WINDSOR WEDDING

Grey River Argus, 5 June 1937, Page 7

WINDSOR WEDDING

FULL DETAILS Double Ceremony I (Aus. & N.Z Cable Assn). LONDON, June 4. The wedding of the Duke of Windsor and Mrs Warfield took place at the Chateau de C'ande at 11-47 a-m-Mayor Mercier, upon arrival at the Chateau,, was conducted to the salon, and took his place at a 'table opposite two armchairs, in which sat the bride and bridegroom- Major Metcalfe (best man) sat at. the Duke’s left- Mr Rogers sat beside Mrs Warfield. The gues|t9 wei'e seated in rows behind the coupleThe ceremony was. very’ simple, finished within twelve minutes. The Mayor read the re'evant articles of the civil code under which the couple promise fidelity’ and to help each other. The husband must protect Ithe wife, and the wife obey’ the husband, must live with, him, and follow him wherever he deems fit- The husband must maintain the wife in accordance with hi s status. Mayor! Mercier Ithen declared: “By one of the of destiny, the most moving idyll of all rimes takes place under ithe blue skies of France, amidst the flowers and trees of the Chateau de Cande- I sahite His Roya 1 Highnes s as a former sovereign of a most friendly nation. I gree;t in the name of France, the Prince and her whom His Royal Highness has chosen from the noble country- attached '-0 us by the same previous bonds- I present you most sincere wishes for your happiness-” The Mayor, addressing the Duke using all his Christian names and titles, including Admiral of ithe Fleet, Field 'Marshal, and Marshal of the Air Force of Great Britain, asked if he took Mrs Wallis Warfield as his wifeThe Duke replied in firm clear tones: “Out, Monsieur le Maire.” Mayor Mercier repeated the question ‘to Mrs Warfield, who replied “Oui” in a slightly unsteady voiceThe Mayor! then declared: “In the name oil |the law,, we declare you united in the bonds of matrimony-” Only eleven witnessed the civil ceremony, Mr s Merriman, Major Metcalfe, Mr and Mrs Herman Rogers, the Prefect of Tours., Commissioner of Police, and five journalists. Most of the other guests waited in the library, which was (transformed into a floral bower, with score s of bouquet- 1 in baskets. There were several American flags but nowhere in the decorations were any British flags-

Mayor Mercier reveals that the marriage record, which will be kept in the official archives at Monts, was signed by the bride and bridegroom in French, “Edward, Due de Windsor” and “Wallis; Duchess de Windsor-” . ~ | The famous- French organist, Marcel .Dupre, played the Wedding >March, while the wedded couple proceeded to the music room for ithe religious ceremony, during which there were t ear>i in the Duke of Windsor’s eyes, though he -made the responses clearly and firmly- Once or twice the bride placed an encouraging hand on his arm- The Duke did-not kiss the bri'de either during |the civil or religious ceremonies- . At the conclusion, of the religious ceremony; a bouquet from M- Blum (was prlesented to the Duke and Duchess, who returned to the salon to receive the congratulations of ithe guests. The religious ceremony was conducted according to the full ri'-es of the Church of England, including the bride’s promise to obeyA brilliant earrings set, with eiglrt flashing sapphires, and a diamond bracelet with dangling crosses, adorned the bride, who stood at 'Hie altar beside the bi-idegroom, while the RevA. Jardine; wearing a surplice and purple stole, began the serviceThe Duke was, inclined to fidgetHis voice was high-nitched when he 'replied “I will-” Mrs Warfield’s responses werle soflt- The Duke was deeply moved when he repeated the words, “With' this ring I 'thee wed-” His hand trembled as he placed the Wedding ring on the bride’s finger. The wedded pair knelt on white satin cushions during the Lord’s Prayer and Ithe blessing, after wh'ch, to the strains of the Wedding March, the bi'hlc holding her husband’s arm, followed by guests, they left the room and held a reception in the salon. Major Metcalfe proposed the toast of Ithe bride and bridegroom. The Duke laughingly replied: We both thank you feelingly fo r your kind attendance on an occasion so important for us.” The Duke and Duchess then greeted every guest. The Duchess was happy but reserved; and thorough j composed- -The - Duke and Duchess then posed to photographers in front of the ChateauWhile Ithe bride Yvas talking to the guests,, some tiddflessed her as

