Queen Victoria in Ireland, 1853
Joseph Hone asks whether, had the Queen shown her Irish subjects greater signs of affection, could the Union have been preserved?
On August 29th, 1853, the Belfast Northern Whig received the following message transmitted from Dublin by Saunders News Letter via the new Magnetic Telegraph Company:
The Queen is in Ireland. The Queen and Royal Party arrived at Holyhead at six-thirty on Saturday evening. They left Holyhead at half past two on Monday morning. Arrived at Kingstown a few minutes after eight. Landed at that harbour at six minutes past ten, and arrived in Dublin terminus at forty minutes past ten. The Lord Mayor and Corporation were present in robes of state. Her Majesty looked and expressed herself highly gratified at the arrangements which were magnificent. The procession has just passed the Bank. The enthusiasm is extreme.
The new harbour at Holyhead had been selected as the rendezvous of the Royal Squadron and the port from which Her Majesty should leave for Ireland. She was accompanied by the Prince Consort and her two elder sons, Prince Albert Edward and Prince Alfred. A gale had delayed the departure from Holyhead, but the Prince had turned the time to good account by inspecting the work on the quarries.
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