#Cortege

[federer7]

Funeral Cortege. San Joaquin Valley, California. 1938

Photo: Dorothea Lange

[vox-anglosphere]

The coffin of an unknown soldier is prepared to embark for England

[metalshockfinland]

Polish CORTEGE to Release New Album "Vandari" on June 22nd

CORTEGE was founded in 1996 and it’s still activ, excluding a break in 2005-2009. The band has released two full albums: Anachoreo (2012), Touching the Void (2016) and compilation Where the Watchers Are Imprisoned Part I (2017) which consist demos Awareness (2000) and Introduction to the Slaughter of Your Gods (2001). After almost two years of work in the MAQ Records studio, band prepared…

[markgraeflerin]

Wochenrückblick - Mählsubbe, Chäswaie, Räppli, Waggis, Mohrekopf und Cortège

#BaslerFasnacht #Cortege #Fotografie #Mehlsuppe #Chäswaie

[dominique44000]

Manifestation Retraite 19 janvier 2023 Dominique Dubois #manifestation #retraite #lutte #pauvres#menteurs #politique #cortege#manifestationnantes #nantes #nantesmaville https://www.instagram.com/p/Cnml4IVN1Xl/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"LAST RITES FOR BABY "BUNTY" HILLIER ATTENDED BY THOUSANDS," Toronto Globe. October 31, 1933. Page 13. --- The funeral service yesterday for unfortunate little 18-months-old Alfreda ("Bunty") Hillier, whose tragic death focused the attention of the city and Province on a humble little dwelling in the East End of Toronto, was a remarkable demonstration, huge crowds at both the residence at 6 Boothroyd Avenue and at Park Lawn Cemetery proving the intense interest taken in the mysterious death of the small child. Illustrations above of the funeral show: Upper left, a section of the gathering on Boothroyd Avenue, long before the scheduled time of the service; lower left, the parents of the child. Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Hillier, leaving their home to attend the service at the cemetery, but in which they did not participate, the huge crowd at Park Lawn Cemetery proving too much for their already tense nerves. They remained in their car while interment took place, and left immediately afterward for home. At the upper right are seen the six little playmates of the baby, who acted as pallbearers - Betty Hodgins, Ruth Matheson, Margaret McDowell, Margaret Low, Ina Denrer Lindsay, and Marie Kennedy. Centre right shows the arrival of the funeral at Park Lawn Cemetery, a portion of the crowd which deterred the parents from participating in the cervice there being seen lately surrounding the hearse and mourners' cars. In the lower centre Rev. J. A. Rebinson of St. Phillip's Anglican Church, who conducted the service. He baptized "Bunty" just over a year again. Lower right shows close relatives and friends of the family at the graveside, in the foreground being Mr. and Mrs. Beech Herrington.

"Tremendous Crowds Witness Funeral of Baby "Bunty" Hillier," Toronto Globe. October 31, 1933. Page 1. --- Hours before the funeral service for tiny Alfreda ("Bunty") Hillier was scheduled to begin yesterday, hundreds of people had gathered at the modest residence at 6 Boothroyd Avenue, their number augmented by literally thousands of others as the time for the funeral approached. As the cortege moved off to Park Lawn Cemetery the streets in the vicinity of the home were a crowded mass of humanity, through which the procession had to wend its way. The illustration above shows the funeral cortege leaving the house, the scene pictured being at Boultbee and Boothroyd Avenues. Baby Alfreda was carried to her last rest in a white hearse, seen rounding the corner in the right centre background.

[bruxesco]

Salve Hekate!

Cortejo de Hekate em Belém Pará, Brasil. Hekate cortege in Belém Pará, Brazil.

