THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S MARRIAGE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 85, 10 April 1874, Page 2

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S MARRIAGE.

The following incidents and particulars have been compiled by the Fvcning Post from various sources:-— The Duko of Edinburgh bad quite skaken off his cold, and looked as a mau would wish to look on his wedding day. His Royal Highness bore himself throughout with that unconscious air of dignity, simplicity, and high breeding which belongs to our Princes, and which, like the freedom of the City of London, is theirs by right of birth. The Prince of Wales's healthy countenance shone with good nature and pleasure, aud his Royal Highness looked well pleased to stand by and see' his younger brother married to bis Imperial bride; and the Gtand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna looked a bride worth winning as she stood beside our Prince with all the wealth and splendour of her father's great Empire gathered together to do honor to the day. The bouquet held by the bride at the English service was from the Queeo, and was put into the Grand Duchess' hands a few moments before the entry into the Alexander Hall. It contained sprigs of myrtle from a tree at Osborne, from which were plucked sprigs for the Princess Royal's bouquet ten yearß ago. The prayer books held by the Duke and Grand Duchess were presented also by the Queec Immediately after the ceremony the register of the marriage was produced, and was signed first by Dean Stanley, then by the Duke of Edinburgh and the Grand Duchess, then by the Prince and Princess of Wales, and other members of the Royal Family. It will be deposited with the register in the Chapel Royal. The Rev Arthur Thompson, the English chaplain, and the Rev Septimus Kingsford, assistantchaplain, were present, although taking no active part in the ceremony. Daring the latter part of the service the bride appeared to be almost overcome by the heat; her dress, bejewelled and ornamented as it was, being extremely heavy. As soon as the dean had pronounced the benediction he bowed in a courtly manner to the bride and bridegroom, then to the Czar and Empress, and the rest of the imperial and royal guests, and so departed. The service lasted half an hour. The deao had on a doctor's gown, and wore the Order of the Garter. As for the Duke of Edinburgh, as one watched him going through all the intricate ceremonial of the Russian service, now touching the cross with his lips, new receiving the sacrament two or three times in succession, now leading his bride through the mazes of a figure-of-eight procession round the inner and outor altar, it was difficult to believe that his royal highness had not been married in Russia many times. The ceremony must have been rehearsed and no doubt the grand duchess had given the prince many delightful lessons. The burly Duke of Coburg, in his well known white uniform, carefully watched the marriage of his presumptive successor. Whon the service required it the grand duchess Lowed lowly; but the bridegroom and the German and English princes remained inflexible. The writer, describing the English rite, says: — "Dean Stanley began the exhortation in a loud voice, which, on account of hoarseness, he was soon forced to abandon. As the ceremony proceeded the Duke seemed rather nervous, but looked pretty steadily at Dean Stanley; while the grand duchess cast her eyes downnow at the carpet, now at the bouquet she carried — and regarded the. dean closely only during the usual interrogatories. In giving the vow, the duke answered in a very loud voice, ' I will,' which was audible all over the church. When Dean Stanley asked * Who giveth this woman?' he looked significantly at the Emperor, who simply bowed. In giving her troth, the grand duchess repeated the words after the clergyman in a clear, audible voice, and with excellent pronunciation, The presentation of the ring was not effected without some embarrassment The duke received the riDg from Prince. Arthur, and passed it to Dean Stanley, who looked at it with the eye of a connoisseur, and then returned it to the bridegroom. The duke was somewhat embarrassed by the prayer-book beheld, and tried to hand it to the train-bearer behind. That functionary apparently not understanding what was required of him did not take the proffered gift. The grand duchess, who was waiting, then offered to take the volume, but the duke finally mastered the difficulty, and gracefully slipped the ring on the outstretched finger. The dean joined the hand of the bride and the bridegroom with a great deal of emphasis, and held them pressed together longer than is customary, but not even this triple union of hands prevented them from shaking with very obvious agitation." During the morning service the Emperor maintained the stately air of reserved composure which always characterises him. The Empress looked towards her only daughter with wistful eyes, and it is said that the parting is to her Majesty a sorrow hardly to beborne. At the proper clause in the service the Czar gave his daughter away with a grave and dignified bow. And when it was over the Emperor and the Empress approached the altar,' their son and daughter turned towards them, and first the Czar kissed the' Grand Duchess on the cheek. When His Majesty had shaken hands

with the Duko of - Edinburgh the Czarina and the Duchess of Edinburgh turned to each other, and the mother pressed a long, long kiss on the cheek of her daughter. When Her Majesty had kis3«d the Duke of Edinburgh, and the two had pressed each other's hands affectionately, the Czar gave his arm to the Czarina, and led the procession along the open way through the glittering throng of conrtiers and ladies out of the hall. The Greek ecclesiastics had entered tho hall soon after the beginning of the service, and stood in a picturesque group near and rather behind the left side of the altar.