3-078-080 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Opening of the Royal Military Exhibition: the Princess of Wales receiving purses for the Soldiers' Institutes, 1890. 'Field-Marshal the Duke of Cambridge, Commander-in-Chief of the Army, being President of the Council of the Exhibition, presented an address to the Prince of Wales [future Queen Alexandra] stating its object, which is to provide funds for erecting Soldiers' Institutes at the military stations...The ladies came forward to present to the Princess of Wales a number of purses collected by them in aid of the Soldiers' Institutes. Their Royal Highnesses went round to inspect the Exhibition, passing through the South Gallery, Battle and Music Gallery, and the West, North, and East Galleries. The doors were then thrown open to the public. Mr. Wilson Bennison, surveyor to the Exhibition; Mr. D. Charteris, builder; Mr. Davy Paxman, the engineer: and Mr. Wharton, electric light engineer, were presented to the Prince of Wales. The Exhibition is on an extensive scale, the buildings and grounds covering 7½ acres, of which 3½ are in the garden of Gordon House, and the remainder in the grounds of Chelsea Hospital'. From "Illustrated London News", 1890.