The crisis arose on the death of Frederick VII., King of Denmark. The succession, as had been decreed by the Great Powers in 1852, devolved on the father of the Princess of Wales, who became King Christian IX. of Denmark. There had existed between Germany and Denmark a long-standing dispute about the possession of the Duchies of Schleswig, Holstein, and Lauenburg. The King of Denmark was also Duke of Holstein and Lauenburg, just as, previous to Queen Victoria's accession, the King of England had been also King of Hanover. But the vast majority of the population of these Duchies was purely German, and the German Confederation had been anxious for a long time to admit them to their common nationality. The Danish Government, on the other hand, desired to incorporate these provinces in the Kingdom of Denmark. Prince Frederick of Schleswig-Holstein-Augustenburg disputed the succession of Christian IX. to the Duchies in question. The Germanic Diet, under the influence of Herr von Bismarck, supported Prince Frederick's claim, and an allied army, provided by Austria and Prussia, crossed the frontiers of Holstein and Schleswig to enforce it. The Danish army was mobilised, and Denmark entered upon a hopeless contest--hopeless, seeing that she, one of the weakest of European States, was pitted against two of the most powerful. [Illustration: _From a Photograph_} {_by Mayall, Piccadilly._ A. Princess Helena. B. Prince and Princess of Wales. C. The Queen. D. Princess Beatrice. E. Prince Arthur. F. Princess Royal. G. Princess Alice and Prince Louis of Hesse. A ROYAL FAMILY GROUP. Photographed from life on the day of the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales.] [Illustration: _R. Lauchert._} {_From the Royal Collection._ H.R.H. THE PRINCESS OF WALES AT THE TIME OF HER MARRIAGE.]