PRELIMINARY SCENES
LONDON, April 26. .After ;i whole day’s vain came a brief fair interval late in the evening, hut from midnight the downpour continued hour after hour. For this reason there were fewer night assemblers outside the Abbey and along the route than on the occasion of Princess Mary's wedding, it was surprising there were any at all.
Little groups, including women, sheltered in the doorways in Whitehall and the vicinity of the Abbey. The weather forecast was for fairer intervals, hut there were no signs of them. The decorations were drenched hut many were withheld till early in tho morning.
Crowds, undeterred by the rain, waited outside Buckingham Palace yesterday to see. the Duke of York, the bride’ and her mother who left late in the afternoon, the Duke of York escorting them to the doorway, chatting to the full view of the crowd.
It is expected that a million people will witness the procession to and from llm Abbev. Thirfcv working class hoys will he in the. Abbey itself and also four working men Selected from the doekhand organisation. The decorations include many Dominion flags. The newspapers contain a full programme. and nictures and leading articles'’ commending the Duke of York’s choice.
Hundreds of police, wearing raincoats, had parts of the route practically to themselves. Towards eight the crowds arrived and joined those wlioi brought their own breakfast, the remains of which were strewn along the route. The earliest places were rushed. Tlie Mall near tho Palace and Marlborough Gi-te were most favoured, also the jllorsegnards’ Parade, . where the King nnd Queen nass on the way to the Abbey, and tlie bride and bridegroom traverse on tlieir return to tlie Palace.
Threatening weather continued in tlie earlv morning with showers at intervals. 'Crowds commenced to assemble a.t G>: over tlie greater mart of the roipo. Tt was notable that Piccadilly, and St. James Street, were practically empty. Tn the vicinity of the Abbev hundreds wore waiting all night long. / Many brought their own camp stools. There was plenty of room. At nine.- in the morning the sun made a feeble attempt to shine, Cut the conditions were ominous. Bruton Street was also a centre of attraction. a large crowd waiting to see the bride leave her home for the Abbey. When their Majesties left the Palace' the weather was dry and the sun was trying to break through. The Queen’s dress was soft aquamarine ' with a classically draped overdress in which the white rose of York was interwoven with delicate blue, threads. There were also showers of blue tinted aquamarine crystals on the skirt, corsage and sleeves. G The departure of the Duke of York ami groomsmen from the Palace was the signal for great cheering. But perhaps (he greatest ovation was that accorded tlie bride as. with her father, she passed Hyde Park corner.' The sun shone through as the bride entered the Abbey.
Princess Mary and Viscount Laseelles joined the procession of royalties within the Abbey.
The Duke of York was dressed in the Air Force uniform, wearing tlie star and ribbon of the Garter and the star of Order of the Thistle. The Prince of Wales was dressed in naval uniform and Prince Henry in the uniform of his regiment. There was tumultuous cheering from the seething throng in the broad sanctuary in the bright sunshine. The bridal pair received a cordial greeting with tlieir Majesties and royalties, and after signing the register entered carriages at the Abbey door. Again there was prolonged cheering among the spectators. The Duke of York and his bride smilingly and gracefully acknowledged the ovation.
The wedding breakfast was held in the State dining room, where there was a brilliant- scene.
The King proposed the toast- of the bride and bridegroom.
