A ROYAL WEDDING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 925, 27 January 1917, Page 7

A ROYAL WEDDING.

The Chapel Royal, St. James's, was the scene of the Royal wedding on Wednesday last (says the Loudon "Observer'/ of November 10), a noteworthy event at any time, but doubly so in wartime. Countess Nada Torby and Prince George of Battenberg are sharing the lot of less exalted brides and bridegrooms in that theirs will be but a brief honeymoon, owing to exigencies of the service, Prince George's duties calling him back to his ship very shortly. The pretty bride was much admired in her Russian bridal gown of satin and silver, with a long tulle veil falling from the becoming head-dress of orange blossoms and silver leaves and the tiara of rubies and diamonds given by her mother, Countess Torby; she carried a bunch of lilies.

The Grand Duke Michael, in military uniform, gave his daughter away, and she was attended by four bridesmaids, Countess Zia Torby, Princess Louise of Battenberg and Princess Nina and Princess Zenie of Russia. They wore gowns of sea-blue tulle,, velvet and satin, bordered with sable, and with Russian embroideries on dull red, their Russian head-dresses of sea-blue velvet having bands of sable and veils of blue tulle. They wore long bead necklaces, the gifts of the bridegroom, and carried bunches of russet-red chrysanthemums. The Sub-Dean met the bride on arrival, and preceded'her up the chapel, during the singing by the children of the Chapel Royal of the hymn "O Perfect Love," set to the Russian National Hymn. The chapel was hung with garlands of smilax and white flowers, and the gold plate decorated the altar, on either side of which, in the space usually occupied by tho choir, the members of the Royal Family were seated. The earliest arrival was the Duchess of Albany, the King and Queen being the last to take their places. Her Majesty was wearing a fur-trimmed velvet dress, with a small toque, and his Maiestj' was in undress naval uniform, as was also the father of the bridegroom, Prince Louis of Battenberg. Prince George and his best man,' Lord Burghersh, were in naval uniform.

There was no blaze of pageantry at this Royal wedding. Princess Louis of Battenberg was dressed with quiet distinction, the members of the Diplomatic Circle all wore morning dress, and most of the ladies present wore velvet and furs. Queen Alexandra was wearing sequined black, with her customary knot of pink flowers. Other Royal personages who attended the ceremony were the Princess Royal in grey velvet; Princess Victoria, in a dark velvet gown with furs; Princess Arthur of Conhaught and Princess Maud; Princes 3 Christian, in heliotrope * velvet, with Princess Victoria and Princess Marie Louise, and Princess Henry of Battenberg with her youngest son. 'Princess Mary sat with Prince Albert, and looked very charming in a rose-pink hat and a furtrimmed velvet coat.

The Duchess of Connaught, in peachcoloured velvet, came with the Duke of Connaught and Princess Patricia, who was looking lovely in saxe blue velvet with a string of pearls and a hat encircled by a band of ermine. Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, looked distinguished in a dark dress with furs. Queen Amelie was in grey, with grey ostrich feathers in her hat. King Manoel escorted his wife.