THE ROYAL WEDDING

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 134, 2 March 1922, Page 5

THE ROYAL WEDDING

MARRIAGE OF PRINCESS MARY AND VISCOUNT LASCELLES CEREMONY AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY ; GREAT PUBLIC ENTHUSIASM DISPLAYED I The marriage of Princess Mary and Viscount Lascelles was solemnised In Westminster Abbey, and was the occasion of a remarkable outburst of public enthusiasm, the route of the procession from the Palace to tho Abbey being thronged with cheering crowds. Thekeynote of the day’s rejoicings was the knowledge that the Princess was not making a foreign alliance, but would remain in her native land.

By telegbaph—press association. —COPYRIGHT. London, February 28. Westminster Abbey, with ail its Wealth of historic ceremonials, was probably never the setting fcr one more beautiful in its simplicity, and in which the public interest so generally centred, than the wedding of the King’s only daughter. It is centuries since a King’s daughter was married in the Abbey. It was thoroughly a family affair, in which w’ere assembled representatives of every class, ftom the highest to the humblest. There were delegates from every unit of tho British Commonwealth of nations, and unlike previous great ceremonials there was a notable absence of foreign Royalties, though foreign rations paid their respects through the'r diplomatic corps. Remarkable enthusiasm has been • evinced throughout the country since the Princess was affianced. This is mainly accounted for bv the fact that she is greatly beloved, and was to remain at home among her own folk instead of gracing some foreign court. Her amiability, together with her generous, unsparing efforts in every social movement to help the lowly among the people, found a reflex in the immense crowd attracted from all quarters of the great city to accord her honour. ANIMATED SCENE IN THE ABBEY. Well before the appointed hour, the invitees to the Abbey began to arrive —Peers, Commoners, Labourites, social 1 reformers, and heads of va-icus religious bodies took up their allotted positions. Australia was lopresented by Sir Joseph Cook and Lady Coc.k, the Agents-General and their wives and New' Zealand by Sir James and Lady Allen. They occupied prominent positions, while some eighteen scats were found for other well-known AusiitJian visitors. Every part of the grey eld Abbey was filled with guests. The resplendent costumes of the ladies, the brilliant uniforms of .the naval and military officers, and the gcorgeous robes of the peers, with the kaleidoscopic colours streaming from the rich stained glass windows, formed an animated scene. Outside the Abbey the scene was no less thrilling. Thousands of spectators found accommodation in huge stands within the Abbey precincts and around Westminster Hospital, while from another great stand in Parliament Square, commanding a view along Whitehall to Trafalgar Square, a splendid* view was obtained as the Royal procession moved down this broad thoroughfare, outlined in colour on either hrnd by troops in gay uniforms. The space behind the troops was densely packed with sightseers, and as the procession swung through the Admiralty Arch into Whitehall volleys of cheering greeted the Princess, and a preat ovation was accorded her as her carriage entered Parliament Square. The latter was finely decorated in a colour scheme of blue, white, and silver. Tall columns carried blue banners bearing the monograms of Princess Mary tnrl Viscount Lascelles, while Venetian masts around the square -were surmounted by gilt coronets, and bannerettes of national colours fluttered in th'e breeze. From mast to mast swung white floral garlands intermingled with golden lilies, while medallions with,the heads of the bride and bridegroom in relief were affixed to each alternate mast. In the general rejoicing the victims of the war were not overlooked. Such wounded men as are still in the hospitals in London were provided with special accommodation to view the procession. PROCESSIONS FROM THE PALACE. There were two processions from the Palace, separated by short intervals, Queen Mary; w : th a captain’s escort from the First Life Guards, formed the first, which left the Palace at 11.3. A minute earlier Quean Alexandra left Marlborough House with a captain’s escort from the First Life Guards, preceding Queen Mary to the Abbey. The King with the Princess left the Palaeo at 11.16, accompanied by a field officers’ escort. Tin’s formed the second procession. St. James’s Park and The Mall accommodated a great concourse of onlookers, while Carlton House Terrace afforded a choice vantage point. The route was lined with battalions of Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, and "Welsh Guards, and representatives of detachments of tho London Tciritorial divisions, adding a striking colour note. At one point in the joyous procession there was an oasis of silence. Britain’s monument to the glorious dead, its base piled round with wreaths of immortelles, brought to mind that joy and sorrow were fellow-travellers on life’s journey. Whilst those in the Abbey awaited the coming of the bride, Mr. Sydney Nicholson, the Abbey organist, played a selection of music chosen to represent early English music and later British compositions. They included Purcell’s “Trumpet Voluntary,” Handel s f°nr movements from “Water Music, Paw’s “Bridal March,” Elgars ‘lmperial March.” Walford Davies’s “Solemn Melody,” and other items, Guilmay’s ‘Marche Nuptiale,” and SaintSaens’s “Benediction.” The Abbey choir was strenghened by the choir of tho Chapel Royal. ROYALTIES’ ARRIVAL AT THE ABBEY. Cheering outside the Abbey announced the arrival of the Royalties, and tho murmur of conversation in the Abbey died away to silence as the Princess, on her father’s arm, approached the altar, accompanied by her bridesmaids. Princess Maud, Lady Rachel Cavendish, Lady Mary Thyniie, Lady Victoria Cambridge, Lady Doris Gor-don-Lennox, Lady Elizabeth BowesLyon, Lady Diana Bridgeman, and Lady Mary Cambridge. Each bridesmaid carried a bouquet of sweet peas caught with silver ribbon streamers. Viscount Lascelles, with Sir \ ictoi Mackenzie, awaited the Princess’s arrival at the altar. Viscount Lascelles wore tho uniform of tho Grenadier Guards, with the ribbon and star of his orders.

