THE ORANGERY, LAEKEN 



Along its shady paths, among its perfumes and 

 its flowers, once walked a young couple, the 

 Prince of Wales and his bride-to-be, those who 

 were to become the well-beloved King Edward 

 VII, and his Queen, Alexandra, Queen indeed of 

 grace and charm ! 



Among the guests at that time were also 

 Queen Victoria and Prince and Princess Christian 

 of Denmark. In the summer of 1861, Queen 

 Alexandra, inspired by her surroundings, made 

 some delightful sketches, remembrances of those 

 happy days. In September of the same year she 

 visited the spot again, and shortly after her 

 engagement was announced. Thought lingers 

 on all these memories of a happy past, as one 

 stands alone in the peace and quiet of a waning 

 day, disturbed only by the twittering of the birds 

 and the murmur of the bees, and gazes at the 

 beauty of those ideal roses, gently drooping on 

 their stems. 



COUNTESS MARGUERITE DE KERCHOVE 



3'5 



