ROYAL HONEYMOON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26614, 10 November 1947, Page 4

ROYAL HONEYMOON

USE OF LORD MOUNTBATTEN’S MANSION Rec. 11.45 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 9. Lord Mountbatten’s Georgian mansion near Romsey, Hampshire, is being prepared for Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, who will spend their honeymoon there, says the Sunday Despatch. They will occupv a suite which is isolated from the rest of the house. The bedroom is decorated in cream, with pink and white floral cretonne furnishings. Princess Elizabeth will use a simple glass-topped dressing table with a small three-faced looking the modern double _ bed, quilted with white satin and with a pale rose bedspread, is an occasional table with a telephone and reading lamp. The dressing room is decorated in tne Princess’s favourite pastel blue shade, with a sunken bath and built-in wardrobe. Lady Mountbatten previously used the suite. Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Mountbatten will have all their meals in the big cream and lime dining room, and additional rooms for the use of the royal couple are a little sitting room and a drawing room which contains pictures by famous artists. Princess Elizabeth’s wedding dress is finished ready for the final fitting after 300 girls at Dressmaker Norman Hartnell’s workrooms worked on it for two weeks, says Reuter. Princess Elizabeth has had three half-hour fittings of the wedding dress, and has never asked for an alteration to the gown, which is size 14. Her measurements are: Bust 34, waist 24. She takes a size five in shoes, which the French designer, Rayne, made. Her going-away dress, which is the only new thing in her troussea, is not yet cut. The Princess chose the design for the wedding dress from 12 sketches which Mr Hartnell drew. Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret Rose chose the bridesmaids' dresses. Two watchmen are guarding the wedding dress at Mr Hartnell’s workrooms. It will be hers only for the wedding day, after which it will be displayed with the wedding gifts at St. James's Palace, then it will be added to the other royal wedding dresses in the Victoria and Albert Museum.