Medieval and Byzantine Splendour in Greece

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 39, 16 February 1938, Page 15

Medieval and Byzantine Splendour in Greece

ROYAL MARRIAGE. ATHENS, Jan. 10. Against a background of medieval and Byzantine splendour, the former head girl of North Foreland School, Broadstairs, Princess Frederika, of ' Brunswick, played tho central role in a marriage ceremony which will long live in the memories' of Athenians. She shared that role with a young man, Crown Prince Paul of Greece, who knows London society perhaps more intimately . than that of his own country. Sixty royal personages, headed by King George of the Hellenes, with Princes,' Dukes, and their consorts, of Great Britain (the Duke and Duchess of Kent), Germany, Greece, Rumania, DenMark, and Yugoslavia were in the cathedral. It was little wonder that the 20-yoar-old Princess—who bears the new title and name of Princess Marguerita of Greece —looked a little shy and overwhelmed as she stood with the Prince before a tiny table bearing a symbolic pair of gold crowns. There she had her right hand tied by tho chief best man. Prince George of Greece, to the left hand of Prince Paul. Handsome in full dress naval uniform, he towered protectingly above her while the patriarchal, golden-robed Archbishop of Athens blessed them before taking the crowns and holding them above their heads. Exchange of Rings. Then the other best men, the Grand Duke Dimitri and the young Crown Prince Michael of Rumania, took turns in holding the heavy crowns above the heads of the bride and bridegroom until the ceremony of the exchange of rings was finished,, and the couple marched thrice round the table. Prince Paul was followed by his best men, and Princess Marguerita by four dainty rose-pink clad bridesmaids, holding up her long train. Her - white silk lace wedding gown was surmounted by a diamond-studded coronet and set off by a magnificent diamond necklace. As she gave her scarcely audible but unhesitating responses to the arch-bishop-—promising unqualified obedience to her husband—Princess Marguerite looked a beautiful figure. Her eyes sparkled and colour came into her cheeks when—the archbishop having finally removed the crown—she and Prince Paul embraced and kissed as man and wife. Among the first to congratulate the bride and bridegroom were the Duke and Duchess of Kent. The Duchess warmly kissed the Princess, and the Duke gripped tho Prince’s hand aftei King George himself had kissed both bride and bridegroom. The Duchess of Kent. The Duchess of Kent was a lovely figure in a horizon blue costume, of the colour of the uniform of French poilus, with a wide-brimmed blue hat, haloed with an osprey plume. *she wore a blazing diamond brooch on one side and diamond earrings, which showed just above a grey squirrel fur collar, and carried a tiny grey bag. The Duke was in naval uniform, with the blue sash of the Order of the Garmr. A rose pink cloak and a hat, also trimmed with an osprey halo, was worn by tho Duchess of Kent’s sister, Princess Olga of Yugoslavia, her husband, Prince Paul, looking splendid in green and red Guards uniform. Princess Helen sat next to her son, the Crown Prince Michael, before the ceremony began, and maternally helped him fix his sash and order chain, which came unclasped and nearly precipitated his decorations. Huge electroliers, which blazed out as the service started, emphasised the gorgeousness of the setting and the rich embroidered vestments of 40 bishops—some golden, others royal blue flecked with silver, or dull magenta and gold—against the dark background of the carved wooden Tood screen. Blue and Gold Coach. The procession to the cathedral before the ceremony was through rain and sleet, but the streets were packed, and the Duke and Duchess of Kent and Prince Michael and his mother received ovations almost as great as the bride and bridegroom. The couple drove in a blue and gilded coach drawn by six magnificent Hungarian greys. Prince Paul of Yugoslavia, with Princess Olga, pat in his own bullet-proof limousine, specially brought from Yugoslavia. The bride and bridegroom are spending the first part of their honeymoon at (a secluded villa six miles from Athens.