A PRINCESS WEDDED.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 5 October 1925, Page 7

A PRINCESS WEDDED.

DAUGHTER OF ITALY’S KING. LONDON, Sep. 18. Rea u tv, brilliance and simplicity •.narked* the wedding of Princess Mafalda, daughter of the King and Queen of Italy, to Prince Philip of Hesse at Racconigi Castle, the Alpine ancestral home of the House of Savoy, to which the Italian royalties belong. Following the civil ceremony, at which Signor Mussolini, the Italian Prime Minister officiated, the procession entered the gorgeousy-decorated private chapel. It was transformed into a bower of flowers, which were even hanging from the massive silver chandeliers lent by the Turin CatheKing escorted Princess Mafalda. a fairy-like, radiant bride, in' a soft satin ‘dress designed bv the Italian Crown Prince. Her beautiful golden hair was gleaming under the wreath of orange blossoms -and a. veil, of handmade lace which has been more than 600 vears in the family. The train, foiir yards long, was borne by tour pages. , , P Prince Philip was escorted by former German Princes in brilliant uniforms. The bride and bridegroom knelt on a platform of red The Yatican, as a rare concession in a mixed marpermitted the celebration of Ma”s, Princess Mafalda. alone taking Communion. The guests were limited, because Racconigi possesses only one hotel, accommodating TO persons. Included among the guests were members ol the Italian. Greek. Rumanian, Belgian, Serbian and Dutch Royal families . The wedding breakfast was served in tjip o-reat balk which was draped u ltb rod and gold in rich tapestries' and flowers, after which the couple departed by motor car to Germany for the honeymoon. . All Italy is talking of Princess Mnfalda’s romantic love story, which was the climax to a relentless fight against the traditional ties of Royal matchmaking, which is still the custom in European Courts.. Princess Matalda opposed her betrothal ,to the Belgian .Crown Prince, declaring: “I do_ not iwant to he a queen. . All I require is to be allowed to continue my painting arid music. Only in the world of art and music shall T find love and happiness.”

Princess Mafalda Maria Elizabeth Anna Rowana is the second' daughter of King Victor Emanuel HI- and Queen Helen of Italy. She was horn in November. 1902. Prince Philip of H e c<; e was horn in 1896. and is a nephew o f Alexander Frederic. Landgrave of Hesse. Hesse is now a. .State of the German Republic, but until 1918 was a grand duchy.