[33] Coxe’s Walpole.
[34] She could not understand a word of English.
CHAPTER XIII.
The Nuptials.
How the Prince and his friends passed the interval between dinner and the ceremony is not stated in history, but if they spent it over their wine certainly the Prince came up to time looking his best when the procession was formed in the great drawing-room of St. James’s Palace at eight o’clock; then, the great crowd of peers and peeresses were marshalled into order of precedence.
The ceremony took place in the Chapel of the Palace and was performed by the Bishop of London to a running accompaniment of artillery in the neighbouring park. Here is an account of it all from the Gentleman’s Magazine for April, 1736, which must also have been a Ladies’ Magazine in the reading at any rate, from the elaborate descriptions of the dresses worn; no doubt this accurate journal issued a double wedding number to give room for the information, and greatly increased its circulation thereby.
The account:
“Her Highness was in her hair, wearing a crown with one bar, as Princess of Wales, set all over with diamonds; her robe, likewise, as Princess of Wales, being of crimson velvet, turned back with several rows of ermine, and having her train supported by four ladies, all of whom were in virgin habits of silver, like the Princess, and adorned with diamonds not less in value than from twenty to thirty thousand pounds each. Her Highness was led by His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, and conducted by His Grace the Duke of Grafton, Lord Chamberlain of the Household, and the Lord Hervey, Vice-Chamberlain, and attended by the Countess of Effingham, and the other ladies of her household.
“The marriage service was read by the Lord Bishop of London, Dean of the Chapel; and after the same was over, a fine anthem was performed by a great number of voices and instruments.
“When the procession returned his Royal Highness led his bride; and coming into the drawing-room, their Royal Highnesses kneeled down and received their Majesties’ blessing.
“At half-an-hour after ten their Majesties sat down to supper in ambigu, the Prince and the Duke being on the King’s right hand, and the Princess of Wales and the four Princesses on the Queen’s left.