ROYAL ENGAGEMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 96, 20 October 1934, Page 18

ROYAL ENGAGEMENT

CHOICE OF A EINa

THE PRINCESS'S HATS

(From "Tho Post's" Representative.) LONDON, September 14.

After having spent .some days in' Paris with Princess Marina and her parents, Prince George returned to London by air en route to Balmoral by rail. In tho aeroplane his seat and that of his equerry, Major Butler, were booked in'the names of "Major Butler and'friend." In'tho train 'his firstclass sleeping carriage had been reserved as for "Mr. T. Smith" —actually the statiomnaster, who is on holiday. Almost his first act following his arrival at York House was to buy an engagement ring for Princess Marina. Prince George, it is related, drove himself in his black sports saloon ear to Messrs.-.Cartier's,i ' the jewellers, of Albeniftrlo Street. He was unattended. Bareheaded, and wearing tho grey lounge suit in which, he had travelled from Paris, he walked into tho shop almost unrecognised and asked, "Can I see some rings, please'?" The Prince was taken into a private room. With experts of tho firm hespent three-quarters of an hour examining rings and uncut stones. His attention was mostly concentrated on the sapphires—-which, according to one- in close touch with the Prince, aro tho favourite .stones of '■Princess ■ Marina. Eventually,- after much consideration, he- picked a big, unmounted s<fuaro-eut Kashmir sapphire of a brilliant, deep translucent blue. A baton diamond is to .bo mounted- on -either side of the sapphire. A member of tho firm "said: "Prince George has displayed the most modern tasto in' his choice both of the ring and of the setting.1 His selection will undoubtedly- uiako sapphires ' the most popular ring for engagements this year." • ' ' ■ Sapphires-have -been., fashionable for many years, and the Kashmir-.sapphire, tho infest and most distinctive, is becoming extremely-' rare/ While' other sapphires" cliango their- colours in- artificial light, the Kashmir, or. bluo sap-phire,-'always retains.' its" original colour.. ' ■ ■ THE BKIDAL TROUSSEAU. ■Meauwhile, .in Paris, Princess Marina and her mother have been considering the trousseau and in.choosing dresses suitable for an immediate visit tb_ Balmoral. Captain Molyneux, an eminent British designer, with houses in Paris and London, has submitted skotche-a for tho wedding order. Tho milliner favoured is Mine, Suzy, in tho Rue de la Paix. A telegram from Paris says the Princoss's choico in hats indicated moderate crowns, not extremely flavor high, some being of turban persuasion with, all-round ",gob" brims in dark blue ehonillo velvet. This colour will apIparently compete for occasions with a plush-v'elvot wiue-shade shapo, showing a round crown, gathered in at the top beneath gold cord and tassol in the manner of a pompon trimming. Princess Marina favours grey for sports shapes and felts, choosing one- with a drop front brim, rising at tho back abovo a gros-grain band, and 'another with a short brim, and little mercury wings to ton.o of grey posed either side ,of the crown.