Page:King Edward VII, his life & reign; the record of a noble career 3.djvu/22

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King Edward The Seventh.

Roman Catholics. His Holiness courteously granted the Princess permission to visit any nunnery she might select, and, by a rare act of indulgence, he authorized her to be accompanied by the members of her suite. On Good Friday, the royal pair, with the Queen of Denmark and Princess Thyra, attended service at the English Protestant chapel outside the Porta del Popolo. Many visits were paid to persons of distinction and to points of interest in the " Eternal City ", and a great Court banquet was given to the " Earl and Countess of Chester" by King Victor Emmanuel. Dr. Poore, the physician in attendance, was able by this time to report a marked improvement in the health of the Prince. After many visits to interesting places, including art studios, the royal party, on April 8, left Rome for Florence, whence they made an excursion to Pisa, and left, on April 15, for Milan. Thence they travelled to Venice, back to Milan, and on to Geneva, which was reached on May 17. There they were joined by the Danish royal family, and in the last week of May they were again in Paris, making frequent explorations, and being everywhere received with the respect due to a strict incognito.

The restoration of the Prince was now complete, and on June

14 he and his wife landed at Dover. At Maryborough House he took up his ordinary course of life in the London " season ". It was not long, however, before the heir apparent resumed his usual work of attendance at places and on occasions where the ends of public utility could be served. On June 6 he repaired, for two days, to Great Yarmouth, where he had a fine reception from the citizens, with the usual accompaniments of a general holiday and profuse decoration of the town and the shipping in the harbour. He opened the new Grammar School, a foundation of Edward the Sixth, and expressed his constant satisfaction in "assisting, in whatever form it may be, in the great work of education ". He also made an official inspection of the Norfolk Artillery Militia, of which he had been, in the previous year, appointed honorary colonel, and, in his speech, referring to his restoration to health, he expressed the hope that he might do all he could to be of use to his countrymen. On June 19 the