[undiscovered-horizon]

Hello Sofia! My name is Aleksandra! Just wanted to send a request of Zoro x reader where reader has just joined the crew she is a witch and very strong, sweet, but could be intense (in a good way) as well as mysterious everyone in the crew absolutely loves her but it takes time for Zoro to completely trust her so he keeps his eye on her causing them both to have some tension some days they are arguing over tiny situations some days they are sitting alone together laughing and smiling at one another with feelings building up that they have yet to understand even though they are confused with their feelings their connection runs deeply to the point it drives them insane everyone else in the crew see's this (Besides our dear Luffy.) They try to get them to open up but it's hopeless at times. I was thinking Zoro gets a deep cut during a fight and Reader helps him with his wound this is where they are able to share their feelings and once they deeply kiss they understand how they feel from there.

I hope this is a good one to do! Thank you!✨🌻✨

I would love to be tagged at!💜 @shewalksinanotherworld

This took a little bit longer and I have nothing to say for myself except that my executive function does not, in fact, function. Enjoy! @shewalksinanotherworld Enjoying my work? You can leave me a tip on Ko-Fi | Have a request?

"The way to a man's heart" - Zoro x Reader

[graphic descriptions of open wounds]

Somebody once said that love and hate are two sides of the same coin - a token of devotion. Like tides of two seas that create storms and whirlpools upon meeting, it is often impossible to determine where one ends and the other begins. Perhaps, these waters have never differed as they are two ends of one river. Both lovers and enemies alike make up the first row of the funeral cortege.

And just like those seas, no matter whether they are the same or two different bodies, Zoro and you seem to be ebbing and flowing across love and hate. Flipping the coin of dedication each day to see where your tense relationship will take you. Sometimes more than once a day, when mere hours separate passionate fights from merry laughter.

But speaking of turning tides and seamlessly flowing waters, wouldn't the seas know each other far too well? What constitutes oceans of hate was once the pond of love. Conversely, the waters of affection had once flown as tides of enmity. If the answer is yes, it would explain quite a lot about the rather inexplicable connection you share with the swordsman. Sometimes not a word has to be spoken but a fleeting gaze exchange for either of you to know perfectly well what the other has on their mind.

To be fair, it's hard for you to put your finger on the why - Why are you and Zoro so strange with each other? The most plausible explanation would probably be his stubborn distrust. He's a very guarded person which, by itself, is not unfathomable considering his journey and livelihood. But it is absolutely tedious when he sticks to his guns against all available evidence. Weeks went by when Zoro was the only crewmember who perceived you in different shades of suspicion, even after witnessing you put your life on the line for your mutual friends. His stubbornness was frustrating, so you gave him as good as you got and well... Here we are, wading in the murky waters of passion, both pleasant and adverse.

However, you'll be wading much different waters, those flowing in the Styx River, if you don't escape now. The Indigo Cross pirates are a little too close behind you. You can almost feel their breaths on your neck as they scream about revenge, bloodshed and defending their captain's honour. Yes, about that... It wasn't exactly Luffy's fault that the man he told to apologize to the tavern waitress was the world's most narcissistic pirate. Alas, the damage is done and so is your chance at a peaceful shore leave.

The Merry Go is but a few meters away. You just have to get to the gangway and run up the stairs so fast your mother would go bald from stress. Just two things, right?

Your foot gets caught the between rotting planks of the pier. The unforeseen obstacle in your escape startles you, giving you barely any time to shield your face from the painful impact of the ground.

"Shit!" you groan to yourself, yanking your foot.

Zoro yells out your name. In long strides, he catches up with you. He manages to rip away one of the mould-covered planks. Despite your foot being set free, the man lifts you to stand on your own.

"You go, I'll hold them back," he orders you as he nudges you in the direction of the ship. Before you can defy him, Zoro is already running towards the oncoming wave of looking-for-a-scrap pirates.

Time seems to slow down as you watch a spear, its polished head shining in the sunlight, fly through the air and pierce Zoro's chest. He stumbles backwards and falls on one knee. With a roar of agony, the swordsman grabs the long shaft of the weapon. A loud snap fills the air as he breaks the wood off. Then, like a phoenix rising from the ashes,, Zoro stands up. Although his legs tremble slightly, he still lifts his swords and fights off the Indigo pirates. Some seem to drop their weapons in surrender, seeing that not even death can grasp this demon of a man.

