A Royal and Romantic Courtship.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 253, 25 April 1888, Page 4

A Royal and Rom antic Courtship.

In Continental Court circles the question of poaeo or war oxcites considerably loss interest just now than tho Royal romance that has culminated in tho engagement of Prince Oscar Charles, second aon of the King of Swcdon, to a young lady of his own nationality, but not of Royal blood. Tho Crown Princess of Sweden, who is a daughter of tho Giand Duke of Baden and a granddaughtor of the Emperor William, had amongst her maids of honour a young Swedish lady, Miss Munck, known tor her beauty, grace, and charming manner. W hoi ever .she wont she was admired, and w lii lo with tho Ciown Princess in Germany she even attracted tho attention ot the Emperor William, who has always been a worshipper of the fair so.v ; but although ot noble birth Miss Munck was poor and an oiphan. Her father, Colonel Mnrck, had loft her a long line of anccstois — all gallant soldiers— but very little money. Eventually Miss Munck, yielding to the picking advice of her friends, accepted an oiler of marriage from a wealthy young ofhoor belonging to a crack cavalry regiment, and ovorythmg was prepared for tho wedding. The day was fi\ed, tho " trousseau " was bought, and pi events had arrived, when suddenly Miss Munck broke oil her engagement loi ica.son.s which convinced her that she did not possets tho exclusive affections ot her suitor. She resisted all attempts at a i conciliation, and retired from Court for somo time When she returned hor tormcr high spiiits had gone, and her face bore an o\piession of melancholy, winch, howo\cr, onhiineod her bounty considerably. Meanwhile Prince Oscar had been tor a two years' trip round the woiid in tho Royal Swedish higato \'<tna(lt\. Shortly after his loturn his iriends discovered that lie was in love, and tho fact liKewiso became evident to A.iss Munek herself She could not tail to bo sensible of the adinnatiun oi (ho tiallant and handsome young sailor Prince. Hut what was to be done? Accm ding to the Swedish Con stitution any Punce marrying outside tho circle of Royalty ioifcita his light-* to the throne and la.s piivilege* us a member of the lloyal family, Miss Munck, listening to what she belic\ul was the voice ot duty, again left the Swedish Court. She announced ioimully to her relations her intention nc\ er to many, and assumed the gaib of a nurse and tho chaigc ot a waid in one of the largest charity hospitals in Stockholm. Pi nice Oscar at last succeeded in meeting her, and finally, after a long struggle, he wiung from her the confession that she lo\ed him. Sfcill the biavegiil refused to mairy him, and it was not until the Prince could tell her that the Queen had given her consent that finally she yielded; but the King's sanction had yet to be obtained, in vain did Tunce Oscar aI In «t plead that a- his biother, the Crow n Piincc, had ahcadv two sons, hi? own chance- of ever ascending the throne were practically ml, and that ho theryfoie ought to be allowed to abandon the privilege of I*o3 alt y and to become a private citi/en ; but as time woie on, and the King saw his son could not be influenced in the matter, hi.r, Majesty was induced to yield, principally owing to the entreaties of the Queen, who was on the eve of an operation, trom which she was- not expected to reco\ er. The King could not lesisi this appeal from his beloved wife, whom he teared he was going to lose, and thus., for the first time for 300 years, a Prince of Sweden will marry the daughter of a private gentleman. In virtue of the. Swedish Constitution Piince Oscar will lose, I beside his rights to the tin one, his titles of " Royal Highness" and " Duke of Gothland," the yearly allowance granted by the Swedish Diet, and his palace at Stockholm. Ho will in future bo called " Prince Bernadotte." Ho wil' letain his position as commander in the Swedish naAy, which iank ho has earned fairly in the oidmai 3 com-i, of piomofion. The Prince, it may be added, seems the happiest of men.