DUKE’S WEDDING

Southland Times, Issue 18927, 28 April 1923, Page 5

DUKE’S WEDDING

LONDON ». N FETE SCENES OF RAPTUROOfc ENTHUSIASM. BRIDE HONOURED BY KING. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, April 26. Despite a long wait in the cold and rain, crowds in the vicinity of Westminster Abbey were in the highest spirits when the wedding guests began to arrive at 10 o'clock. Many stood for hours to get a good place, including many from the dominions. It was essentially a woman's day. While the men folk were going to the city their wives and daughters were gathering in The Mall and Whitehall. Every typist, clerk and ehcpgirl in London seemed to be holidaymaking. The underground railways alone handled 5,000.000 passengers. The big stands in the broad sanctuary were crowded, and here 3500 seats were sold on behalf of the Abbey Restoration Fund and the Westminster Hospital. Some seats sold as high as five to ten guineas. The place was ablaze with colour, the scarlet and gold draperies of the stands vieing with the beflagged blue and white pylons, capped with the monograms “A. and E.” Even lamp-posts and street refuge tins were painted in silver. Colonial and other journalists were allotted seats on a specially erected stand in the aisle of the north transept of the Abbey. Only flowers were on the altar, which was decked with sacred vessels and a gold seven-branched candlestick and altar cloth presented by the King and Queen, showing them kneeling in their Coronation robes. When the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York arrived in their vestments cf green, geld and scarlet, accompanied by Canons and minor officiating clergy, the colour scheme was complete. The procession met the King and Queen, and the bridal party in the western doorway, the clergy took their seats around the altar, and on the aedilia, which was part of King Egbert’s tomb, the mythical founder of the Abbey. The Royalties were heralded by a party of gentlemen at arms who were gilt-beplumed helmets throughout the service. They were assisted by a body of boy scouts in khaki and green scarves, who showed the guests their seats in the choir transepts. These included Ambassadors, their ladies, Cabinet Ministers, wives of the Dominion Premiers, High Commissioners, | leading Navy, Army and Air Force officers, all in uniform, wearing their orders and medals. Mr Lloyd George’s shock white hair was prominent among the non-offi-cials. Other interesting groups were the black-coated Labour members and working lads chosen by the Industrial Welfare Society, to represent the youth of British industry, in whom the bridegroom was specially interested. The change of weather into brilliant sunshine caused many waverers to change their minds at the last minute, and by 10 o’clock every available inch of the route was lined, yards deep, by spectators. As the King and Queen left Buckingham Palace, a cheer beginning at the Palace swelled down the entire length of The Mall, which broke into a brilliant display of flags and coloured Ftreamere. Other carriages had similar ovations. The carriage containing bride and bridegroom was drawn at a slow pace to enable as many as possible to get glimpses of the ccuple. Both repeatedly bowed to the call “Long live the Duke and Duchess,” and “Have a good honeymoon.” Though thousands of special constables were engaged, it was obvious mere were necessary, and the police were reinforced by soldiers to hold back the pushing, swaying crowd along the route. In The Mall seven women in the space of five minutes fainted and were removed in ambulances. Bruton Street also was a centre of attraction, a large crowd waiting to see the bride leave home for the Abbey. When Their Majesties left the Palace the weather was dry and the sun was trying to break through.

There was tumultuous cheering from the eeething throng in the broad sanctuary in bright sunshine, for the bridal pair and for Their Majesties and other members of the Royal Family. After signing the register they entered their carriages at the Abbey doer. Again there was prolonged cheering among the spectators. The Duke of York and bride smilingly and gracefully acknowledged the ovation. The wedding breakfast was held in the State dining-room, where there was a brilliant scene. Royalties, with the intimate relations of the bride’s family and a few privileged Court officials assembled, while in the adjacent supper-room 100 high State officials and members of the household gathered. The King proposed the toast of the bride and bridegroom. IMPERIAL ABBEY SERVICE.

The vast congregation rose as Dean Ryle ■nd the Abbey clergy led the Royal procession up the nave through the choir screen to scarlet and silver seats in the sacrarium under the picture of the ill-fated Richard the Second. Princess Mary’, in a cream frock, accompanied her mother. Another charming personality was Princess Pat, with Commander Ramsay. The Queen was a nobie figure in blue with striking silver hat, but, perhaps the most notable was Queen Alexandra in mauve, who took a full part in the service and seemed the youngest woman cf her years in Europe. The King and other Royalties took their seats at the right of the altar. Lady Strathmore, the bride s relations and friends, opposite. Meanwhile the bridesmaids awaited Earl Strathmore and the bride in the “little poet's corner” at the end of the nave. The bride, a virginal figure, were a light veil loaned by Queen Mary. The wedding gown was sleeveless, but the bridesmaids wore long gloxes, which have been out of fashion for a long time. Each had a bunch of white flowers on the side of her hair, but were no hate. They carried bouquets of white York roses. As the bride passed the grave of the unknown warrior in the nave, she released her father’s arm and placed a bouquet on the tomb. She then joined the bridegroom at the altar steps. He was in blue grey uniform, and gold belt of the Rcyal Air Force, supported by the Prince of Wales and Prince Henry. When the bridal hymn ended the bride and bridegroom knelt. Dean Ryle commenced the service, the Archbishop of Canterbury taking the actual marriage ceremony. Every word could be heard in the transept of the choir, when he pronounced the kneeling couple man and wife, and gave his blessing, but the responses of the bride and bridegroom were heard only by their relatives in the sacrarium.