You want to call for him but Sanji firmly grabs your arm and pulls you on board. "Come on, he can handle himself."

Having hidden on the lower deck, you're not sure what happened on the shore and onboard the ship until you saw none other but Roronoa Zoro, stumbling down the stairs and almost falling on the floor. Luffy, Usopp and even Sanji yell and nag at him to get his wound looked at while Nami keeps calling him different variations of "stupid" but Zoro only curses at them and tells a less savoury "Leave me alone".

Maybe thirty minutes pass by until the emotions die down or are at least well hidden. Your four friends sit around the kitchen, all strangely silent. They all give you a curious look when you let out a heavy sigh and march towards Zoro's room. He's going to die one day, obviously, but it's not going to be today. And definitely not because he put your safety before his own. What kind of rom-com death would that be?

Zoro is facing you with his back when you swing the door open without even knocking first. You seem to have interrupted his rather poor attempt at bandaging the hole in his chest. He looks over his shoulder, his face bearing an expression of annoyance.

"What do you want?"

You toss a handful of medical supplies on top of the chest with his belongings. The fresh dressings, a small bottle of alcohol, a needle and a thread tell quite the story, lying next to the bloodied head of a spear with splinters coming out of where the long shaft should be. It's still hardly believable what he did back there.

"When you get an infection, you green-haired idiot," you speak with your hands crossed on your chest. It's clear as day - you're pissed off, "it will be Sanji spoon-feeding you. I'm sure you'll be having the time of your life then."

Your sarcastic remark doesn't seem to phase him. The wrinkle between Zoro's eyebrows only gets deeper.

"I'm fine. I've been worse," he says with an exasperated sigh. "Just piss off," the man groans in a low voice.

Maybe if he wasn't already injured, you'd punch him straight in the jaw. "Stop being a stubborn ass," you raise your voice, "and let me help you."

Zoro rolls his eyes dramatically. Making a show of his discontentment, he sits on the edge of his hammock. If he was just a few yours younger maybe he'd stomp his feet too, as befits a toddler he seems to have chosen to act like.

Minutes go by in silence as you clean the deep would and do your best suturing it. Meanwhile, Zoro doesn't even wince. He's perfectly calm and collected, almost as though his soul has left his body and gone for a stroll.

By the looks of it, you haven't stitched wounds many times and Sanji would probably be better at this, with his experienced hands and all, but that would require Zoro to be either already dead or at least unconscious. There's no other way he'd willingly let those slimy fingers touch him.

“They say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach," you say under your breath as you tighten the knot on the last suture. The last thing you want is the deep wound reopening. "I guess going through his ribs works too.”

"A lot more efficient." The swordsman chuckles but his laughter soon turns into winces and groans. Although he's not going to bleed to death anymore, the rather large hole in his chest is this painful and not something to trifle with.

"A spear nearly pierced right through you and you're having a laugh?" You nod with approval. He's impressed you, you have to give him that. "Roronoa Zoro, you command respect."

A silence falls between you again as you put back the collection of medical supplies you've managed to find aboard. Little do you know, Zoro's watchful gaze doesn't leave you. He seems to be intensely thinking about something.

"Thanks," he finally spits out. "I would rather die than let Sanji spoon-feed me."

It's not the wraith of death that scared him into letting you patch him up - it was the cook in a striped shirt. Really? Roronoa Zoro is a lot of things but "ordinary" or "predictable" is not one of them.

You burst into laughter. "Unfortunately," you manage to breathe out, "I would have loved to see that."

He shakes his head in disapproval but his lips are curved into a grin. "I hate you."

"No, you don't, big guy," you answer as you playfully poke his arm. It's still covered in dried blood and sweat.

His dark eyes stare into yours with a strange glint to them. It's almost like amusement but not entirely - it's deeper, much deeper. "Yeah, I don't," he whispers.

