufficient for pin money for the future Duchess of Brunswick.