THE ROYAL ROMANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21912, 22 September 1934, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE ROYAL ROMANCE

' PRINCE GEORGE'S FIANCEE SOME INTERESTING SIDELIGHTS It is now clear that the Royal romance was the real reason why Prince Henry was substituted for Prince George for the Australian tour, says an Australian writer. As a matter of fact, an intimate friend of Princess Marina's reports that she is extraordinarily like a smart Australian girl—resourceful, energetic, with a flair for frocking with distinction on a very narrow income, and a keen zest for life.

She has sunbaked since childhood, in spite of the disapproval of Royal relatives, and is keen on swimming, music and dancing. She uses an effective suntan make-up, with an orange shade of lipstick, and auburn hair wash. In the evening she uses a hazel-shadowed mascara on her eyelids. She diets strictly. Like so many resourceful Australian girls, she makes many of her own clothes. During the recent London season, when she was notably smart, she often danced in home-made white frocks, ringing the changes in various fresh flower garlands. She has the Parisian leaning to black for street wear. She will be the first member of British Royalty to choose a platinum wedding ring. The Queen is delighted that her son has chosen a bride so ORIGIN OF THE VEIL The wedding veil is a relic of the canopy that used to be held over the bride to seclude her from profane gaze. The ancient Romans looked upon it as a protection against the evil eye, a superstition current among many tribes and nations.

domesticated and unspoilt. Her frugal rearing has made her a most capable housewife and an excellent cook. Her family has rarely owned a motor-car, has never indulged in extravagances, and is unaffectedly appreciative of the honour of entering the British Royal Family. Everybody is agog with excitement over the wedding plans. Prince George will wear the uniform of a Commander of the Navy, and the London papers say the same ceremonial will be observed as at the. wedding of the Duke of York. But, as the Princess Marina is a member of the Greek Orthodox Church, high dignitaries of that Church will assist the Archbishops of Canterbury and York in officiating at the ceremony. The Princess confesses she has her pet superstitions. She cherishes a gold coin which Bang Alexander of Yugoslavia gave her, and this; she avows, is the mascot which brought her luck in love. She will be. quite at home in England, for. she has always had English sympathies, and is an inveterate reader of English novels, with a passion for Galsworthy. Above all, she is a sweet-natured, unspoiled girl, and so is sure of winning an abiding place in the hearts of the people of her adopted country. All the world knows those are the simple, homely qualities for which the women of the reigning Royal Family are famous, and the equally famous sterling worth of the Princes of the Royal House that have endeared them to the nation. Hence, perhaps, Princess Marina's recent message to England; " Tell the English people I love England, next to my own country, Greece."