Everything happens so fast: Zoro grabs your neck and pulls you flush against himself, crashing his lips against yours. Involuntarily you yelp, which elicits a chuckle from the man. On one hand, you're surprised with his sudden declaration of passion but on the other hand, you're relieved. Of course, you have joked that Zoro must be in love with you to be so annoying most of the time but rarely did you consider it a real possibility. He just... didn't seem like a man who loves, only desires. But now, when he's kissing you so desperately and eagerly, you feel stupid for ever thinking such thoughts. As his hand roams your body, you begin to wonder whether all of this has always been this funny - every one of your friends already knew the feelings you had for each other, except the two of you. Something so obvious it's easily overlooked.

It makes you think that he was, actually, scared of losing but not his life. He was scared of losing someone.

[baba-the-yagaa]

the funeral cortege has passed, Paris lies in waiting. Not even a week into June of 1832, and tensions run high...

[brf-rumortrackinganon]

I know it’s too soon and it sounds like they have everything under control, but let’s say the worst happens and we suddenly have King William and Queen Catherine….

Yes, it would be sad yada yada, but how delicious to see the Harkles forced to bow/ curtsey to the new King and Queen in public. 

Markle would brave the humiliation to help her brand, but how humiliating for them to bow/ curtsey to their hated rivals. 

***

Seeing Meghan have to grovel to William and Kate would be better than a free dessert with Costco-sized portions.

The humiliation she felt at the Queen’s funeral is going to pale in comparison to the humiliation she will feel at the King’s funeral. And when you think about it, The Queen’s funeral was three times the humiliation Meghan was expecting:

1. She (and Harry) were already in the UK which meant she was on a kind of lockdown that kept her from orchestrating the usual PR shenanigans she has become accustomed to when the BRF has major ceremonial events like this. She not only had ‘the firm’ watching her, but Harry was also there with her, in the same house, and she couldn’t just send him away so she could scheme in private (as she did every other time Harry went back to London without her, and notably for Philip’s funeral).

2. This “lockdown” also meant that she couldn’t go anywhere. No traveling, no parties, no nothing because of tightened security protocols, which means she couldn’t escape any of the criticism being said about her and Harry and she also couldn’t escape any of the praise Kate was getting...whom everyone was now calling The Princess of Wales while she was just ‘Meghan.’

3. It was made very clear that she and Harry were not welcome around the family, neither the main “branch” of Charles and Waleses nor the extended family. Harry wasn’t invited on the plane with William, but Andrew was. Harry wasn’t invited to Birkhall with Charles the night The Queen died to discuss transition. Hardman’s book all but says no one talked to Harry that night at Balmoral over dinner. Harry didn’t do the “family” walkabout at Balmoral with the rest of the grandchildren. The Sussexes didn’t get their own “meet the public and view the tributes” walkabout like the rest of the titled family members (minus the Yorkies). Charles called them ‘Harry and Meghan’ (no titles) and wished them well overseas in his first speech after The Queen’s passing. Harry wasn’t part of the Accession Council. Members of the public visibly and audibly refused to give greetings to Meghan at the Windsor walkabout. Harry had his ER revoked from his military uniform the one time he did get to wear it. Meghan was rejected by Camilla, Kate, and Sophie at the funeral - look at the gulf between them after the service when they were curtsying the cortege. No one spoke to them after The Queen’s commital service when they were waiting to leave but the staff.

It’s going to be so, so much worse when Charles passes. Especially if they’re in California (like when Philip passed) and all these negotiations are happening over much longer distances with much more time zones.

(And I do think Harry has some regret over The Queen and Philip’s passing - he “wasn’t told” they were dying so he didn’t get to see them one last time, which which probably made the trauma from Diana’s passing fresh again, and that’s why we see Harry making urgent plans to see Charles. This isn’t a knock against Harry; I missed seeing my own grandfather before he passed, the only cousin/grandchild who did, and the woulda/coulda/shoulda is very real so I completely understand. I do, however, side-eye his claims that he wasn’t told, because the signs were very, very obvious in both situations.)

[maybeitsalivescribbles]

One-Word H/V Prompts: Queer Edition

It's Pride month, so...

Villain has a crush on Hero and invites them to dinner. Unfortunately, not only is Hero aro/ace and every flirty comment passes over their head/annoys them, but they’re also a foodie. Endless critics ensue.

