“Bride’s Shyness and Groom’s Solicitude”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26625, 22 November 1947, Page 7

“Bride’s Shyness and Groom’s Solicitude”

Rec. 9 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 21. The bride’s shyness, and even nervousness, and the groom's solicitude are the subject of comment in London morning newspaper reports of the Abbey ceremony. The Daily Express says that Philip so clearly showed that he would take care of her. Philip started and stared as his bride paced up the nave towards him, but she would not look back. During the marriage service Philip often looked towards Elizabeth, but she not at all at him. She felt that her duty came first, but he could not restrain friendly affection for what she was doing so well, and this was to be seen many times again before they left the Abbey. Philip paced so carefully beside his bride, anxious for her. He smiled not so much with a possessive as with a friendly smile. The Daily Herald says that the bride, in spite of her training and experience of proud ceremonies, was nervous. She walked slowly and looked pale when she came from behind the high altar after signing the register. The bridegroom came to her rescue, holding her left hand and smiling into her face, seeming to encourage her forward. c At last she smiled back, and, with gladness in her eyes, walked the length of the Abbey, braved the floodlights which confronted her, and finally the burst of cheering, which sounded like a thunderclap. The royal marriage register, which will be on view in Westminster Abbey, describes the bride as “ Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, 21, spinster. Princess of the United Kingdom, of Great Britain, and Ireland, of Buckingham Palace.” The groom is described as “Philip Mountbatten, 26, bachelor, his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, K.G., of Kensington Palace.” . The register is signed in firm, clear, handwriting, “ Elizabeth ” and “ Philip.” The bridegroom’s gifts to the eight bridesmaids were gold-and-silver powder compacts. The Duchess of Kent designed the emblem on front, which consisted of the letters E and P in rubies and sapphires, entwined with a ducal crown. The bridegroom gave the two pages gold cuff links engraved with the same device.