engagement for Victoria and George

June 23, 1900

Diplomats and notables who "usually reside in London," and are now in Paris for the exposition, are discussing "the presence in Paris of the gent of a secret engagement between Princess Victoria of Wales and Prince George of Greece, Governor of Crete," reports the Marquise de Fontenoy.
All present "seemed to regard an early public announcement of the engagement as certain."
One diplomat, present for the meeting, gave the entire "whole heart history" of Princess Victoria. He told "how she fell madly in love years ago with a brilliant young Lieutenant in the English army," but their love was thwarted by Queen Victoria, who "one day summoned and reprimanded and harshly ordered" the young man to India, "with a substantial promotion." The "amiable Princess" later wished to marry a "wealthy and refined London banker, many years her senior." When this romance was also denied, the Princess begged to be allowed to "abandon court and country."
The diplomat, who is a friend of Victoria's parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, said that Victoria "has never loved George much, yet she finds him congenial."
On the other hand, Prince George, a younger son of King George and Queen Olga, "has always desired the marriage." King George is younger brother of the Princess of Wales.
For the past fifteen years, the Greek and Wales cousins have spent their vacations in Denmark with their Danish relatives. Every year, the undaunted George has proposed to Victoria, and she has finally said yes.
The Princess will celebrated her 32nd birthday in July. Prince George turns 31 tomorrow.