The groupings round the altar formed a picture unrivalled in splendour. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Dean of Westminster, the Bishops of London and Oxford, and other clergy, in magnificent vestments, formed an effective setting to the diaphanous draperies of tho bridal party. The Doan of Westminster (the Right Rev. H. E. Ryle) received the King and tho bride at the west door. The Dean and his Canons with the choir then preceded the bridal procession up the nave, singing “Lead Us, Heavenly Father, Lead Us,” as'the opening hymn, which was selected by the bride herself. After psalm 67 had been chanted the Archbishop of Canterbury (the Most Rev. Randall Thomas Davidson) conducted the marriage service, at the conclusion of which the. hymn “Praise My Soul, King of Heaven,” was sung to Gosse’s music. ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY'S ADDRESS. The Archbishop of Canterbury, in his address to the bridal couple, said: “It is a stirring thing for any man or woman, whoever they may be, to find themselves for a brief space the very focus or centre of the interest and the prayers of literally millions of people .throughout the world. You so stand this morning. Around us just now, in every land, and not least in our own, confused anxieties are throbbing and urgent needs depress men’s minds. But we have met for once in quietness and confidence. This sanctuary is holy ground. It for long centuries has been dedicated to the consecrating of new responsibilities. Your vows are very sacred things, attested by us all, and radiant with hope Yet great as ‘the occasion is, what we are gathered for is a simple, I might almost say a homely, thing; and an act familiar in story and m every household in the land. It is to unite man and maiden in wedlock unbreakable while life lasts. It is. to wish them both God speed upon life’s pathway; to remind them of mutual society, help and comfort that one ought to have of the other, both in prosperity and adversity.. And because it is so familiar and so simple, the opportunities it offers are plain and large, “It seems probable that no daughter of a reigning King ever until to-day married in Westminster Abbey; certainly no marriage ever took place here under conditions quite like yours. War time partly created them. Each of you in the grim war years found new opportunities and used them. When the fibre of British manhood was being sternly tested day by day in shellswept trench and on bare hillside, vours, my brother, did much more than stand the test. Such testing, such equipment, can make good its outcome in ouieter after-years. No call of that King, no necessity on that scale, please God. will come again in your life time, but to those worthy of it peace brings privileges in central places. Our central homes can bestow on English life an inestimable boon. If the fierce light which beats upon such homes reveals there what is honourable and pure, what is lovely and of good, report, the gain is far-reaching, and it spreads. There lies opportunity for both of you. You are going to use it. “To you, my child, the war days of your girlhood brought occasion of glad service. Experience, however simple, 'in hospital ward, can give abiding stimulus to one who cares. In that effort, as also in the leadership of disciplined English girlhood, you gained thought and knowledge which will now contribute to securing the strength, orderliness, and sunshine of a great English homo. “Together you will set yourselves thereto. The happiness of home life, even when blessed like yours with high traditions, is not a matter of course; it has its roots in niutnal love, which are not tender only but thoughtful in resources; a love unselfish in devotion, but brave and unreserved in its honlesty of mutual counsel. So may you together go from strength to strength. The power so to do must come from on high. We arc here this morning as Christians, our fealty pledged to “the living. The Lord is the centre of inspiration ; the master in the home is Jesus Christ our Lord. It is in His name that with gladness of heart and buoyancy of hone we to-day on behalf of the whole Empire and people, bid you God speed.” After the blessing had been pronounced, and as the bride and bridegroom proceeded to Edward the Confessor’s Chapel to sign the Register, the anthem “Beloved. Let Us Love Ono Another.” special]?- composed for the occasion by’ Mr. Sydney Nicholson, was sung. A BRILLIANT PAGEANT. Then, as the bridal party left the chapel, all Royalties, with the Earl and Countess of H.nrowood. joined in procession in the nave, forming a brilliant pageant. As it wonder! its way down the nave the organ played the Bridal March from Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliet,” followed by Mendelssohn’s Wedding March as the party quitted the Abbey. Great cheering rose when the bridal carriage drove away, the couple bowing acknowledgments. Perhaps only one thing was wanting to complete the Princess’s happiness, and that was tho fact that her elder brother, the Prince of Wales, to whom she is devotedly attached, was unable to -participate in the ceremony. Tho return journey to the Palace followed tho same route ns from the Palace, except that the Princess’s carriage turned out of the Niall nt Marlborough House in St. James’s Street, thence proceeding bv Piccadilly and down Constitution Hill. This' gave a longer route for the spectators, mid also enabled Their Majesties and other Royalties to return to tho Palace bv a shorter route in time to receive tho married couple.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PRINCESS’S TRIBUTE FOR THE FALLEN. As the Princess on tho return journey passed tho Cenotaph, the carriage stopped and she handed a Grenadier

