[Illustration: ROYAL ALBERT HALL, KENSINGTON GORE.
So named in memory of the Prince Consort, whose Memorial it faces. It was opened by the Queen in 1871. The Hall itself is oval, 200 feet by 160 feet, and 140 feet high to the dome. It accommodates 10,000 persons, and cost £200,000.]
[Illustration: ALBERT MEMORIAL, KENSINGTON GARDENS.
This monument, which is of marble, gold, bronze, and mosaic work, was designed by Sir G. Gilbert Scott, R.A., and is 175 feet high. The statue of the Prince, of bronze gilt, is by Foley. Above the arches runs this inscription: "Queen Victoria and her people to the memory of Albert, Prince Consort, as a tribute of their gratitude for a life devoted to the public good." The cost of the Memorial exceeded £130,000.]
[Illustration: _G. H. Thomas._} { _From the Royal Collection._
MARRIAGE OF H.R.H. PRINCESS ALICE TO H.R.H. PRINCE LOUIS OF HESSE IN THE DRAWING ROOM AT OSBORNE, July 1, 1862.
On the left are Her Majesty the Queen, the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, and Prince Leopold, and Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, attended by the Duchess of Wellington and the Duchess of Athole. On the right are the parents and brother of the bridegroom. The bridesmaids were Princesses Helena, Louise, and Beatrice, and Princess Anna of Hesse.]
[Sidenote: Marriage of the Prince of Wales.]
On March 10, 1863, took place the marriage of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, to the Princess Alexandra[H], eldest daughter of Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glucksburg, heir to the throne of Denmark. The announcement of the betrothal had been favourably received in Great Britain, but, on the arrival of the bride-elect in London, her exceeding personal beauty, her charm of manner and amiability, produced a remarkable effect, and public feeling rose to a very high degree of enthusiastic approval. London hastened to cover up the dingy traces of an English winter with gay bunting; the lively Danish national colours, scarlet and white, draped all the thoroughfares; and everywhere might be seen the Dannebrog--the national ensign of Denmark--streaming side by side with the British standard in the keen wind and bright sunshine of March.
[Illustration: _G. W. Thomas._} { _From the Royal collection._