Manoel seeks British bride

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November 13, 1909

King Manoel of Portugal arrives in England tomorrow in a quest to find a royal bride. He is "assured of a warm welcome," according to the Chicago Daily Tribune, "because it is hoped that he will select an English princess for his bride."

The press is speculating on two eligible princesses: Princess Patricia of Connaught and Princess Alexandra of Fife, who is the elder daughter of the Princess Royal and the Duke of Fife.

Princess Patricia is "generally eliminated from the calculations of those who know," because of her fondness for an English peer.

Alexandra is also not expected to win the king's hand "because her parents can hardly bear her out of their sight."

Alexandra and her sister, Maud, have been brought up "in the strictest seclusion and have had no friends of their own age."

There are also religious differences. Princess Alexandra is an Anglican, and "a change of religion is not an easy matter" for King Edward VII's granddaughter.
Princess Alexandra "is rather insignificant in appearance, slender and petite, with a non-descript coloring." She "rides well and is fond of fishing and outdoor sports." Her education has been "entirely elementary and she and her sister were allowed to work at their studies or not, as inclination prompted them."
At the insistence of the King and Queen, Alexandra made her debut last season, but still wears "frocks to her ankles."

Some cite the example of Princess Ena of Battenberg, who converted to the Roman Catholic church before she married King Alfonso. But Ena was only a niece of the king and the daughter of a British princess.

According to the various news reports, King Edward would like to see his niece, Princess Patricia of Connaught, as Manoel's consort A coolness has set in between the king and his younger brother, the Duke of Connaught over the king's intentions. The Duke plans to go to Africa "in pursuit of big game," and this trip is due "to the means his majesty his taken to mark his displeasure."

Princess Patricia is said "to have a will of her own," and refused to stay in the same room when King Alfonso XIII of Spain came to England "to seek a bride."
Princess Patricia has formed an attachment to the Earl of Anglesey, who is "one of the most handsome and wealthiest bachelors in England." The Earl has been "the despair of matchmaking mammas of London society," because of his devotion to Princess Patricia.

Lord Anglesey believes "that his political ambitions take root in the idea that if he achieved distinction in the service of his country," his marriage to Princess Patricia would be approved.