THE ROYAL WEDDING

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 23, 28 January 1924, Page 7

THE ROYAL WEDDING

PRINCE HIROHTTO MARKJJED,

TOKIOy 26th January. Pnnce Hirohito this morning was married to Princess Tagako in tha secret precincts of the Imperial Palace.' According to the ancient marriage ritual, the spirits of 122 Royal predecessors witnessed the union, arid gave their blessings, the Royal pair kneeling before the Shinto altar.

.A remarkable processional occurred immediately before the ceremony, the bridal pair, the Royal Family, and the members of the household engaging in a curious, slow movement towards the shrine lasting two hours, while sacred ..musicians set the: time with clappers. The ceremony .itself was brief. The bride carried a fan of gilded wood wherewith she touched all things. Prince Hirohito was'accompanied by the sceptre and crown. The Royal couple exchanged bowls of rice wine ater the ancient custom.

Tremendous crowds greeted the pair before and after the wedding, and elaborate precautions were taken to guard against an untoward incident, ten thousand soldiers and police lining the route. A salute of 101 guns announced the- completion of the ceremony, and after the wedding luncheon the Royal couple led a triumphant procession from the palace, to Amasaka, which has been appointed their temporary residence. The couple will receive the Diplomatic Corps on- Tuesday, and will visit the Emperor and Empress on Sunday to report their wedding. Public celebration has been postponed owing to the country's mourning in connection with the earthquake. The groom wore a simple dress suit covered, by a red cloak with embroideries. The bride wore a dazzling kimona of purple and scarle silk, with a chrysanthemum crest embroidered on it, and four outer garments of silk, each more magnificent than the other