Great Britain -- History -- Victoria, 1837-1901 -- Fiction
"True," admitted the Baron, "but the constitution does not provide for
such a condition of affairs. I will talk with Peel about it."
Peel felt as Stockmar did, that it was not wise to propose such a
title. The subject arose again some years later, and the shrewd Baron
wrote to the Prince in his usual straightforward fashion: "Never
abandon your firm, powerful position to run after butterflies. You have
the substance; stick by it." The title was never given him, but it was
true that he had "the substance." The Queen no longer met her Ministers
alone; the Prince was always with her to help and suggest. Whenever
either she or the Prince spoke to the Council the word "I" was not
used; it was always "We think so-and-so should be done."
Not only the Council but the whole country were gaining in knowledge of
the Prince's wisdom and devotion to the good of the kingdom, and in
1847 a valued mark of appreciation was given him in his election as
Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, one of the greatest honors
that could have been bestowed upon him. The Queen was delighted,
because she knew that the position was not given out of compliment to
her, but was something that he himself had earned. Soon after the
election, came the installation. The magistrates and Yeomanry went to
the station to meet the Queen, and then marched before her into the
town. She was escorted into the Great Hall of Trinity College and led
to an armchair which stood on a platform under a canopy. Soon after she
had seated herself, the new Chancellor entered at the farther end of
the hall, followed by the long line of university dignitaries. He wore
a robe of black and gold, so long that it had to be held up by two
gentlemen. When he stood in front of the armchair that represented the
throne, he made a low bow and delivered his address. "The situation was
almost absurd for us," said the Queen afterwards, but the Prince read
his address with perfect command of his countenance and the Queen was
quite serious until she caught his eye for a moment at the end of the
speech. She half smiled, but in an instant she was again the dignified
sovereign, and she declared with a little emphasis that brought forth
shouts of applause, "The choice which the university has made of a
Chancellor has my most entire approbation."
Not long afterwards the new Chancellor and his royal wife paid another
visit to Cambridge. It was a little muddy, and the Queen hesitated a
moment before getting out of the carriage. Instantly one of the
students threw his gown upon the ground for her to step on, and others
followed his example.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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