Zbe Court.
THE principal events at Court during the week have been the departure of the King and Queen of the Belgians, on Monday ; and the celebra- tion of the birthday of Prince Albert, on Wednesday, when his Royal Highness entered his twenty-second year. The Court newsman does not furnish much information respecting the festivities on the birthday of the Prince, beyond stating that Ile was serenaded in the morning, by the choristers of St. George's Chapel and by the band of the Life Guards. The gossiping Windsor correspondent of the Reath!, how- ever, gives the following details-
" As soon as the Prince arose in the morning, her Majesty delicately sug-
gested to his Royal Highness, that as this was his birthday, they should break- fast together at Adelaide Lodge, about half a mile from the Castle, :aid at the end of the slopes in the Ito= Park. The Prince and the Queen accordingly proceeded thither ; but the surprise of his Royal highness may be imagined when he perceived, on his arrival at the lok(e, that not only the most elegant and gratitying preparations had been made by the queen s commands to re- ceive him, but that the whole of her Majesty's distinguished visiters, and all the members of the !loyal Household, were there awaiting his arrival to offer his Royal Highness their warm congratulations on the anniversary of his birth- day. The feelings or the Prince, on entering the room in which were the as- sembhel party, appeared overcome at his unexpected reception ; but soon re- covering himself; he replied to the kind wishes and sincere congratulations which met him at every turn, in the most affectionate, ti,eling, and unaffected manner. The children of the Prince and Princess Hoheillohe, \rho were attired in elegant limey costume strewed dowers helbre her Majesty and the Prince on their entering the Ldp. As soon as breakfast was over, the Royal and distinguished party returned to the Castle."
The Wardens of the Goldsmiths Company were admitted to an au- dience of Prince Albert, on Wednesday, at Windsor Castle, by appoint- ment ; when the usual oath being administered, the freedom of that ancient corporation, enclosed in a splendid gold box, was presented to his Royal Highness. The Wardens were afterwards entertained with a disieuner.
The Queen Dowager continues to reside at Bushy Park. Her Ma- jesty came to London on Monday, and on Thursday, accompanied by the Dutchess Ida of Saxe Weimar, and visited the Dutchess of Glou- cester and the Princess Augusta, but returued to Bushy Park on the same evening each day. The Duke of Sussex remains on his visit to the Duke of Somerset, at Wimbledon Park.
The Duke of Cambridge has been on a visit to Sir Henry Halford, at the Baronet's seat, Wistow Hull, Leicestershire. His Royal Highness returned to London on Monday; and on Thursday dined with the Duke of Somerset, at Wimbledon Park.
The bulletins of the Princess Augusta's health t have been more un- favourable this week, and have produced much alarm among the members of the Royal Family. The answers to inquiries at Clarence House yesterday vere--" Tho Princess Augusta has had some sleep in the night, and her Royal Highness continues comtbrtable." The King of the Belgians went from Windsor to Buckingham Palace on Sunday ; where, after paying a visit to the Princess Augusta, he gave audience to M. Guizot, the French Ambassador, and Baron de Nieumann, on a special mission from the Emperor of Austria. Tb, King returned to Windsor in the afternoon. On Monday, his Mojesty and the Queen of the Belgians and suite left Windsor Castle at seven o'clock in the morning, timr Woolwich, on their return to the Continent. They embarked in the Widgeon steamer, under a salute from the field- batteries, and amid the cheers of a crowd of spectators. Their Ma- jesties arrived at Ostend on Monday evening, without having suffered in the least from sea-sickness. They were received on landing by a guard of honour, and the piers were illuminated.
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