DUTCH PRINCESS MARRIED

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21986, 9 January 1937, Page 13

DUTCH PRINCESS MARRIED

BRILLIANT PROCESSION THROUGH THE HAGUE SIMPLICITY IN DECORATION AT CHURCH (UMITED PEBSS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.) (Received January 8, 10.45 a.m.) THE HAGUE, January 7. Glorious weather favoured the ceremonies at the wedding of Princess Juliana of Holland to Prince Bernhard zur Lippe-Biesterfeld, which took place to-day. It is estimated that more than 4,000,000 people arrived from all parts of Holland to see the pageantry, There were few swastika flags among the decorations, . the predominant colours being those of the House of Orange and the House of Lippe-Detmold. Among the first to arrive at the fifteenth century Church of St James were the bridesmaids, who wore light woollen cloaks because of the cold, thus denying the crowds a glimpse of their dresses, which were carried out in an original rainbow scheme. ' Each wore a different colour, lilac, blue, green, yellow, orange and rose, symbolising a hopeful and happy union as the rainbow promises happiness in uniting earth and heaven. Princess Juliana herself was responsible for this charming inspiration. Dense crowds outside the Royal Palace cheered wildly as the Royal couple appeared, for, contrary to English custom, the Dutch custom is for a couple to drive to the church together. Princess Juliana looked radiantly happy as Prince Bernhard helped her into their golden coach. The procession was headed by an imposing military detachment, and three coaches with the bridesmaids and groomsmen followed. Then came the bridal* couple. Queen Wilhelmina and the bridegroom’s mother followed in a glass coach. After this came the relatives of the Royal families and distinguished personages. Each coach was escorted by a military detachment. Civil Ceremony The Duke of Kent and other British guests did not participate in the procession, but awaited its arrival at the church. A fanfare, of trumpets greeted the arrival of the procession at the Town Hall, where the burgomaster carried out the simple civil marriage ceremony. The bride and bridegroom were asked to stand up, give each other their ungloved right hand, and affirm their solemn desire to accept-faithfully all the duties which the law imposed on those entering marriage. The couple then drove on to the church. The simplicity and lack of decoration at the church startled those used to the pomp of royal weddings in other countries. There were no floral decorations or candles. Here the couple took the final rriarriagS vows. The pledge to obey was omitted,from Princess Juliana’s vows, presumably at her own request. After .the,; exchange of vows, wedding rings were placed on the ring fingers of the right hand, according to the Dutch custom. After the ceremony the weddirig party Went to the vestry, where Queen Wilhelmina embraced the couple, and the guests, including the Duke of Kent, offered congratulations. Drive Through City The bells in every church in The Hague rang out, bands played, and vast crowds cheered excitedly as the couple left the church for the three-mile drive through the capital. The crowd was delighted when, during the drive, Princess Juliana ceased bowing, turned to Prince Bernhard, and kissed him on the mouth. A Royal decree, confers the title of Prince of the Netherlands on Prince Bernhard, who has also been appointed a Councillor of State. Princess Juliana assumes the title of Princess Lippe-Biesterfeld in addition to her other titles/ The Prime Minister (Dr. H. Colijn) and other dignitaries will receive special honours. The Queen has presented the couple with a Royal palace at Soestdijk. The first part of the honeymoon is being spent at the winter-sports at Innsbruck. The couple will go from there via France, avoiding Germany, which, because of the recent incidents, is boycotting the wedding. Exactly at' the same moment as Princess Juliana was married, the wedding of her namesake and friend, Miss Juliana van der Meer, was celebrated, near Leiden. Miss van der Meer was born on the same day and at the same hour as Princess Juliana, and the two girls were united in a strong affection. Holland Rejoices All Holland was given over- to revelries to-night, dense crowds singing and dancing in the streets. The Royal couple slipped out of the palace gates at 5.30 p.m. unnoticed by the waiting thousands. It is understood that they have gone to Queen Wilhelmina’s palace at Hetloo, whence they will go to Iglo, the famous winter sports centre in the Tyrol, finally touring England and Scotland. Holland is pleased at the prince’s express wish that he should return to work at the Amsterdam . office of his trading company after the honeymoon. A Berlin message says that the latd editions of the papers published a uniform "official account of the wedding.. The whole treatment of the ceremony after the recent controversy might be described as correct but not cordial.