3-065-754 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Royal Entry into London: the procession in Oxford-Circus, 1874. Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, with his new bride, Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia, process through the capital. 'The Queen [ie Queen Victoria], with the Duke and Duchess and the other Royal personages, entered carriages at Paddington, and drove steadily down Edgware-road, Oxford-street, Regent-street, Waterloo-place, past Charing-cross, through the Horse Guards, along the Mall, to Buckingham Palace, the route being lined with troops...Oxford-street appeared to have expended a good deal of its enthusiasm in its decorative efforts. The open space of Regent-circus was thickly peopled, and the cheering tremendous... everywhere were to be found numbers of people cheering lustily in spite of the snow which fell during the first part of the route...The establishments of Messrs. Jay and Madame Louise were splendidly adorned...It was an event which all ranks and classes of her Majesty's liege people regarded with such affectionate interest as they have always felt in the domestic happiness of the Royal family, now increased by the welcome presence of an amiable and illustrious lady, the newly-married wife of our Sailor Prince'. From "Illustrated London News", 1874.