3-039-123 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Opening of the Royal Albert Hall by the Queen: the Prince of Wales declaring the Hall open, 1871. 'Accompanied by the Prince of Wales, wearing his Hussar uniform, came the Queen, who wore a black silk dress, black silk mantle trimmed with velvet, and a black bonnet in which were a few white flowers. The Queen took her place on the dais...on her Majesty's right and left were the Princess of Wales, the Duke of Saxe Coburg and Gotha, Princess Christian, Princess Louise, Princess Beatrice, Prince Arthur...[and] the Bishop of London...The Queen looked in good health and happy, though touched with that emotion which she usually betrays upon occasions connected with the memory of her lamented husband...the Prince of Wales...read, in a clear and distinct voice, [his] address...as President of the Provisional Committee. He spoke of "the successful completion of this hall, an important feature of a long cherished design of my beloved father, for the general culture of your people, in whose improvement he was always deeply interested...The Bishop of London...offered a special prayer...There was immense cheering; the trumpets sounded, the choir sang the National Anthem, and the park guns boomed a distant salute'. From "Illustrated London News", 1871.