One hundred years ago
Society has been greatly interested this week in the marriage of Prince Leopold to Princess Helen of Waldeck-Pyrmont. The ceremony came off on Thursday at Windsor, and was notable for a certain sustained and perfect stateliness and brilliancy, often absent from English Court festivities. There has been during the latter part of this reign a suppression of the ornamental side of the Monarchy, which makes such pageants, when they do occur, much more attractive; while the people, moreover, it should be noted, have entirely lost their old, jealous dislike of German marriages. That was almost a passion down even to the Queen's marriage, and appeared even in the rejoicings over the Prince of Wales's wedding, his bride being sup- posed, chiefly on Tennyson's authority, to be a Dane; but the tradition has now died out. The Duke of Albany is ex- tremely popular, and his Duchess may, if she pleases and is able for the post, take a separate and hitherto unfilled place in English society, as the leader of the women who recognise other interests in life than either frivolity or benevolence. A great lady who can think, and understand thought, would be an acquisition.
Spectator, 29 April 1882
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