Wallis, and’ others as “Your Grace” and “Duchess-” The wedding breakfast lasted foi about an hour- The table was decorated with pink earnations on either side- Therle was a 'three-foot eighttiered wedding cake- The Duke was in an extremely hanpy mood throughout the breakfast. The wedding cake was cut. by the Duke and Duchess together, with an ordinary table knife. 'Two thousand congratulaioiy fe.e gr!am s were brought in shortly alter the wedding breakfast. The Duchess’s going-away costume was a dark blue coat ‘and skirt with a printed blue-white flowered b'ouse. The newly-married couple left the Cha'teau by ear at G-3 p-m-Waving acknowledgement of farewel cheers, the Duke and 1 Duchess of Windsor drove off, escorted by a police car and motor-cyclists. For three mi es from Monts, the road was lined at both sides by mobile guards spaced at ?5 yards The bridal car. followed by a luggage van, proceeded to Laroche Migennes, a small station where the couple are expee-ed to board the express shortly before midnight en route to Wasserleonburg. for the honeymoon-

THE TRAIN JOURNEY. (Received June .4. 9.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 4. The Paris eoi respondent o f the Brit, toh United Press says: When the Duke and Duchess of Windsor arrived at La Rochemijelle, a- 12.6 a.m., they walked the entire length of th e platform to a special coach in the forepart of the train. The Duke was carrying

some hand luggage. Reside him frisked; three terriers. The Duke and Duchess of Wind-or have a rose-carpeted compartment in the centre of the coach. It contains a double bed and a private bathroom ad. joining it. Other compartments are occupied by seven detectives. Tne Duke and Duchess arrived at Lausanne at 6.25 a.m., where they were awakened by a jingle of cow bells, from a cattle train in a nearby sidling. DUKE MAKES WILLLONDON, June 4. The ‘‘Daily Mail’s” Tour s correspondent says: One of 'the Duke’s last acts before quitting the Chateau was to sign his will- He also had a lengthy conversation with Buckingham Palace. Rev. Jardine ACTION OF NO SIGNIFICANCE. LONDON, June 4Rev. Jardine is expected at Darlington on Saturday- According to ithe “Daily Mail,” general opinion of local church officials and parishioners is that it was Rev- Jardine’s personal affair, and' did no t affect his work in his parish, and 'that there is no reason for protest. Referring Ito Rev- Jardine’s “irresponsible action;’ ’ the ‘ ‘ Church Times,” the recognised organ of An-glo-Catholic opinion, in a leading article says: “Therie is no process of law whereby a clergyman wandering abroad may be prevented from saying- prayers at a private house, and that is all Uhis pretended solemnisation amounlted to-” EXPRESS BOARDED. PARIS, June 4The Duke and Duchess of Windsor boarded the Simplon express at La Rochemijelle at 0-15 a-m., and travelled in a special coach guarded b.v seven; detectivesKIAGENFURT, June 4Since early yesterday morning, a steep winding road, which is 'the only access to Castlo Wasserleonburg, was stricltly guarded by gendarmes. No stranger was permitted to invade the privacy of this mediaeval fortress, which .stands high on a-thickly wooded hill-

“Coronation Commentary” BOOK TO BE ALLOWED INTO NEW ZEALANDWELLINGTON, June 4. The acting-Minister of Customs, Hon. Mark Fagan, stated to-day, that ho had had numerous inquiries from boo><selleis, as to whether the American edition of the book, “Coronation Commentary,” by Mr Geoffrey Dennis, which has been banned in England, could be admitted to this country. Hon. Mr Fagan said that he eouifl see nothing in the book which would warrant its exclusion from circulation and sale in New Zealand, and! therefore he had decided to allow the edition to be imported.