Honeymooners Messages From All Over The World

Northern Advocate, 22 November 1947, Page 7

Honeymooners Messages From All Over The World

LONDON, Fri. (10 a.m.). —Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh drove out of Broadlands, unseen by reporters and townsfolk, down Southampton Road in Earl Mountbatten’s jeep this afternoon. They went fbr a jaunt round the countryside. The Duke drove and the Princess carried her Corgi dog. _ The little post office at Romsey is almost snowed under with telegrams, letters and cables for the newly-married couple.

A special stag has been recruited to deal with them. The Royal couple early began opening and reading the messages of congratulations from all over the world. They received nearly 7000 telegrams and cables of congratulation, including 3500 on their wedding day. Messages came in a variety of languages. sent from ships at seas, schools, associations and heads of states. Many came from the United States, one in Latin from Princeton University. Others were in French, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish and Czech. German prisoners of war in Britain sent several, and others came from Germany, Austria and Italy. THOUSANDS OF PARCELS Apart from letters, Buckingham Palace received thousands of parcels and packets during the past three weeks. The Palace post office, with an augmented staff, worked almost without stop. Telephonists dealt with many thousands of calls from additional exchange lines installed on November 17 to handle the traffic. Hundreds of messages came from the Dominions. The mayors of nearly every city and community in Canada and South Africa visited by Their Majesties sent messages.

The flowers which decorated the State rooms at Buckingham Palace yesterday were sent, on Princess Elizabeth's instructions, to London and county hospitals, also masses of flowers, bouquets and nosegays sent by well-wishers. The gates of Broadlands were heavily guarded by police and plain-clothes men patrolled the grounds. The Princess has asked for complete privacy and she is not expected to make a public appearance until November 23, when the couple will attend divine service at Romsey Abbey. ARRIVAL AT BROADLANDS On arriving at Broadlands yesterday they jumped from their car before the chauffeur could open the door and, hand in hand, ran up the five steps to the open doors of the south wing, where they were greeted with smiling courtesy by the butler. As they crossed the threshold the Princess squeezed the Duke : s hand, saying: “It has been a wonderful wedding, but it is lovely to be here at last.” The Princess insisted on exploring their honeymoon home at once and the butler showed them the nine rooms which they will occupy for a fortnight. The Daily Herald says the Princess Elizabeth, in spite of her training and experience of proud ceremonies, was nervous during the wedding ceremony in Westminster Abbey. She walked slowly and looked pale when she came from behind the High Altar after signing the register. The bridegroom came to her rescue, holding her left hand and smiling into her face and seeming to encourage her. ALL-NIGHT CELEBRATIONS At last she smiled back and. with gladness in her eyes, walked the length of the Abbey, braved the floodlights and confronted the crowd, whose final burst of cheering sounded like a thunderclap. London celebrated the wedding until almost dawn. Drinks were “on the house” at many public houses until 2 a.m. Revelry went on in the West End until long past midnight. Hundreds slept in doorways or wandered through the streets awaiting early trains. As dawn came cleaners and roadsweepers began to tidy up the greatest accumulation of left-over litter since V-E Day. DRESS ON DISPLAY Princess Elizabeth’s wedding dress, in a glass case, will be included in the public display of the wedding presents at St James’ Palace daily from December 1 for a considerable period. The takings will go to charities which the couple have chosen. They have issued a statement saying that they are deeply touched by the many telegrams and letters from wellwishers and cannot hope to answer them all personally.