As the wedding proceeded, promotional efforts followed closely. The queen’s wedding promised lucrative opportunities for the royal family, media, and tourism. The handsome couple was the best gimmick, and the empire hadn’t held a grand royal wedding for a long time.
News about the couple never ceased and escalated, with critics targeting the marriage following the alliance and coup. Queen Annabelle’s supporters, mostly conservative forces and some rebellious youth, directly attacked the marriage as a dirty transaction. Wilhelmina was portrayed as a scheming woman who stole love, while Lord Seleberg was considered a playboy.
Due to Wilhelmina’s media leniency, newspapers and online platforms questioned the authenticity of this marriage promoted as “true love.” Albert’s previous photos with Annabelle were republished, and so-called “insiders” added dramatic descriptions of the competition between the two women.
Wilhelmina treated these gossip stories as jokes, while Albert never cared about external evaluations. Sir Wolf later recorded this episode in his court notes.
In the chief secretary’s eyes, the engaged couple simply didn’t care about political-related rumors. They trusted each other and had a profound perspective, rendering romantic feelings seemingly unimportant.
The queen’s last public event before the wedding was the centennial celebration of the Imperial Art Museum, accompanied by Lord Seleberg. After the celebration, Queen Wilhelmina toured the collections, notably captivated by a twenty-centimeter ivory Venus statue.
A “Pioneer” reporter captured the queen’s focused expression, realizing later that this five-second holographic image was unique.
Young Queen Victoria gazed enthusiastically at a Cupid statue in a glass case while Lord Selborne looked at her tenderly. As she turned her head, they exchanged smiles filled with affection and understanding.
This photo was featured on the front page of the next day’s newspaper, becoming the most famous image of Wilhelmina and Prince Albert.
Doubts and objections were soon overshadowed by admiration after the photo’s release, as it showcased the couple’s deep feelings.
Whether in age, appearance, family background, or knowledge, they were perfectly matched, making the upcoming wedding a “century” event.
William Mina found herself busy due to the preparations. To make time for their honeymoon, she needed to complete some work in advance and often worked late into the night.
