ROYAL MARRIAGES

Evening Star, Issue 17926, 23 March 1922, Page 4

ROYAL MARRIAGES

GOSSIP ABOUT THE PRINCE. [From Orb Own Correspondent.]

LONDON, February 2. The gossips are still guessing about the matrimonial intentions of the 'Prince of Wales, and from all I hear they arc_ likely to remain guessing for some little time to come. Surprise is expressed in some quarters that “tho secret has been so well kept. As a matter of fact, there is secret to keep. In affairs of this kind the “ principals” do not usually have very much voice in the matter. It is looked upon as a State affair, and the cumbrous machinery of Court and Government sets to work to arrange a> desirable alliance. That is the- usual procedure. Rut that procedure is not to' bo adopted in the present instance. On that point tho Prince is absolutely firm. He has shown more than once and has avowed many times that he is, on general questions, prepared to waive his own private views in deference to his father’s wishes or. even more important, in deference to what may be regarded as the interests of the State. But he makes one reservation. He insists that in the choice of his wife ho shall be allowed to follow the dictates of his own heart. It follows that when his engagement really is announced it will be a love match in all reality. It would be proclaimed such in any wise by all the society gossips, who seem to think this is the correct thing to assert in the case of every Royal engagement, even though the contracting parties have scarcely seen each other half a dozen times. ROYAL ENGAGEMENT COMEDY. There is a sparkling little episode of high comedy connected with Princess Mary’s engagement to Viscount Lascelles which, so far as I know, has never yet been told outside the walls of a few West End clubs and the garden gates of Buckingham Palace. It happened _ that tho Princess was with her father and mother as guests at a. very distinguished house party given at his tine North Country residence by one of the best-known and most popular peers in Great Britain. It was just about tho time of <tho crucial decision which settled Princess Mary’s engagement. It was regarded by the Royal circle as almost un fait accompli, but was still a profound and exceedingly well-kept secret. Viscount Lascelles was also one of the house party, and his assiduous attentions to tho Princess and the absolutely undisguised 1 way in which the two young people monopolised each other’s company rather scandalised the illustrious host. seemed to him in his old-fashioned innocence that advantage was being taken of his roof to pursue a course of conduct that , might give great offence to their Majesties, and the-fact that the Princess appeared to be a willing accomplice only mads things a great deal more embarrassing. So, after taking thought over tho affair, the noble lord in question (who is one of the oldest and closest friends of the present King) approached His Majesty, discreetly commented on the situation and its unfortunate erhbarrassjmenfs, and frankly offered to make some suitable excuse for breaking up the house party forthwith if that course seemed®an expedient one to his Royal guest. It was only when King George gave a genial smile, ■ and, while expressing appreciation ol his : host’s foresight and consideration, declared that there was nob the least occasion for any uneasiness, that the actual position of things and the carefullylguarded Court secret, shortly to be officially made public, dawned on tho burly earl