“I knew it! You two are lovers!” “No, we’re more than that. We’re friends.”

Hero discovers that the cute twink he has a crush on at this “normal” work is actually a huge bear as a Villain (serums were involved). It’s confusing.

Hero has the weird power of transforming the bodies of everyone else but them. They wished they had something cooler, but soon after a lot of people come asking for their help.

Villains/Hero recruits people who are thrown on the streets because of their queerphobic landlords/family. It actually works out quite well.

This Villainness’s power is a mesmerizing voice, but it only works on women. Heroine wonders why.

Supervillain is definitively a man, but he’s a man of fashion. Only dramatic dresses can properly fit his peacock’s brand of style.

To protect their identity, Hero presents as a man under their civilian identity and as a woman as a Hero. That makes them realize something about themself.

NB Thief has all the genders and is a master of disguise. The only way to recognize them is how stunning they are, but then again, maybe Detective has a crush.

An intersex hero is a lady with a beard and no one, actually, gives a damn – are you insane, that’s what you focus on? She can shoot fucking lasers with her eyes !

Villain specializes in smuggled goods, including banned books. Soon they notice that a lot of teens/young adults flood to them for reading references.

“Be gay do crimes” stickers on Villain’s evil lair everywhere on the walls.

“Be gay stop crimes” magnet on Hero’s fridge.

Hero, Villain, Supervillain, Superhero, Henchmen and Sidekicks try to kill each other all year, but they agree on one point: protect the Pride cortege. They all have their own reasons (queer themselves, they have a close one in the cortege, they like the outfits, they like the challenge to authority/norms, etc)

*

Back to the Hero x Villain Masterlist.

[nanshe-of-nina]

Women’s History Meme || Executions and Murders (5/5) ↬ Blanche of Bourbon, Queen consort of Castile

At a loss for a motive or cause behind Blanche’s death, Ayala resorts to another apocryphal story. One day, he writes, Pedro was hunting in the environs of Jerez when a shepherd claiming to have a message from God approached him. Pedro was enjoined to renew conjugal relations with Blanche and was assured legitimate heirs to the throne. If he disobeyed, he was promised a tragic end. Suspecting a conspiracy, the king ordered the imprisonment of the shepherd and dispatched Lopez de Cordoba (his camarero) and Matheos Fernandez (cancilfer del sello de fa poridad) to see if Blanche had been a party to the ruse. Though she declared her innocence, Pedro nevertheless ordered her death. … While it is impossible to know the true circumstances of Blanche’s death, Ayala’s story is a useful fabrication invented to highlight the absence of legitimate heirs to the throne, a feature of Pedro’s story intended to lessen the burden of Enrique’s illegitimacy. At the same time, Ayala’s portrayal of Blanche as victim, up to and including the circumstances of her reported death, is a constant feature of the chronicle. If Pedro in fact ordered her death, which is what Ayala wants us to believe, Blanche was one of his most undeserving victims, and the king was at his most merciless and cruel. As if by God’s judgment, or so Catalina implies, Maria de Padilla died shortly thereafter, in July 1361. She likely died of natural causes—as Blanche may have—leaving Pedro four children: Alfonso, Beatriz, Constanza, and Isabel. Immediately after her death, Pedro proclaimed her queen of Castile and ordered a royal burial, with all attendant honors. A funeral cortege carried her body to the monastery of Santa Clara de Astudillo, which she had founded in 1354. In 1362, her remains were transferred to the royal chapel in Seville for permanent repose . — Pedro the Cruel of Castile (1350-1369) by Clara Estow

[empiredesimparte]

Live broadcast of ‘Le Sacre de Napoléon V’ on the national channel Francesim 2, hosted by Stéphane Bernard

(Herald) Their Most August and Most Glorious Imperial Majesties, Emperor Napoleon V and Empress Charlotte of the French!

(Stéphane Bernard) You have just heard the herald. With solemnity, he announces the entrance of Their Majesties into the cathedral. The Grand Marshal accompanies Their Majesties. Meanwhile, the imperial family gathers in the choir of Notre-Dame.

