THE QUEEN'S MESSAGE. (Hansard, 15 May 1885)

EARL GBANVILLE

I beg to move— That a humble Address he presented to Her Majesty, thanking Her Majesty for the most gracious communication which it has pleased Her Majesty to make to this House of the intended marriage between Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and His Serene Highness Prince Henry of Battenberg, and to assure Her Majesty that this House, always feeling the liveliest interest in any event which can contribute to the happiness of the Royal Family will concur in the measures which may be proposed for the consideration of the House to enable Her Majesty to make suitable provision for Her Royal Highness. My Lords, I have not the slightest doubt that your Lordships will agree to this Motion with cordiality and with sympathy with Her Majesty and her Family. That has always been the case in my experience; and it has been my fortunate lot on several former occasions to make a proposition of an exactly similar character. There is no family relation more touching than that between a mother and her daughter; and I believe many of your Lordships are personally cognizant of what this relation between Her Majesty and Princess Beatrice has been. It is a matter of congratulation that by this marriage—founded on mutual affection—of the Princess Beatrice to one whose personal qualities are universally acknowledged by those who know him, there will be no separa- 570 tion. The daughter will not be taken away from the Queen; but a son will be added to Her Majesty's home. I am perfectly certain that your Lordships will readily agree to any provision of a reasonable character, such as is proposed to be given in this case.

§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

My Lords, I am sure your Lordships will heartily agree with the Motion of the noble Earl, and will readily join in giving effect to the proposals which may commend themselves to Her Majesty's Government. This House does not take the same prominent share as the other House of Parliament does in dealing with questions of this kind; but we shall not fall short of the other House in the earnestness and goodwill with which we concur in the requisite arrangements, and your Lordships will wish that every happiness may attend those who are about to be united. Her Majesty has been singularly" fortunate and happy in the marriages of her children. Those who have the honour of knowing the Princess and her affianced husband will feel that to along list of marriages which have brought happiness to the Royal Household, and which have shed honour upon a race in whose character and petition every Englishman feels the profoundest interest, this marriage now to be added will be like those that have gone before. We shall attend the last of the marriages of Her Majesty's children with the same feelings of hope for the future as those which have accompanied previous unions. I will only say one word more The Prime Minister intimated in the other House that it was the intention of the Government to deal this question of providing appanages for the children of the Sovereign and review the position and the present condition of the whole subject and the practice that practice I do not wish to comment now upon that which is reserved for discussion at a more distant opportunity; but I can only say that I heartily agree in the wisdom of the plan suggested by the Prime Minister, and I think much advantage may come from the consideration of this subject.