Guardsman a beautiful floral tribute which she had specially reserved for tho fallen. Tho soldiers saluted, and placed the flowers at the foot of the memorial. The whole scene was unexpected, and many of those who witnessed it were moved to tears. —Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. SINGLE TREND OF THOUGHT PRINCESS MARRYING AN - ENGLISHMAN London, February 28. probably there were few in that unparalleled concourse, vast even among London’s unexampled crowds, who examined the Imperial significance of the wedding. Yot beyond doubt in all that mass of jammed humanity the single trend of thought was that our English Princess was marrying an Englishman. That was the keynote of the whole day’s rejoicings, and was prompted by Princess Mary’s own words in acknowledging a gift: “I am thankful I am remaining in my own native land.” There is an Empire-wide moral in that unstudied expression of human thankfulness. It spells Britain’s Empire for the British, not for foreign, alliances through Royal marriages, and possibly in the subconscious realisation of this fact lay the chief factor of the extraordinary and unbounded popular demonstrations. Women largely predominated in the crowds, which accounted for the remarkable colour scene. Large numbers fainted as the result of crushing. and kept the ambulances busy. Viscount Lascelles spoke his vows in a firm voice, clearly audible across the Abbev. Princess Mary’s voice was also audible and unshaken, but her words were indistinguishable, as her back was to the audience. —Aus.-N.Z. Gable Assn. BRILLIANT SUNSHINE FOLLOWS RAIN GUARDSMEN LINE ROUTE London, February 28. The proverbial fickleness of the English climate showed itself in the right direction, for the sun shone brilliantly throughout the ceremonial. During the small hours of the morning the outlook was cheerless, and frequent rain squalls drenched London, and a cold westerly was blowing. At 7 o’clock the rainclouds vanished magically, leaving a blue sky and sunlight. About 10 o’clock some ominous clouds gathered, but dispersed during a strong wind. From the Palace there was a wonderful vista of the Mall. Hundreds of thousands were packed in the vicinity of the Palace, anxious to catch the first glimpse of the bride, but only a small portion of them obtained a satisfactory view. The fortunate ones were those who in the early morning hours took possession of the base of the Victoria Memorial. The less fortunate were those packed on both sides of the Mall.

