PRINCE GEORGE BETROTHED

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 August 1934, Page 7

PRINCE GEORGE BETROTHED

TO GREEK PRINCESS “TYPICAL MODERN GIRL" [by cable— press assn.—copyright.] (Received August 29, 1 p.m.) LONDON, August 28. The “Sun-Herald” service learns authoritatively that Prince George is engaged to Princess Marina, the daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece. The “Daily Mail” says that Prince George, who is at present at Salzburg, last night attended a performance of “Don Giovanni,” accompanied by Princess Marina, her sister, Princess Olga, and her husband, Prince Paul of Yugo-Slavia. During an interval, Prince George was seen affectionately guiding Princess Marina by the arm, as they went out to smoke a cigarette. They were smilingly watched by tl)e Austrian nobility. The Prince and Princess have many tastes in common, principally the love of music. Prince George frequently played the piano to her at St. James Palace.

A friend describes her as a typical modern girl, fond of outdoor sports. Princess Marina is a fluent linguist, and speaks English perfectly. Her father is the younger brother of the late King Constantine, and uncle of ex-King George. Her mother was the Grand Duchess Helen of Russia. Prince Nicholas is a well-known writer and painter. He has exhibited paintings in London, and he created a literary sensation when in his “political memoirs” in 1928, he defended Constantine against the charge of pan-Germanism.

A HOLIDAY ROMANCE. (Recd. August 29, 2 p.m.) LONDON, August 28. An official announcement from Balmoral Castle states: — “With the greatest pleasure, the King and Queen announce the betrothal of their dearly loved son, George, to Princess Marina, daughter of Prince and Princess Nicolas of Greece, to which union the King has gladly given his consent.” The engagement is the culmination of a holiday lomance. George and Marina were guests of Prince Paul of Yugo-Slavia. They had known each other for five years. They first met in London, which Marina was privately visiting. Thereafter they met whenever Marina was in England. George left England for Yugo-Slavia, Marina, who is a tall and charming brunette, celebrates her twentyeighth birthday on December 30. She is the youngest of Prince Nicolas’s three daughters. George remains a week in Jugoslavia. whither he has just returned from Salzburg. PRINCE’S EARLIER DENIAL LONDON, August 28. Rumours of the engagement were rife on the Continent during the weekend, as the couple were present at a musical festival at Salzberg, where they heard “Don Giovanni,” but when directly questioned, Prince George asked a newspaper man to deny the rumours. “Please say there is no truth in all these rumours."

. Prince George’s grant from the civil list of £lO,OOO will be increased by a. further £15,000 yearly when he marries. He reached Yugoslavia on his present visit in an aeroplane lent by the Prince of Wales, flying via Le Bourget and Munices over the Alps and Carinthia Lakes.