Duchess vows with a grin to obey her Duke

Press, 24 July 1986, Page 1

Duchess vows with a grin to obey her Duke

NZPA-Reuter London Prince Andrew married his childhood friend, Sarah Ferguson, yesterday with glittering pageantry and a mischievous sideways grin from the bride as she vowed to “obey.”

The sun pierced heavy grey skies as the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Robert Runcie, pronounced them man and wife under the great roof of the eleventh century Westminster Abbey before 1800 dignitaries, old friends and the entire Royal Family.

Outside tens of thousands of wellwishers cheered the sailor duke and his commoner bride as they rode to' church in a golden procession of coaches.

Miss Ferguson, once an office secretary, became at once Her Royal Highness The Princess Andrew, Duchess of York — the last title a surprise wedding gift from the Queen when she created

her second son Duke of York two hours before the wedding. Britain’s most spectacular Royal occasion since Prince Charles, heir to the Throne, married Lady Diana Spencer five years ago, sprang to life as Miss Ferguson stepped from her horse-drawn windowed coach to reveal a flowing Edwardian gown. A stunning five-metre train flowed behind her as she walked up the bluecarpeted aisle to the altar, watched by a world-wide television audience estimated at more than 350 million.

At the altar she and the Duke exchanged the simple vows of Christian marriage in clear, confident voices.

Miss Ferguson, who had opted for the traditional service incorporating the bride’s pledge to obey, unlike her new sister-in-law, Diana, in 1981, turned cheekily to the Duke and smiled through her veil as she spoke the word.

But her worst nightmare almost came true. She had said she would be up late the night before the wedding rehearsing the Duke’s names — Diana got Charles’s out of sequence — but just a hint of a stutter over one name suggested she did not stay up long enough. The United States First Lady, Mrs Nancy Reagan, in pale green silk, headed a list of distinguished guests from abroad, including the Crown Princes of Spain and Japan and many junior members of Europe’s royal families, both reigning and exiled.

But many were personal friends of the couple, including the actor, Michael Caine; the Scots comedian, Billy Connolly; and the rock star, Elton John, resplendent in pink dark glasses. Shipmates of the Duke, a naval helicopter pilot and veteran of the 1982 Falklands War with Argentina, sat among the royalty and formed a guard of honour outside the Abbey. Inside, the warmly welcomed guests included the Duke’s new stepfather-in-law, the Argentine polo player, Hector Barrantes, who sat with the Duchess’s mother close to the British Royal Family. Britain and Argentina are still technically in a state of war, but there was no note of rancour in the Abbey last evening. The Duchess’s flaming auburn hair was crowned with a cluster of English flowers — lily of the valley, gardenias, cream roses and individual cream lily petals. The newlyweds rode back to Buckingham Palace together in an open landau, the Duchess’s veil lifted as they chatted merrily and waved to the crowds. One well-wisher threw handfuls of rice into their carriage which scattered over the Duchess’s lap. A tide of people flooded on to the broad Mall to follow the Royal carriages to Buckingham Palace and cheer the couple at their traditional appearance on the balcony. Police estimated that up to a million people, British and foreigners, had

poured into London for the big event. They lined the procession route 20 deep in places. Many donned clothes in the red, white and blue of the British flag — several painted their faces in the colours.

Mingling with the crowd were armed detectives, forming part of one of the biggest security operations in London’s history. The Duke tenderly took the Duchess’s hand to place upon it a ring of Welsh gold quarried from the same mine which provided the wedding rings of his mother and grandmother.

The Duchess also placed a ring on the Duke’s finger before they knelt for the Archbishop’s blessing and prayers from other British Christian leaders Including Cardinal Basil Hume, Primate of the English Roman Catholic church.

Although the wedding appeared to bring Britons together in a display of national pride and rejoicing, there were notes of discord. Mrs Thatcher was booed as she arrived at the Abbey, and one politician said he would demand to know the cost of “this bloody jamboree.”