BAUDOUIN MARRIED

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29389, 16 December 1960, Page 17

BAUDOUIN MARRIED

Civil Rites First

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) BRUSSELS, December 15. Dona Fabiola de Mora y Aragon, auburn-haired daughter of a Spanish nobleman, today became Queen of the Belgians when she married 30-year-old King Baudouin in a civil ceremony in the Royal Palace in Brussels.

The Brussels Burgomaster, Mr Lucien Cooretnans, announced before the throng of world Royalty and diplomatic envoys in the white and gold throne room: “In the name of the law, I declare you united in marriage.” King Baudouin, bespectacled and serious as ever, and Queen Fabiola, serene in a balenciage gown of white silk, signed the marriage register to complete the simple ceremony, which is all that is required by Belgian law. Later they will drive through the crowded streets of the capital to the 700-year-old Cathedral Church of St. Gudule for their religious wedding by the Belgian Primate, Cardinal Joseph van Roey.

They entered the Throne room for the ceremony at the head of a procession which included representatives of nations throughout the world, from such Royal figures as Princess Margaret—in a gown of apricot-coloured silk —to representatives of Republics from South America to the Far East.

The Royal guests began filing into the Throne room Wtween ranks of Belgian military leaders just before 10 o’clock. The men were in full-dress military uniform or white tie and tails, the women in lavish gowns. Soon, the huge room was a multi-coloured sea of guests, murmuring to one another as they took their places on gold and red brocade chairs behind the heavily ornamented armchairs placed for the King and his bride. King Baudouin, his lips slightly parted, looked pale and tense. Dona Fabiola sat with eyes downcast. On the other side of the King, looking serious, sat the former King Leopold. King Baudouin and his bride stood up as the Burgomaster, uniformed and bemedalled. read out the paragraphs of the Belgian civil law concerning the duties of man and wife.

The King and Queen smiled as the Burgomaster offered them his good wishes. The ceremony lasted little • more than 20 minutes.