It is reported that the King conferred the dignity of Royal Highness upon tlie Duchess' of York, making her tho fourth lady in the (land, and ranking next to Princess Mary. The vast congregation rose ns Dean Ryle and the Abbey clergy led the Royal procession up the nave through the choir screen to the scarlet and silver seats in the sacrarium under the picture of the ill-fated Richard 11. Princess Mary, in a cream frock, biscuit coloured, accompanied her mother. Another charming personality was Princess “Pat,” with her husband, Commander Ramsay. The Queen was a noble figure in blue, with a striking silver hat, But perhaps the most notable was Queen Alexandra in mauve, who took a full part in the service and seemed the youngest woman of her years in Europe. The King and other Royalties, took their seats at the right of tlio altar. Lady Strathmore, and the bride’s relations and friends were opposite. Meanwhile • the bridesmaids awaited the Earl of Strathmore and the bride in the little Poets’ Corner at the end of the nave. The bride, a virginal figure, wore a light veil, loaned bv Queen Mary, and a wedding gown which was sleeveless; but the bridesmaids wore long gloves which had been out of fashion for a long time. Each had a hunch of white flowers in the side hair, but no hats, and carried bouquets of while York roses. As the bride passed the grave of the Unknown Warrior in the nave she released her father's arm and placed a bouquet on the tomb and then joined the bridegroom at the altar steps. He was in the blue-grey uniform and gold belt of the Royal Air Force, and was supported by the Prince of Wales and Prince-Henry. As the bridal hymn ended the bride and bridegroom Vielt and Dean Ryle commenced the service, the Archbishop of Canterbury taking the actual marriage ceremony. Every word could be "heard in the, transept and choir when he pronounced the kneeling couple man and wife and gave 1 iis blessing; but the responses of the bride and bridegroom
were, heard only by I In: relatives in Hie sacrarium. The Archbishop of ork s resonant voice told iii an address. Despite the long wait in the cold and rain, crowds in the vicinity oi the Abbey were in the highest spirits when the wedding guests began to arrive at 1U o'clock. Many stood for hours to get a good place, including many from tlie Dominions. It was essentially a woman’s dnv. While nien-folk were going to the city their wives and daughters were gathering in the Mall and Whitehall. Every typist, clerk and shop-girl in London seemod to be holiday-making. The underground railways alone handled b. 000.000 passengers, apart trom the people in the streets. Big stands in the broad sanctuary wore crowdea, and here 3500 seats were .sold on beh.i t of the Abbey restoration bind and Westminster Hospital, some for as high as live to ten guineas. The place was ablaze with colour, the scarlet and gold draperies of the stands vieing m the befiaggo.d blue and white pylons and rapped monograms ‘A ' and E- Even lamp posts ami street refuges were nainted 111 silver. .. Colonial and other journalists wore allotted seats on a specially erected stand ‘in the aisle of the north transept ol the The only flowers were on the altai, which was decked with sacred vessels and void, seven branched candlesticks and an altar cloth presented by the King and Queen showing them kneeling ui their coronation robes . , When the Archbishops of Canterbury and York arrived in their vestments ol ereon. gold and scarlet, accompanied by canons "and minor officiating clergy, the colour scheme was complete* 'Hie procession met the Kmg anc Queen and bridal party in the western doorway. The clergy took their seats around the altar and on the sodilia which formed part of King Hebert s tomb, the mythical founder of the Abbey. The Royalties were heralded by a, Royal Standard party of Contlemen-at-Anns, who wore gilt beplumed helmets throughout the service ns soldiers on duty. 'l’hev were assisted by a body ot Roy Scouts in khaki and green scarves, who shewed the guests their seats m the choir and transepts. These included Ambassadors and their ladies. Cabinet Ministers and their wives, Dominion Premiers, High Commissioners and leading Army. Navy and Air Force officers, all in uniform, wearing their orders aim medals. Mr Lloyd George’s shock white 'Pair was prominent among the non-ot-ficials. . Other interesting groups were the black-coated Labour members and working lads chosen hv the Industrial Welfare Society to represent the youth ot British industry, wherein the bridegroom is specially interested.
CONFERRING OF HONOURS LONDON, April 20. Official. — I Tito King; lias conferred f lu, Order of the Thistle oil the Duke of York ; G.C.V.O. on the Earl of Stiathmoro; and C.V.O. oil WingCommander Greig, Comptroller of the Duke’s Household. • The Duchess of York will be. styled her Royal Highness, ranking next to Princess Mary.
RECEPTION AT THE PALACE LONDON, April 26. The King and Queen gave their third reception at the Palace. The bridal pair shared honours with Princess Mary, whoso 2Gtli birthday occur reel a lew days ago.
“A SCOTTISH LASSIE” LONDON, April 26. When, the Duke visited the headquarters of tho Amalgamated Engineers’ Union, Mr Brownlie; president.. assured the Duke of York that he will lie safe in the hands of a, Scottish lassie.
To-day the Duke picked out Mr Brownlie at the King’s party at Buckingham PaJace and presented liis fiancee, saying “Hero is the Scottish li.f.sie, Mr Brownlie.”
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Bibliographic details
Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 27 April 1923, Page 5
Word Count
1,567PRELIMINARY SCENES Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 27 April 1923, Page 5
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