ROYAL ROMANCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22354, 30 August 1934, Page 9

ROYAL ROMANCE

PRINCE GEORGE TO WED ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCED FIANCEE PRINCESS MARINA . . (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, August 28. The Sun-Herald service learns authoritatively that Prince George is engaged to Princess Marina, daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece. The Mail says that Prince George, who at present is at Salzburg, last night attended a performance of “Don Giovanni,” accompanied by Princess Marina, her sister. Princess Olga, and the latter’s husband, Prince Paul of Jugoslavia. During the interval Prince George was seen affectionately guiding Princess Marina by the arm as they went out to smoke a cigarette. They were smilingly watched by Austrian nobility. ’ OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT LONDON, August 28. An official announcement from Balmoral Gastle states:— “ With the greatest pleasure the King and Queen announce the betrothal of their dearly loved son George to Princess Marina, daughter of the Prince and Princess Nicholas of Greece, to which union the King has gladly given his consent.” - ■ • The engagement was the culmination of » holiday romance. Prince George

and Princess Marina were the guests of Prince Paul of Jugoslavia. They have known each other for five years. They first met in London, .which Princess Marina was privately visiting. Thereafter they met whenever Princess Marina was in England. Prince George left England for Jugoslavia on August 15. _ " ’ ’ " Princess Marina, who is a tall and charming brunette, will celebrate her twenty-eighth birthday on Dfecember 30. She is. the youngest of Prince and Princess. Nicholas’s, three daughters. Prince George will remain for a week in Jugoslavia, whither he has just returned. from Salzburg. MANY TASTES IN COMMON LONDON, August 28. The Prince and Princess have many tastes in common, principally love of ■music.-. Prince George frequently played the piano to, her at St. James’s Palace. A _ friend describes her as a typical modern girl, fond of outdoor sports. ■ Princess Marina is a fluent linguist and speaks English perfectly. Her father, is the younger brother of the late King Constantine, and an uncle of ex-King George. Her mother was the Grand Duchess Helen of Russia. Prince Nicholas is a well-known writer and painter, and has exhibited his paintings in London. He created a literary sensation when in “ Political Memoirs” in 1928, lie' defended King Constantine against a charge of panGermanism.' . INCREASED CIVIL GRANT LONDON, August 29. Rumours of ap engagement were rife on the Continent during the week-end, as the couple were present at the Musical Festival at Salzburg, where they heard “Don Giovanni,” but directly questioned, Prince George asked the newspaper man to deny the rumours. “Please say there is no truth in all these rumours,” he said. - Prince George’s grant-from the Civil List of. £IO,OOO will be increased to £15,000 when he is married. He reached Jugoslavia on his present visit in an aeroplane lent by the Prince of Wales, ..flying via Le Bourget and Munich over the Alps and the Carinthian Lakes. NEW ZEALAND’S CONGRATULATIONS (Peb United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 29. The Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe) has sent the following message to Prince George: “New Zealand sends your Royal Highness warmest congratulations and best wishes for your happiness.—Bledisloe.” ■ ‘; .

H.R.H. Prince George Edward Alexander Edmund, the King’s fourth son, was born on December 20, 1902.