(Stéphane Bernard) On the left, we can see the Master of Ceremonies, and on the right stands the palace usher. They will play a role in the Emperor's procession, as we will have the opportunity to witness.

⚜ Le Sacre de Napoléon V | N°8 | Francesim, Paris, 28 Thermidor An 230

The imperial cortege arrives at Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris. The coronation ceremony is about to begin. It was broadcast live on television by Stéphane Bernard, the famous journalist for the crowned heads in Francesim.

Beginning ▬ Previous ▬ Next

⚜ Traduction française

(Héraut d'armes) Leurs Très Augustes et Très Glorieuses Majestés Impériales, l'Empereur Napoléon V et l'Impératrice Charlotte des Français !

(Stéphane Bernard) Vous venez d'écouter le héraut d'armes. Avec solennité, il annonce l'entrée de Leurs Majestés à l'intérieur de la cathédrale.

(Stéphane Bernard) Le Grand Maréchal accompagne Leurs Majestés avec tout le sérieux protocolaire requis. Pendant ce temps, la famille impériale se rassemble dans le choeur de Notre-Dame pour marquer le début de cette cérémonie historique.

(Stéphane Bernard) À gauche, nous pouvons apercevoir le maître des cérémonies, tandis qu'à droite, se tient l'huissier du palais. Ils joueront un rôle central dans le cortège de l'Empereur, comme nous aurons l'occasion de le constater.

[theroyalsandi]

The Crown Princess of Sweden and Prince Oscar, Duke of Skåne standing on the Palace balcony looking as the Cortege with King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia in Central Stockholm, Sweden | September 16, 2023

[calabria-mediterranea]

Seminara, Calabria, Italy

Seminara is located at the tip of the Italian boot about 30 kilometers (19 miles) north of Reggio Calabria. Its noteworthy political past includes turn-of-the-15th-century battles associated with the Italian Wars and a 1535 visit by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, who entered Seminara in a triumphal cortege to celebrate his victory over the Ottomans in Tunis.

Historically, the town has also had a reputation for its fine olive oil and silk.

Its two most distinguished citizens reflect southern Calabria’s Greek heritage, which endured long past the periods of Greater Greece and the Early Middle Ages when Orthodox Churches were established throughout the territory. Barlaam of Seminara (1290-1348) was an influential Byzantine-Greek clergyman and philosopher, and Leonzio Pilato (died 1364) was the first to translate Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey into Latin. His translations were used by the likes of Petrarca and Boccaccio.

The sanctuary of Maria Santissima dei Poveri is the main place of worship in Seminara, a town in the city of Reggio Calabria. It is well known because it preserves the statue of the Madonna dei Poveri, known as the Greek Black Madonna of San Basilio Magno. It is the oldest wooden statue in Calabria, carved in cedar wood and covered in gold and with its 92 cm, it is the second tallest black Madonna in the world, after that of Verdelot, in France.

In Seminara there is also one of the most interesting Greek Orthodox monastery of Southern Italy. Founded in 9th century by Sant’Elia of Enna, a Sicilian monk who lived in asceticism in a nearby cave, the monastery was endowed with rich goods and privileges by the Byzantine emperor Leo VI the Wise, who appreciated its sanctity and wisdom.

The monastery soon became a center of spiritual and cultural radiation, attracting numerous disciples and pilgrims, including the famous Filareto l’Ortolano, who died there in the odor of sanctity.

Unfortunately, it duffered the historical vicissitudes of Calabria, including invasions, earthquakes and persecutions. In the 16th century, following the forced Latinization of the Southern Orthodox churches, the monastery was abandoned and fell into ruin. 9th century Greek Orthodox Monastery. It was restored in 2005 and is now open for pilgrims and travelers.

