THE ROYAL WEDDING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18026, 27 February 1922, Page 9

THE ROYAL WEDDING.

GIFTS FOR THE PRINCESS. HUNT CLUB'S AFFECTION. PRESENTATION AT MEET. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] , LONDON. Jan. 12. Princess Mary has consented to receive as a wedding gift from New Zealandors resident in Great Britain a personal gift in New Zealand greenstone, accompanied by a cheque. It is understood that the latter will be presented to some charity in which Her Royal Highness is especially interested. Up to the present Lady Allen has received the sum of £128, and to-day with the assistance of Mr. Frank Hyams (Dunedin), who is an expert in greenstone, she has purchased a very handsome greenstone box, measuring about three inches by six inches. This will be exhibited at the High Commissioner's Office in the course of the next week or two. The intention is to enclose in it a cheque representing the balances of subscriptions received from New Zealanders in England. This fund is still open, and the response so far has been generous. At Bristol a committeo has been formed to raise at least £2000, individual subscriptions not to exceed two guineas. On Princess Mary's suggestion, the money will be devoted to the provision of beds at medical institutions, the beds to bear her name Sheffield has decided to raise £2500 for the proposed ' wedding present to the Princess. A personal gift will be purchased and out of the balance three children's cots will be provided for three hospitals dealing with children's cases. An equivalent sum will be given to a women's hospital. Hospital to Benefit. The citizens of Durham have decided to promote a fund for a personal gift, and the remainder of the money will be devoted to the Durham County Hospital. Another personal wedding present is to be given by actresses. Ifc will be accompanied by a specially compiled book to bo signed by the donors. Miss Irene \anbrugh and Lady Wyndham have the matter in hand. The Princess has signified to the Lord -Mayor of Liverpool that she would like the city s wedding gift to take the form ot a plain diamond bracelet. Princess Mary has consented to accept .a hat from the same firm of Luton hat manufacturers which presented a hat to the Queen on the occasion of her wedding It is to be made from the finest Duns able straw, and by the most skilful plaiter. The plaiting on the previous occasion was done by a highly-skilled woman who died some time ago, but after a search the firm has discovered another plaiter-one of the verv skilled workers remaining—and she has beon engaged to undertake this special task. Princess Mary has gratified the rabbit fanciers of Great Britain by her acceptance from them of a fur coat of rabbit skins. The coat will be made in London. Old English scenes of sport and chivalry are reported to have marked the Sandringham meet of th e West Norfolk foxhounds on the occasion of the presentation of the hunt's wedding gift to Princess Mary. The royal demesne has rawly seen a larger company of sightseers. They came in smart dog-carts and old-fashioned chaises, waggonettes an*l' motor-coaches, private cars of all degrees, on bicycles, and multitudes afoot, from miles around, long before the time—lo.4s—fixed for the presentation. This is essentially a farmers' hunt and the gift came from farmer-sportsmen, who look upon the Princess as the best woman to hounds in West Norfolk. The King walked from York Cottage and was joined by the Queen, Queen Alexandra, the Princess Royal, and Princess Maud, who arrived in motorcars. Princess Mary, the Duke of York, I Prince Henry and Princess Victoria were mounted. A Charming Picture, The Princess went for a little canter on her own account, and when she rode into the ring—the only mounted figure therepast the hounds and to her family party, Bhe presented a charming picture, the bonniest of all English Princesses, in her dark grey striped habit, and with a beautiful glow in her cheeks. And when Colonel Seymour, cap in hand, walked to the side of her horse and made a brief presentation speech, her fine colour deepened. He told her how 200 members of the hunt had subscribed to the gift, ( which he asked her to accept "as a token of our very great respect- j ful affection."" He concluded: ' We: know you will remember your own conn-1 ty, and we hope that as often as you are here you will give us the great pleasure of your company." The Master tfien handed the Princess a little case containing a bar brooch of diamonds and sapphires, with a fox's head engraved on a crystal in the centreThe Princess replied: "I am most grateful to you all. I thank you very j much for this most beautiful present. It will remind me of many happy days with the West Norfolk, and I hope that in the future I shall still be able to hunt with you." Soon afterwards hounds moved off to draw the Folly cover, a mile across ihe park. The whole of the royal partv followed. At intervals announcements are made concerning the wedding dress, which, according to the latest information is to be typical of the far-flung Empire. Worked in the 'beautiful silver threads which are to be used in the dress and the train will bo emblems of Empireroses for England, thistles for Scotland, daffodils for Wales, shamrock for Ireland, the maple leaf for Canada, mimosa for Australia, and the fern leaf for New Zealand. Ex-soldicrs and sailors of the War Service Legion Guild of Sailor and So'dier Borderers are closely at work on the wonderful border of silver embroidery to go round the train, which will be of lustrous ivory satin on one side and woven from silver thread on the other.