Stalwart Guardsmen, whose uniforms and black bearskins added to the splendour of the occasion, stood in such close formation along the route that onlookers had little chance of seeing the procession. It was remarkable how many women had, with forethought and knowledge gained from the war, improvised periscopes on parasols to enable them to see over those in front. Such ruses, however, were not very satisfying. Those who defied the police regulations, and came provided with campstools, fared better, while the best of all were the small boys, who climbed the trees on tho route until they resembled a human rookery. DEAFENING ROAR OF CHEERS. Londoners, however, notwithstanding all the disadvantages of overcrowding, gave the Princess a fitting welcome. Enthusiastic as was the reception to the Queen, with whom was the Duke of York, Prince Henry, and jprincc George, that which awaited the bride will live in her memory. Her appearance was the signal for a roar which ran through the dense throng from the Palace to Admiralty Arch with amazing rapidity. Princess Mary acknowledged this joyous, deafening feu de joie of cheers smilingly all the way. , ~ , -i At the moment of the bride s arrival at the Abbey, the crowd was so dense that the police had the greatest difficulty in maintaining a cordon. Dozens of women and children fainted, and were carried to island refuges, where medical aid was stationed. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the spectators from the Abbey to Whitehall began to converge on the Palace, while the throng was so great at Hyde Park corner that the ambulances were busy. Over twenty persons were treated for faintings or exhaustion- .... -i All the clubs in Piccadilly were gaily decorated, and the windows filled by cheering people. As the married couple drove down Constitution Hill there was a tremendous acclamation from the vast crowd. From the balconv of the Palace Viscount Lascelles and the Princess bowed to the crowd. Princess Mary beckoned to her father, and. mother, and Queen Alexandra, who joined her on the balcony to receive tumultuous cheering.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DEPARTURE ON THE HONEYMOON Princess Mary and Viscount Lascelles left the palaeo at 4 o’clock in an open State landau, drawn by four white horses, with outriders! in scarlet liveries, attended by an escort of First Life Guards, on the way to Paddington Station, whence they left for Shifnal, where the first portion of the honeymoon will be spent. The route to Paddington Station was densely crowded. The young counle received one long ovation. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. EMPIRE’S GOOD WISHES MESSAGE OF THANKS FROM THE KING AND QUEEN. London, February 28. Their Majesties the King and Queen have issued" a message of thanks for the Empire’s affectionate good wishes on the marriage of Princess Mary.-— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FRANCE’S HOMAGE MANIFESTO ISSUED BY MARSHAL FOGH. Paris, February 28. The newspapers devote articles to the Royal wedding. Marshal Foch issues through the “Matin” a manifesto saying: “All Franco will participate in now homage to the illustrious bouse of which Edward the Peacemaker was France's most faithful friend, and King George an unshakable ally, and the Prince oi Wales conquered in Picardy her sincere affection.” Marshal Foch recalls with deep emotion the time “when wo stood shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart. Mo do well at this moment, when Britain celebrates the marriage of the King s daughter, to recall that Britain and Franco scaled with blood their sons union, which will never be transformed into a scrap of paper. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.l AUSTRALIA’S CONGRATULATIONS Sydney, March 1. The shipping and many buildings jfl the city were beflagged in honour ot Princess Mary’s . wedding. borne churches rang wedding peals.

