Friday, 1 March 2013

The Prince of Wales wedding Festivities at Redditch 1863

March the 10th 1863, was the wedding day of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales and Princess Alexander of Denmark. They married at 12, O'clock at St George's chapel Windsor. Across the country in towns and city's and hamlets celebrations were held, Redditch was no exception.

A committee was formed, plans made across the Needle District.There would be a service at St Stephens, a procession, Dinners for the school children from the churches and chapels, as well as the aged poor. An ox roast would provided  dinner for the other poor in Redditch. The district would celebrate the wedding with brass bands, roast beef and balls.

The Redditch Indicator had  a  report on the local festivals the following week, the day started with a hard frost.
"Nature, herself, put on an exquisite suite of bridal white with silver
and gems. There was just enough of hoar frost to make the earth 
a mantle, while the hedges were all beautiful trimmings, and the 
trees princely plumes.

Church Service
A service was held at the new church on the green. The riffle  Volunteer Company marched to the church with the Band played "Hast to the Wedding". the congregation were given a copy Kebles wedding hymn printed at the expanse of the vicar. After a short service,'in the cathedral style'. The vicar concluded with a discourse. " The Queen and her late lamented consort had....... purified the court of long evil example", Albert Edward, "would  under Gods will, be one day called to rule over us, had been on this day untied to a princess in whom was united the the prospects of good by virtue, amiability, and beauty". The vicar finished his discourse by addressing the volunteer's "exhorting them to enjoyed the day with moderation and sobriety.

The company   marched out and formed the fourth side of the hollow square on the green, the school children and the local  resident's made up the other three sides. Captain Bartleet gave orders to fire " a feu de Joie,  the band played  ' God save the Queen' each time the volunteers reloaded. The school children had been taught the new anthem ,'God bless the prince Of Wales '. This was the so new to the children that many did not know the words perfectly. However ,"the of voices perceptibly increased towards the end of the second verse".

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