“His Royal Highness Prince Albert William Henry of Prussia, K.G., G.C.B., Vice-Admiral in the Imperial German Navy, has been appointed Honorary Vice-Admiral in His Majesty’s Fleet.” For the German Emperor himself, who was already a Knight of the Garter, the King had reserved a special sign of his affection, which the _London Gazette_ announced in the following terms:-- “WAR OFFICE, PALL MALL, _27th January 1901_. “The King has been pleased to appoint His Majesty William II., German Emperor, King of Prussia, K.G., G.C.V.O., Colonel-in-Chief 1st (Royal) Dragoons, Honorary Admiral of the Fleet, to be a Field-Marshal in the Army, on the occasion of the Anniversary of His Majesty’s Birthday. “The Commission dated 27th January 1901.” In telegrams to Lord Salisbury and Lord Roberts, announcing that this honour had been conferred on him, His Imperial Majesty demonstrated the great gratification which it afforded him. Not long afterwards the German Emperor conferred on Lord Roberts the Order of the Black Eagle, the highest decoration in his power to bestow. The honour bestowed on the King of Portugal is particularly interesting, as it is believed to be the first instance in which a foreign Royal personage has been appointed Colonel-in-Chief of a line regiment. It was thus officially announced:-- “WAR OFFICE, PALL MALL, _19th February 1901_. “The Oxfordshire Light Infantry. “His Majesty Charles I., King of Portugal and Algarves, K.G., to be Colonel-in-Chief. Dated 20th February 1901.” Of the other Royal personages who attended the funeral of Queen Victoria, the Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovitch of Russia, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, and the Crown Prince of Sweden and Norway were appointed Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, and Prince Charles of Denmark was made an Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order and an Honorary Lieutenant in the British Navy. Prince Christian, the Duke of Teck, Prince Louis of Battenberg, the Duke of Argyll, and the Duke of Fife became Knights Grand Cross, and the youthful Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, better known as the Duke of Albany, became an Honorary Knight Grand Cross, of the Royal Victorian Order. On his accession the King became _ipso facto_ head and Sovereign of all the great orders of Knighthood, and the position of Great Master of the Order of the Bath, to which His Majesty had been appointed in 1897, was therefore vacated. The King was unwilling that this interesting office, which had been specially created by his lamented mother, should lapse, and so he appointed his brother, the Duke of Connaught, to succeed him in it. His Majesty also appointed Rear-Admiral the Duke of Cornwall and York and Captain Prince Louis of Battenberg to be his personal Naval Aides-de-Camp.