QUEEN WILHELMINA’S WEDDING.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 16 February 1901, Page 4

QUEEN WILHELMINA’S WEDDING.

To English minds a rather pathetic intercst attaches to the wedding of the youngest monarch in Europe, just as the oldest has closed her reigu, particularly as both came to the throne at the same tender age of eighteen, and both also married at nearly the same age. The similarity, such as it is, is increased by the fact that the husband of Queen Uilholmina is to occupy at Court and in the '’ouncils of the Netherlands the same position held by the Prince Consort in England, though whether he will do so with the same success only the test of years can show. Report speaks well of Prince Henry, henceforth to be known as his lloyal Highness Prince Henry of the Netherlands, Duke of MecklenburgSchwerin. He comes of a house which claims to bo the oldest ruling family ia Europe, is amiable, staid, and well principled, and the match has this great advantage over some royal alliances, that it is entirely one of affection. The young Queen always said she would choose her own husband and did not believe in Harrying for political purposes, and her advisors have found that in this, as in every other matter, she is a young lady who means what she says. The royal bride is rather more than twenty years old. having been born in August, 1880, while the bridegroom is twenty-four. She is pleasing rather than pretty, with fair complexion and bright blue eyes, “and a charming smile," of medium height and decidedly Junoesque build. She is said to be an excellent linquist, a skilful musician, a clover artist and an expert in outdoor sports. Her bearing ia dignified and queenly, and she is probably one of the most personally

popular sovereigns of Europe, a fact to which her sex, her youth, her charm of manner no doubt contribute. ‘ Perhaps, J said dbe writer, describing the enthusiastic scenes which occurred in Amsterdam when Wilhelmina was enthroned, *' the secret of her hold on the people’s affections is the unaffected naturalness of the girlish Queen, who entered into their enthusiasm with spontaneous enjoyment that was not marred by the least stiffness or artifical assumption of dignity. Her own excitement showed itself in her heightened colour, her bright eyes, and the almost exuberant vivacity with which she acknowledged the popular homage.” She might bo better disposed towards England, but this little defect of quality notwithstanding, she enters upon her married life with the best wishes of all English people.