SPLENDID WELCOME

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 305, 22 November 1934, Page 8

SPLENDID WELCOME

3.15 P.M. EDITION

TO PRINCESS MARINA. ARRIVAL IN LONDON. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received November 22, 1.10 p.fn. RUGBY, Nov. 21. Despite the fog, which reduced the visibility to two yards, immense crowds gathered at Victoria Station and lined the route to Buckingham Palace along which Princess Marina and the Duke of Kent drove on their arrival in London this afternoon. The Duke and the Princess did not conceal their pleasure at the popular enthusiasm of their reception and smilingly returned the salutations, which continued until they entered the Palace. A Press Association cable says that Prince George met Princess Marina at Dover, whence they entrained for London, arriving in dense fog. No ceremonial marked their arrival and the crowds were quite silent until they entered the car to drive off to the* Palace, when there was a tremendous burst of cheering.

A great crowd remained at tlie Palace railings,- cheering continuously for half-an-hour, the enthusiasm being redoubled as the Duke of Kent and Princess Marina appeared on the balcony and waved. Later unrecognised by many bystanders, tlicy drove to St. James’s Palace to take tea with the Prince of Wales and returned to Buckingham Palace for an informal dinner party. Princess Marina paid several hundred pounds in duty at Dover, but her cases were not opened as she was allowed to sign a special declaration in Paris. When she becomes a member of the Royal Family her luggage will not be subject to Customs examination. The Duke’s pet name for his bride is Mara, and he thus addressed her at Dover. When asked what the passage was like the Princess said: “The sea behaved very well, but it seemed a terrible long time.”