Photos by Calabria Straordinaria, @piervalentino_pierva, @karim.ayed.1976, @dmncdlc, @morgana_zeta, , @esplorando_dietro_casa e @giuliaeats

Follow us on Instagram, @calabria_mediterranea

[duchesssoflennox]

"Whispers of Love Amidst Mourning: The Intimate Union of Princess Alice and Prince Ludwig"🥀💗🖤

When that ill-fated year of 1861 came and the first misfortune for British royal family was the death of the Duchess of Kent, Queen Victoria’s mother, Prince Albert asked his Daughter Princess Alice to console her poor mother.

Then he himself felt so bad, suffering from stomach pains, and after he fell ill, Alice surrounded him with care and attention. But the prince still hoped to take part in the upcoming family holiday. After all, Alice now had a fiancé.💍🖇💗

The task of finding her future husband was once assigned to Her Older Sister Vicky, who had recently become the wife of the heir to the Prussian throne, actively got down to business.

The first candidate she selected was the Prince of Orange, the future king of Holland. The prospect of becoming a Dutch queen looked very tempting, but Princess Alice didn't like the proposed gentleman with lemon-yellow teeth.🤮🤢 The next contenders were two Hessian princes, Ludwig and Heinrich, who were invited to Windsor under the pretext of visiting the famous Ascot races.😍

The Princess immediately took a liking to the eldest of them, Ludwig, a pleasant and modest young man with a handsome appearance and while some of the spectators carefully watched the horses and riders fighting for the Royal Cup, and others assessed the outfits of the society ladies with no less interest, Alice and Ludwig cast meaningful glances at each other.

Before leaving, the prince asked Alice for a photograph as a souvenir, and she willingly gave it, trying with all her might to express her interest... Albert liked Ludwig too. Queen Victoria hesitated for some time. Still, the Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt was a real backwater even by the standards of patchwork Germany.

But the German prince was so charming, so pleasant. He blushed so sweetly at every mention of Alice that the queen Victoria finally ceased to doubt the future happiness of her daughter.

Soon, together with her husband, Alice went to Coburg, Prince Albert’s homeland, stopping on the way to Darmstadt, where the princess was able to see and communicate with Ludwig again. The following spring, the young people got engaged. The plans were almost dashed by Albert's death on December 14, 1861... But Queen Victoria became unshakable in everything that concerned the wishes of her dear husband, and there was no question of postponing the marriage ceremony.

On July 1, Alice and Ludwig appeared before the altar erected in the banquet hall of Osborne House. There was nothing in the celebration that resembled the wedding of a royal daughter.

Alice remembered how her sister Vicky got married four years ago - a cortege of thirty carriages, seventeen representatives of the ruling houses of Germany, a luxurious ball in the Bikingham courtyard, where she pranced and sparkled, a whole thousand invited guests, a solemn service in St. James's Church, a rich dowry... Yeah, she was deprived of all this, but happiness lies in something completely different.

The bridesmaids struggled to put on a semblance of smiles... Heavy sighs were periodically heard from all sides... The Queen appeared in a black widow's outfit and almost immediately sank into a chair... She couldn't stand...

Next to her were her two sons, Edward, Prince of Wales, who tried to remain calm, and Alfred, who could not hold back his tears during the entire ceremony...💔💔💔🖤🖤🖤 "POOR AFFIE"

Alice entered arm in arm with her Paternal Uncle, Ernest of Saxe-Coburg, who acted as father of the bride... The embarrassed groom was afraid to look up. The altar was located under a large painting by F. Winterhalter depicting the royal family.

On the canvas at the feet of the happy parents, Victoria and Albert, their four children romped and played. An irrevocable past... The spiritual chants finally broke the queen’s self-control, and she burst into loud sobs.

Queen Victoria would later say that the day of this strange ceremony, which was more reminiscent of a funeral than a wedding, became one of the saddest in her life. However, neither she nor anyone else present could imagine what a truly ominous omen those gloomy circumstances would turn out to be for the fate of Alice and her offspring.💔

The “celebratory” dinner took place in the presence of only the newlyweds, the Queen and her youngest daughter Beatrice.

Ludwig received the highest English honor, the Order of the Garter.

