The marriage of the Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Edinburgh to the Grand Duke Ernest of Hesse, which is fixed to take place on April the 22nd, and at which Her Majesty the Queen, the Emperor of Germany, and other notabilities will be present, will almost coincide with the appearance of these portraits. H.R.H. the Grand Duke Ernest of Hesse Darmstadt was born in Darmstadt, Germany, on the 25th of November, 1868, and succeeded his father, Louis IV., to the throne in March, 1892. On his accession to the throne he concluded his speech with the following words: "I shall try to follow in the footsteps of my dear father. And I beg of you to help me as you have helped him, not for duty only, but also out of love." The Duke is the eldest son of the late Princess Alice, and is, therefore, a grandson of the Queen. In offering our sincere congratulations and best wishes to the youthful pair, we are sure that every reader of THE STRAND MAGAZINE will cordially join us. PRINCESS VICTORIA MELITA OF SAXE-COBURG AND EDINBURGH. BORN 1876. [Illustration: AGE 2. _From a Photo. by Schevegerle, Coburg._] [Illustration: AGE 4. _From a Photo. by W. & D. Downey._] [Illustration: AGE 10. _From a Photo. by Hughes & Mullins, Ryde._] [Illustration: AGE 14. _From a Photo. by W. & D. Downey._] [Illustration: PRESENT DAY. _From a Photo. by Heath, Plymouth._] Princess Victoria Melita, of whom we have the pleasure of here presenting a most charming set of portraits, is the second daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Edinburgh. She was born on the 25th of November, 1876, and it will be seen that the happy pair therefore celebrate their respective birthdays on the same date. THE BISHOP OF WORCESTER. BORN 1824. [Illustration: AGE 4. _From a Drawing._] [Illustration: AGE 24. _From a Daguerreotype._] [Illustration: AGE 38. _From a Photo. by Kilburn, Regent St._] [Illustration: PRESENT DAY. _From a Photo. by Elliott d'Fry._] The Right Rev. John Jas. Stewart Perowne, D.D., was born at Burdwan, Bengal, of a family of French extraction, that came over to this country at the revocation of the French Edict of Nantes. He was educated at Norwich Grammar School, and at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Dr. Perowne took his B.A. degree in 1845, and that of M.A. in 1848, and was elected a Fellow of his College in 1849. He was appointed Honorary Chaplain to the Queen in 1875. In 1890 he was consecrated Bishop of Worcester, in succession to Dr. Philpott, who resigned. MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN, M.P. BORN 1836. [Illustration: AGE 15. _From a Bust._] [Illustration: AGE 32. _From a Photo. by Maull & Co., London._] [Illustration: AGE 41. _From a Photo. by Van Bosh, Paris._] [Illustration: PRESENT DAY. _From a Photo. by Elliott & Fry._]