AN UNOFFICIAL REPORT OF THE PRINCE OF WALES' RETURN FROM INDIA.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 383, 14 July 1876, Page 3

AN UNOFFICIAL REPORT OF THE PRINCE OF WALES' RETURN FROM INDIA.

f had been for weeks looking forward to yesterday. It was the day of the Prince of "Wales' return,from..lndia r .and great rejoicings -were to take pjace. We knew tlio crowas in the streets would be monstrous ; so L took tickets for the opera, where the Prince was asked to appear in the evening. Our seats were right opposite the lioyal box. I was awfully unwilling to give up going, and I really was so much better yesterday that I thought I would try. So I stayed quietly in bed all day, and at four iu the afternoon my servant set oil with two mends to try to see the procession. •" " a^so came homo at four, dressed, and went off to his Club, to see it from there, as it was to pass that way. It was so provoking to think oi'it all, and me in bt d, only with a cold. So up I got, and dressed in a high black silk, made iny head a little swell with a few flowers, and threw a pretty Indian shawl over my shoulders to keep me warm and hide 'fey plain dress. "When. L returned to dinner at 7.30 I was tucked out, and all ready. So, putting a . box of' cough lozenges into my pocket, throwing a woolen shawl over my head, and another around me, ofi we set in a close brougham. The opera house was crammed, and the air so hot that it stopped my cough so mueli that I was astonished. I thought Id io a bore to myself and every one near. It was a splendid sight; the seats were all full, the people all so splendidly dressed. The ladies glittered with diamonds, and were almost all in full dress. At last the Koyal party came—the Prince and Princess and their two boys, Prince Alfred and Prince Arthur-. Everyone rose as they entered, and the cheers were like to brinrr down the On the o-flfje Mux# a fL.t»rui, ird Ly r-.Oiiic oi

the finest singers of the' day, and when the cheering had subsided a little tliey sang, " God Save the IVm.cs of Wales." The people were quite overcome—aotao wiped their eyes, and some chevied. Tbeu came '• God Save the Queen," and the cheers were now moat tremendous. The two little Princes nodded, and clapped their hands, and seemed to enjoy it so much. The Prince looks very j'>Hv—so sunburnt and yet fresh. The Princess looked so sweet, and both seemed so glad and happy, and kept chatting and lauding to each other ail the time. He has been seven months away, and only came that afternoon at one. She and the children went to Portsmouth, and out to sea, to meet him, and they all arrived together in London at half-past seven. So they had not had much time to themselves. and it was very pood to come to the Opera to please the people. She wore a dress of pale blue silk, and blue crape, a low body, and no opera cloak." She had flowers made of diamonds, fixed on the short sleeves of her dress; diamonds in her hair, and a spray of flowers; a band of velvet round her throat, with a thick band of large diamonds over it; then a long neckiaje of huge diamonds, and a number oi others dotted all about the body of her dress. Her bracelets vrera one glittering uiass. She looked so pretty, .and lias a quiet gentle manner. She seemed so proud of the Prince when the people cheered, and put her hand upon his arm, and pushed him forward. Then they stood, and bowed to the house all round. The two boys are very pretty the eldest is like her. They are fair and tall, and look strong and merry. They wore white sailor suits, open throats, and wide blue collars. The eldest took his mother s opera glass, and looked all about with it,; and soon saw someono he knew, and began to nod and kiss his hand. TIIS Prince noticed him, and spoke to him, and the little chap pointed with his linger to some one just below where we were. Then the Prince nodded and grinned to whoever it was. Evidently all the swells of the land were present, and I longed for' someone to tell me who everybodjr was. A number of men wore uniforms, and some of them perfectly glittered with Orders. The Prince ancl his brothers were in plain dress suits. After the anthems, the regular opera went on. The music aud sieging were lovely—beyond description. The Royal party, though they must have been tired, remained to the close, and got heartily cheered when they left.