ROYAL LOVERS

Evening Star, Issue 20315, 25 October 1929, Page 9

ROYAL LOVERS

PRINCE HUMBERT'S ENGAGEMENT THE BETROTHAL CEREMONY Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. ‘ BRUSSELS, October 23. “My dream has come true,” said the twenty-five-year-old Prince Humbert after the King of tho Belgians had given consent to his marriage with the Princess Marie-Jose. Tho Princess, dressed in white and radiantly happy, awaited her lover in th© reception room of the castle at Laeken. A few formal words were spoken then the Princess held out her hand foi a kiss and the engagement ring, which will one day mako her Queen of Italy. Meanwhile, in an adjoining room, court officials wrote out tho official notice of tho betrothal, which will be formally announced tonight at a dinner in the castle. The betrothal ceremony was intended to bo quietly informal, and the Prince travelled incognito, hut the people of Brussels sensed the romance, and thousands cheered as he drove to meet his betrothed. The marriage is the culmination of a romance which started twelve years ago, when Marie-Joso was in Florence learning Italian as a schoolgirl.—Australian Press Association. WEDDING ARRANGEMENT’S. BRUSSELS, October 24. (Received October 25, at 11 a.m.) Prince Humbert and Princess MarieJose will he married in the church at Santa Maria of the Angels, where their present Majesties were wedded. Cardinal Gamba will officiate. The wedding will bo marked by an exhibition of’worship of the famous relic of tho Holy Shroud, in which it is claimed the body of Christ was wrapped in tho tomb Tho relic is kept at Turian and is only exhibited on occasions of marriages in the House of Savoy.— Australian Press Association-United Service. BETROTHAL BANQUET A DAZZLING SCENE BRUSSELS, October 21. (Received Octobei 25, at 12.10 p.m.) A gala banquet at the Palace in celebration of tho Royal betrothal was a scene of great splendour. There was only one speech, when tho King briefly proposed tho health of the couple, tho assembly drinking and acclaiming them. Tho attempt on tho Prince’s life was naturally the chief topic of conversation. Ho showed no signs _of his ordeal, and chatted gaily with tho Princess, who wore a gold and blue brocaded moussolino frock with a long train and gold lacc shoos, a pearl and diamond diadem and a pearl necklace. The only ring was a ruby and diamond engagement ring.—Australian Press - Association. ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION BRUSSELS. October 24. An attempt to murder Prince Humbert was made while ho was placing a wreath on tho unknown soldier’s tomb, but tho shot fortunately missed —Australian Press Association-!;nited Service. ASSAILANT AN ITALIAN STUDENT. BRUSSELS, October 24. (Received October 25, at 10.30 a.m.) Tho shooting occurred while Prince Humbert was shaking hands with a high personage. When the Italian fired the shot the crowd was dazed. Then it made a wild rush and seized tho assailant, who was madly flourishing a revolver He was roughly handled before tho police broke through. Prince Humbert calmly walked to the tomb and laid tho wreath. The Prince’s assailant has been identified as a native of Milan. He is a student named Fernando Di Rosa, twenty-ono years of age. Flo admits that he only arrived from Paris that morning. Immediately on hearing of the attempted assassination King Albert visited the Italian Embassy and expressed his sincere regret.—Australian Pkess Association. SPECIAL MISSION TO SHOOT CROWN * PRINCE BRUSSELS, October 24. (Received October 25, at 11 a.m.) Di Rosa struggled like a wild beast, and it took ten policemen to convey him to tho Palais do Justice. _ A crowd gathered outside shouting: “Death to tho assassin.” Di Rosa informed the police that he came specially to shoot the Crown Prince, and he admitted that ho was a member of the Second Socialist International.—Australian Press AssociationUnited Service DI EISA’S CONFESSION BRUSSELS, October 24. (Received October 25, at 11.10 a.m.) Interrogated by tho examining magistrate, Di Rosa declared that he had vowed to kill the King of Italy or tho Crown Prince oi Signor Mussolini because they had betrayed the Italian constitution. He said ne fired the first shot into the air in order to test the weapon, which then jammed, and ho was unable to fire again.—Australian Press Ossociation-Pnited Service.