One hundred years ago
THE ROYAL WEDDING went off admirably, to the disgust of the prophets of evil who went about repeat- ing that the Princess was unlucky, and that the ceremonial would be interrupt- ed. The processions were not very mag- nificent, but were made so by the astonishing crowds of spectators who witnessed them; and who, while inter- ested and kindly in their reception of the bride and bridegroom, burst, on the appearance of the Queen, into those roars of welcome which differ from every other sound in the world. The actual wedding was a splendid ceremo- nial, conducted in a confined and rather dingy place, the Chapel Royal, St. James's, and was attended by represen- tatives of all the States of Europe and the social and political grandees of the Kingdom. The brilliant uniforms of the men, and the astonishing profusion of diamonds worn by the ladies, made the scene magnificent. The "breakfast," as it used to be called, was a grand banquet in Buckingham Palace, and then the bride and bridegroom drove, amidst crowds almost beyond precedent, right across London to Liverpool Street Sta- tion, on their way to Sandringham. We should say, from the demeanour of the crowd, that the wedding was approved, but without enthusiasm, which last was manifested only towards the Queen. The illuminations, though magnificent in places — especially St. James's Street and the centre of the City — were not general; and the London County Coun- cil in particular left all its rooms in sullen darkness. With a house to build for itself, at a cost of a million or so, it is bound to be economical in loyalty.
The Spectator 8 July 1893
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