| Citation |
NEWJ.734.006
11 Mar 1734:21,22 (362)
London, October 30. . . Concerning the marriage of the
Princess Royal with the Prince of Orange, ( which is the
subject of much conversation) people who pretend to be
learned in history and the records of this Kingdom say, that
the preparations for it, and manner of solemnizing it, are
copied after that of K. James I's daughter with the Elector
of Palatine, ( afterwards King of Bohemia) the last marriage
of a Princess Royal of England; but they agree that this
will exceed that in splendour and magnificence, suitable to
the improvements made from such distant period of time.
The chappel in which it is to be performed is built by the
famous Ingo Jones, and has one of the most admir'd ceilings
in England. The area before the altar is to be rais'd some
steps, and a throne made thereon for their Highnesses to
repose themselves whilst the musick is playing. Seats will
be made round the chappel for the nobility as at a
coronation. The chappel is to be illuminated in a most
splendid manner, and the sides all hung with velvet and rich
tapestry. The procession to it will be through a gallery
nine foot wise, covered from the weather, but so far open as
to give a view to the spectators, for whom scaffolds will be
erected in the area between the Royal Gardens &
Marlborough-House. The gallery from the palace to the
chappel is about 500 yards, in 3 different angles, 24 feet
high, has a ridge like that of an house, a boarded floor to
walk on covered with cloth, and a roof over that about 12
feet high. The breadth is 10 yards. On each side are 4
rows of seats one above the other, to contain about 5000
spectators to see the procession; & the area between the
seats is 23 feet wide. And 200 men work'd hard all last
Sunday to finish it. The embroiderers, jewellers, gold and
silver-ribbon-weavers, and other artificers, have been for
some time employed night & day on occasion of this marriage.
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