Romantic Marriages

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6631, 9 June 1928, Page 5 (Supplement)

Romantic Marriages

Without pomp or pageantry, Prince Charles Philippe, Due de Nemours, nephew of the King of the Belgians, and a descendant of the kings of Prance, was married in April in a London register office. Ho is 23 years of age. His bride, a few years older, was Miss Marguerite Watson, a vivacious American. The time and date of the wedding had been kept a strict secret and it had not been expected even among the close friends of the bride and bridegroom, that it would take place until the following week.

The bride is the only daughter of Mrs. Fitzgerald Garrett Watson, of Washington and Newport, Long Island and cousin of Mrs. Herman Lc RoiJones, one of the leaders of American society. The Duo de Nemours is the only son of the Duke and Duchesse do Vendome, and the youngest of their four children. ■ The Duchess of Vendomc is the daughter of the Count otf Flanders, younger brother of King Leopold of Belgium. Few people were in the street when the bride, a slim woman, dressed in a navy blue coat trimmed with cross-fox, a collar of beige, and a navy blue straw hat, walked along accompanied by a man friend. She had, recently undergone an operation for appendicitis.

Meanwhile, the Due and his friend, Mr. "Toby" Charlton, whose wife is the Earl of Garrick’s daughter, Lady June, arrived on foot. He was wearing a black lounge suit with a narrow pin stripe and a bowler hat, and carried brown kid gloves. The American vice-consul attended to witness the ceremony. Mr. Claude Marcel was another witness. Subsequently the bride and bridegroom and one or two friends lunched together. Story of the Match. The Duo de Nemours told his life story to an interviewer. "My father,” he said, "was the son of the Due D’Alenoou, and the Duchesse D’Alencon was the sister of the Empress of Austria, wife of Franz Josef. At one time, of course, our family had big estates, but not now. The Vendome family now has a very beautiful property and chateau near Evian, on Lake Geneva

"I began my education at Stonyhurst College, in England, and afterwards went to Italy to study, and fm-

French Prince’s Bride Vivacious American Girl

ishtfd in Paris, Since then I have bee nearly all round the world studying, farming and prospecting, for my great interest is sheep In order to lit myself for this work, I went to Canada to study farm life, and worked as an ordinary hand, and also as a harvester on Lord Rodney’s farm at Fort Saskatchewan, and later on went to Lord Cheylesmorc’s farm, which is also in Alberta. I am very, fond of flying, too, and have travelled extensively by air." It is said that the Due has flown about 200 times backwards and forward to Pans. The late Captain Minchin and Leslie Hamilton, the two aviators who perished with Princess Lo'wenstein on a flight across the Atlantic last summer, were great friends of the Prince.

"I first met my bride four years ago in Paris, at the Ritz," the Due said. "Miss Watson was visiting Europe at the time, and I happened £o bo working on a farm in Northern France. I was asked to meet some Americans, and Miss Watson was among the party Within a week we had become secretly engaged, but as I was under age, we could not bo married, so Miss Watson went back to America, and X went to Canada to farm. Family Opposed 'to Marriage. "About a year later I went to New York for a fortnight, whore wo met again, and decided that as soon as it was practicable, we should bo married. But when I came back to France and saw my family, they were against the alliance, because of my age. At Christmas, 1926, Miss Watson came back to Europe, and wo decided to marry in 1927.

<r Thcn I had to go off to Africa and Madagascar prospecting, and I came back a few months ago. Since then we have been trying to find a way to get through the formalities attendant upon our union. The influence of my family was brought to bear, with the result that a church ceremony was hindered." "Will the bride adopt the Roman Catholic faith at any time in the future?" the Due was asked. "I hope so," he replied, "but any way, wo are going to the country to rest and will then go to Africa, where I want to do some work. I have no intention of settling down in any country for the time being."