Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Royal engagement: great pleasure

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 December 7, 1891

The announcement of the betrothal of the Duke of Clarence and Princess Victoria Mary of Teck has caused an "immense amount of pleasurable excitement" in London when the news "became generally known last evening, according to a special cable to the Chicago Daily Tribune.

Princess Victoria Mary is "very popular," and "thoroughly an Englishwoman in sentiment, manner and action."  She is the only daughter of Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge and her husband, the Duke of Teck.

The Duke of Clarence, eldest son of the Prince and Princess of Wales, was a guest at a house party at the country home of the Danish Minister at Luton Hoo in the Chiltern Hills, near Bedford.  The Duchess of Teck and her daughter were also at the house party.

It has "been long known that the young couple were devoted to each other."  They often managed to slip away from the other guests, and "their quiet love-making furnished  many scenes for close observers of the courtship."   The Duke returned to London yesterday, and "informed his father of his desire to marry Victoria."

The Prince of Wales had no objection to the matter.  He told his elder son that he needed to go to Windsor and seek Queen Victoria's consent.   This was done rather quickly, as the Queen's consent was "cheerfully given."

An official announcement was made in the evening.  The date of the wedding has not been set, but it is expected to take place at St. George's Chapel, Windsor.  After the marriage, the couple is expected to live in "an elegant suite recently prepared" for the Duke of Clarence at St. James's Palace in London.

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