Tho Governor-General sent Australia’s congratulations, and also those of the Premiers of the States. —Press Assn. COURT ETIQUETTE GIFTS FROM PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS. London, February 27. The “Daily Mail” calls attention to a peculiar point in Court etiquette. Many choice presents from private individuals have been returned with a note thanking tho donors. Gifts from public bodies and associations are permissible, but not from individuals who liave no connection whatever with the Court or are not friends of the Royal Family. Many people apparently were unaware of the rule, and wealthy men and women showered gifts of great price on Princess Mary.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. HER ROYAL HIGHNESS A TYPICAL ENGLISH GIRL THE QUEEN’S TRAINING. It was in the year of Queen Vie. toria’s Diamond Jubilee, 1897, that Princess Victoria Alexandra Alice Mary was born on April 25 at York Cottage, Sandringham, and was christened %v Archbishop MacLagan, ot York in the beautiful litle parish church there. Her education was fully superintended by the Queen herself, Mlle. Dursau being her governess Her Royal Highness worked hard at her and is now to-day an accomplished woman. In an interesting sketch of the Princess’s early years Sir Richard Holmes, who was for a long time librarian at M indsor Castle, Kays: “From her earliest years the Princess Mary has been carefully tramed by Queen Mary in tho household arts. She has been taught cookery, and has herself prepared all manner of dishes; though I have heard it somewhat humorously remarked that nei taste in the culinary art inclines to the'preparation of such dishes as she most enjoys herself. The I nncess has also been instructed to do various kinds of needlework. She is an associate of the London Needlework Guild, end sends it some of her work every year.” To these early lessons in domestic’ economy was added another the desirability of taking care of poc-ket-money, and the Princess accordingly opened an account in tlxi 1 ost Office Savings Bank, being the first member of the Royal Family to take that course. . In later years Princess Mary has consistently set herself to perform her duties in a manner before unknown in the annals of the Royal house. She was permitted to break away from old traditions which forbade a princess to take any part in public life while still unmarried, and in the freedom thus accorded’ to her she has representer! in much more marked degree than those who have preceded her the lite and interests of tho girlhood of her day. Her Royal Highness may be said, indeed, to stand as tho typical modern English girl, with her practical share in social movements and her active participation in all forms of outdoor games and sport. In the nilfilment— always (gracefully discharged •—of many ceremonies she has met all sorts and conditions, adding on each occasion to her personal popularity. English history has never had n more enthusiastic student than the Queen, who understood long ago that tho human interest of the people who have made the'. Empire what it is transcended, mere dates and names. It was along these lines that Princess Mary has pursued her studies. She went to the Tower of London, to Windsor Castle, to Hampton Court, to St. James’s Palace, to realise tho parts that her own ancestors, great statesmen sailors, soldiers, had borne m the making of Britain. But bevond that she has been into practically every City church not once, but repeatedly, and at Bunhill Fields and the Wesley an centre in the Citv Road, she learnt something of the Revivalists of the eighteenth century. In all her education tho Queen had one great purpose in view. It was to develop in her daughter a deep Jove and understanding of all that Britain stands for in the world. . The great pleasures of the Princess are found in games and sports. In her more girlish days she hold her own with her brothers at cricket, but since then she has taken keenly to lawn tennis, at which she plavs a very good game. Foremost of all her delights is that of riding, and she has been in tho habit of spending hours in the saddle at Windsor, Sandringham, or Aidershot. She had not done much hunting before the season of 1919-20, when she became an honorary member of the Garth Hunt, and rode to hounds with the West Norfolk. 1 While the war was in progress—in 1917—Lady Ampthill suggested the formation of an ambulance class at Buckingham Palace in connection with the Voluntary Aid Detachments. The Queen fully approved of the idea, and Princess Mary at once joined it, together with some five and twenty young ladies of her circle of acquaintance, and her Royal Highness passed the written and viva-voce examinations with distinction, obtaining her certificate. She wished to go more thoroughly into nursing, and later attached herself for some months to the staff of the Hospital for Children in Great Ormond Street. Princess Mary was active in many other ways during and after the war, distributing honours to women and land workers, visiting girls’ hostels, opening women’s clubs, ana in every possible way showing her keen interest in the social welfare of her sex and of little children. After the armistice, had been signed Her Royal Highness went to France in order to see the actual work of the V.A.D. in that country. Princess Mary was in 1918 appointed to be Hon. Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Scots (Lothian) Regiment. On that occasion she aptly recalled how the regiment had been raised by the Duke of Kent and that Queen Victoria had in consequence always regarded herself as its special daughter. Princess Mary promised also to watch oyer its interests with special care during its absence on service in India. The announcement last November that the King and Queen had given their assent to the betrothal of their only daughter to Viscount Lascelles was hailed with satisfaction throughout the Kingdom and the Empire. VISCOUNT LASCELLES DISTINGUISHED WAR SERVICE Henry George Charles Viscount Lascelles, eldest son of the Earl of Harewood, of Harewood, in the County of York, belongs to one of the, oldest families in the Kingdom, claiming descent from John do Lascelles, who was living in Yorkshire in 1315. From 1653 onwards various members of the family sat in Parliament for Yorkshire constituencies. The first Peer was Edward Lascelles, created Baron Harewood in 1796, and Viscount Lascelles and Earl of Harewood in 1812. Tho present Viscount is thirty-nine years of age, having been born on September 9. 1882. Having joined tho Grenadier Guards, ho was later attracted to the Diplomatic Service, becoming Attache to the Embassy at Rome. He was afterwards Aide-de-Cainp to Earl Grey when Governor-General of Canada, In November, 1913, ho contested the Keighley Division of the West '

Riding in the Unionist interest, but without success. . . On the outbreak of war ho rejoined the Grenadier Guards, and went out to the Ist Battalion in May, 1915, when they were in billets at Robccq. In the’following March he was accidentally wounded by' a bomb while instructing his company, but was not seriously hurt. In July. 1916, Viscount Lascelles was appointed second ,in command of the 2nd Battalion, and in September ho was hit by a bullet, his arm being broken. In all he was wounded three times and gassed once. During tho final advance early in Noveuibor, 1918, he led the battalion to the capture of Maubeuge, only to find that the Germans had retired a few hours before the Grenadiers arrived, and afterwards marched with the battalion to Cologne. For his services during tho war, in which lie was ultimately promoted acting-licutcnant-col-onol, be was awarded tho D.S.O. with Bar, and lhe Croix do Guerre and mentioned twice in dispatches. In April, 1916, Lord Lascelles camo into a considerable fortune on the death of tho second and last Marquis of Clnnricarde, who left an estate of over two millions, and by his will bequeathed tho residue of his estate to his grand-nephew, “Harry Lascelles, b.v courtesy called Viscount Lascelles, son of my nephew Henry, Eai‘l of I Harowood.”