ROYAL WEDDING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21968, 27 November 1934, Page 9

ROYAL WEDDING

TRAFFIC CONTROL CAREFUL PRECAUTIONS GREAT CROWDS EXPECTED STREET DECORATIONS DRESS FOR THE GUESTS By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received November '26, 6.20 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 25 The greatest crowds that London has seen since the Coronation are expected in the next three days for the Duke of Kent's wedding on Thursday to Princess Marina. Barricades to keep the processional route entirely free of traffic —huge wooden affairs of a type not used since the Coronation—are being erected across side streets along the greater part of the way. A network of alternative routes has been arranged, which will form a ring round the wedding traffic area. London is being re-signposted to assist traffic along the new channels, and on Wednesday between noon and midnight 5000 special signs will be erected in this and the ring. Apart from the official decorations all London, in the vicinity of the route of the wedding processions, will be gala dressed. Bond Street will be crisscrossed with 6000 yards of festoons, with a central row of giant paper crowns and wedding bells, Near the Marble Arch huge illuminated portraits of the King and Queen, Princess Marina and the Duke of Kent will be erected. Similar portraits of the Princess and the Duke will be erected in Leicester Square. Some seats on the route of the processions were purchased for two to three guineas. They are now advertised for resale at 15 to 20 guineas.

The Queen lias commanded that women guests at the wedding are to wear ankle-length skirts and long white gloves. She bans fur coats and aigrettes. Loud-speakers hare been placed beside stands outside Westminster Abbey to reproduce the marriage service. Special platforms have also been erected inside the Abbey to give a clearer view for tho guests. Some ecclesiastical furniture has been removed to provide additional space.

A minutely calculated time-table shows that the Duke of Kent will arrive at the Abbey at 10.56, two minutes before Princess Marina. , There will be 70 crowned heads or other Royalties in London. The Duke of Kent and Princess Marina attended at the Brazilian Embassy, London,- on Friday night, where the diplomatic corps held a reception in their honour and 54 nations were represented. The Brazilian Ambassador, as the doyen of the diplomatic corps, presented the Duke and Princess with three solid silver soup tureens as a wedding present. ETERNITY RINGS THE ROYAL CHOICE SIGNIFICANCE OF COLOURS (Received November 26. 6.15 p.m.) Times Cable LONDON. Nov. 25 The Duke of Kent has chosen three eternity rings, in which the unbroken circle of stones signifies the permanence of his marriage. Princess Marina's rings will be of rubies, diamonds and sapphires, representing the national colours. j Eternity rings are replacing the oldfashioned keeper rings. They can be worn with evening dress instead of a wedding ' ring, toning with various dresses: THE WEDDING CAKE A BAKER'S MASTERPIECE HEIGHT "OF EIGHT FEET LONDON, Nov. 18 The wedding cake for the Duke of Kent and Princess Marina is a masterpiece of confectionery. It has four tiers and is Bft. high. The bottom tier, 33in. wide, bears plaques in oil colours on sugar, depicting scenes at the Parthenon, Acropolis and Piraeus. The second tier bears beautiful colour cameos of Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Balmoral Castle and statues of Eros, Peter Pan and Cupid holding a monogrammed shield. The Empire tier depicts the arms of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and the Straits Settlements. The cake is set on an Australian silky oak base. Its weight is 4001b.