Alice received as a gift from her mother a Bible, a gold bracelet with diamonds and pearls, and a dowry of 30 thousand pounds, hard-won through the Prime Minister.💎

In the evening she said that, having become Ludwig’s wife, she felt proud and happy.

“It’s like a dagger stabbed into my heart,” Queen Victoria comments on these words in a letter to her eldest daughter Vicky.😑

The newlyweds spent their honeymoon, which lasted only a week, nearby, on the same Isle of Wight, after which they went to Darmstadt, the capital of a small German duchy, where from now on they were to build a family life.

From the very border of Germany they were warmly greeted by local residents, and the meeting arranged in Darmstadt exceeded all expectations - Alice had never seen such enthusiasm and such cordiality addressed to her. Then everyday life began, dramatically changing the picture. Ludwig returned to military service, and his wife began to settle into her new surroundings. She soon noticed that, despite the initial delight, the residents of Darmstadt were very wary of her.

In her new homeland, Alice immediately became a stranger.

Englishwoman! Those around her showed distrust of the princess from such a distant, unusual and incomprehensible country, sometimes they grumbled and distorted her strange name in every possible way.

The tension was aggravated by the fact that persistent demands came from London to create suitable living conditions for the queen’s daughter.

But Ludwig's uncle, Grand Duke Ludwig III, did not have sufficient funds for such expenses.

And his nephew settled with his wife in the old parental home, in the mansion of Prince Charles.

Uncomfortable and overlooking a noisy street, it wasn't at suitable for creating a family “nest,” and Alice was very glad to leave on the eve of her first birth to England under the pretext of participating in the wedding of her older brother, the Prince of Wales.🤍

There, at Windsor Castle, on April 5, 1863, her daughter was born, named Victoria, in honor of her crowned grandmother... The girl was born on Easter Sunday, which added joy and gave hope for the final completion of all the recent sorrows that darkened the beginning of Alice’s independent life.✨️✨️✨️

Now the question of their own home for the young ducal family has become especially acute. Alice had no choice but to sacrifice almost her entire dowry for the construction of a new palace in Darmstadt, the construction of which would take two years. The project was based on the princess’s favorite castle in Osborne, the home of her happy childhood, the home of her bright memories. In the meantime, the addition of the family became the reason for the forced gift from the Grand Duke. Ludwig III gave his nephew Kranichstein one of his hunting houses six kilometers from the city.

Alice will rebuild the modest estate, loudly called a castle, to her own taste, ultimately obtaining a long-awaited corner for a quiet family life. From now on, the young Duke’s family will spend the warm season here. The house was just being settled when the owners had to receive guests of the highest level...🌺

Russian Emperor Alexander II came to Darmstadt with his wife and younger children. This was not surprising - Empress Maria Alexandrovna was a born Hessian princess and often visited her homeland. Ludwig III and Prince Charles were her siblings, whom she was always glad to meet...

This time, the Empress decided to visit her nephew Ludwig to get to know his own family, for which the Royal Family went to Kranichstein, where a real fuss arose in connection with this.

Princess Alice, who always remembered that she was the daughter of the Queen of England, didn't want to lose face and worked with all her might.❤️‍🔥

From the words of her husband, who visited Moscow for the coronation of Alexander II, she knew about the unheard-of luxury that surrounded the Russian Tsar and about the strictest etiquette imphis presence.❤️🇷🇺

There was a lot to worry about, but to the surprise of the hosts, the distinguished guests turned out to be nice and kind people... Instead of stiffness, they showed kindness and ease; instead of Asian barbarism, they showed great intelligence and subtle taste.

And how charming their children are! Smart, well-mannered. especially admired Grand Duke Sergei, in whom even little Victoria felt something good and attractive. She constantly smiled at this boy, asked to see him and did not want to part with him.

It's said that Alice, who was then in the last months of a new pregnancy, let Little Grand Duke Sergei listen to how the heart of the expected child was beating inside her. A touching story💗💗💗 and the Grand Duke in such an unusual way “met” (who would have thought!) with his future wife even before her birth!💗💗💗