The music throughout was beautifully played, particularly Parry’s “Bridal March.” When the service was ended the King and Queen and Queen Alexandra went into Edward the Confessor’s Chapel to sign the register, but most of the signatures were added at Buckingham Palace, where the register was taken later. It was returned to the Abbey and shown to the public, who were allowed to enter the Abbey for a shilling a piece on behalf of the Abbey Restoration Fund. The bride and bridegroom had a great reception in the streets when returning to the Palace by a long rcute, while the steeples and spires of the city were uttering their jubilee in obedience to Tennyson’s call in his welcome to Queen Alexandra. Queen Mary entertained a great parly at the Palace, 8200 children of the County Councils’ schools feasting at the Prince’s expense, each party having heavily iced cake, four feet high in addition to a morsel of real wedding cake.

The Queen’s dress was the soft aquamarine tissued, and veiled in a classically draped overdress, in which the white rose of York was interwoven with delicate blue threads. There were also showers cf blue tinted aquamarine crystals on the skirt, corsage and sleeves.

Tlx departure of the Duke of York and grooiiicmen from the Palace was the signal for fcieat cheering, but perhaps the greatest

ovation was that accorded the bride as with her father she passed by Park corner. As the bride entered the Abbey, Princess Mary and Viscount. Lascelles joined the proces- • sion of the Royalties within the Abbey. ’ The Archbishop of York was dressed in j the Air Force uniform, wearing the Star i and Ribbon of the Garter and the Star of i the Order cf the Thistle. The Prince of (Wales was dressed in a naval uniform and ; Prince Henry in the uniform of his regii ment. SMART KINEMA WORK. I Kinema photographers exerted great efforts to obtain a complete film record of I the marriage procession. The first copy was ready at three in the afternoon. One •company printed thirty-five miles of film • during the afternoon, which was despatched all over the country for exhibition at the evening performances. ■ Inside the Palace, the bride and bridegroom were received by Their Majesties in the Grand Hall. After a short interval, the King and Queen, the Duke and’ his bride, and others of the family appeared :on the balcony for a few minutes, amidst the tremendous sustained cheering of the j assembled crowd. BRIDE MADE A PRINCESS. DUKE WAS A DEVOTED SUITOR. LONDON, April 27. (Received April 27, 8.5 p.m.) It is authoritatively stated that the bride automatically’ became her Royal Highness the Duchess of York on her marriage. The King, however, bestowed the dignity of Princess. This decision was arrived at on Wednesday night. Lord Strathmore, in a letter, says that ihe Duke of York was a devoted suitor for two cr three years. THE KING’S HONOURS LONDON, April 26. Official.—The King conferred the Order of the Thistle on the Duke of York; G.H.V.O. on Earl Strathmore and C.V.O. on Wing Commander Greig, Comptroller of the Duke’s household. The Duchess of York wall be styled Her Royal Highness, ranking next to Princess Mary. LONDON’S CELEBRATION. PEOPLE RELUCTANT TO GO HOME. LONDON, April 27. (Received April 27, 8.5 pm.) London continued the wedding festival throughout the evening. Far into the i night the streets in the West End were {thronged with people from the suburbs and country, the crowds which had seen the wedding being reluctant to go heme. The pavements in many places were impassable, especially in Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street, Oxford Street, and Whitehall. The sightseers included hundreds of family parties. The windows of the principal shops and stores were lit up, and these with the addition of electric signs and illuminations, flooded the streets with a blaze of light. Programmes and souvenirs were still sold. The more boisterous spirits amused themselves with confetti. Every theatre and cinema was full. When the audiences poured out many went to the already overcrowded hotels, where there were gala dances. The rest mingled with street revellers. I Seven thousand roses were used in decorations in one hotel where there were 2000 guests. There were roses everywhere, decking the dancing rooms and hotel lounges. Every hotel had surprise souvenirs for their guests in the shape of lucky shoes, wedding bells and portions of the wedding cake. The Prince of Wales dined at Claridges and afterwards went to the ball at Lansdowne House, in aid of the Queen Victoria Nursing Institute. HONEYMOON IN SURREY FROLICS LN COURTYARD LONDON, April 26. (Received April 27, 7.20 p.m.) The Duke of York and his bride departed on their honeymoon in Surrey. They received a rousing send-off along the route from the Palace to Waterloo. They had an equally rousing send-off from the royalties at the Palace. The Duke’s brothers, with the Duke of Connaught and bridesmaids, bombarded them with rose petals in the courtyard, the Queen and Princess Mary watching the fun from the balcony. The villagers of Bookham where the honeymoon will be spent have arranged a presentation and address of welcome. POOR CHILDREN ENTERTAINED. LONDON, April 26. Eight thousand poor children in Belfast were entertained by the Duke of York. On the children’s behalf a telegram was sent wishing him and his bride long life and happiness, to which the Duke of York replied wishing them a jolly afternoon and all good luck in the future.