EGYPTIAN ROYAL WEDDING

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22307, 22 January 1938, Page 13

EGYPTIAN ROYAL WEDDING

SIMPLE CEREMONY IN CAIRO

BRIDE'S FATHER SIGNS CONTRACT CAIRO, January 20. • King Farouk was married to Princess Farida when the King signed the Moslem marriage contract. A Royal Salute was then fired from the ancient citadel and was repeated in every town in Upper and Lower Egypt. The wedding was conducted in the drawing-room of the bride's villa at Heliopolis. Princess Farida heard the wedding ceremony from an adjacent room, but was not permitted to see anything. She wore a western grey coat and skirt and a small hat. contrasting with her Turkish veil. She drove to the palace in the King's own car with her father, who signed the marriage contract on her behalf. The ceremony was of a most simple nature. The father simply asked if His Majesty agreed to take his daughter Farida as his legal wife and the King replied, "I agree," after which the necessary papers were signed. The King and the bride's father clasped hands, while a representative of the Moslem Church held a handkerchief over their heads. An officer ran up a white flag on the roof of the palace as a signal for rejoicing to begin. The young Queen, after the ceremony, went home for luncheon with her own family. In the evening, six hours after the wedding, Queen Farida drove from her home to the Koubbeh Palace to meet the King for the first time as her husband. For the journey she was clad in silver and wearing a bridal veil. She was cheered by vast crowds. King Farouk assisted the Queen to alight from the Royal car and escorted her up the main steps of the Palace. Their Majesties were joined by members of the Royal Family and the bride's family, and led a procession to the pavilion, where all participated in a tea party. The city at night was a blaze of lights.