ABSTRACT
NAMED after the Prince Consort, who had died ten years before, the Royal Albert Hall was declared open, or rather not declared open, by Queen Victoria on 29 March 1871. Beforehand, quantities of Rimme’s scent were wafted upwards via the ventilation system at 20 -minute intervals. The National Anthem was played on the not-quite-completed Willis organ, the Prince of Wales as president of the hall read a welcoming address, the Bishop of London pronounced a prayer. The Queen’s declaration was to follow. But, under an emotion apparently associated with memories of her late husband, she did not trust her voice and called the Prince to her side. It was he who announced, in front of a crowd of about 10,000, ‘The Queen declares this hall now open’. Among other royal personages attending was the Queen’s music-loving second son, Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh.
