ROYAL WEDDING.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1923, Page 10

ROYAL WEDDING.

RUSH OF BRILLIANT SCENES. LONDON’S WARM WELCOME. GREAT CROWDS GATHER. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, April 26. Despite a long wait in the cold and rain the crowds in the vicinity of the Abbey were in the highest of spirits when the guests began to arrive at ten o’clock for the wedding of the Duke of York. 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 at Whitehall. Every typist, clerk and shop girl in London seemed to be holiday-making. The underground railways alone handled five million passengers, apart from the people in the streets, and the big stands in Eroad Sanctuary were crowded. 'Here 3500 seats were sold on behalf of the Abbey restoration fund and the Westminster Hospital, some as high as five to ten guineas. The place was ablaze with colour, the scarlet and gold draperies in the stands vieing with the flagged blue and white pions capped with the monograms A and E. Even the lamp-posts and street refuges were painted silver. COLOUR SCHEME IN ABBEY. Colonial and other journalists were allotted seats in a specially erected stand in the aisle of the north transept of the Abbey. The only flowers were on the altar, which was decked with the sacred vessels, seven-branched gold candlesticks and the altar cloth presented by the King and Queen, showing them kneeling in their coronation robes. When the Archbishops of Canterbury and York arrived in vestments of green, gold and scarlet, accompanied by the canons and minor officiating clergy, the colour scheme was complete. The procession met the King, Queen, and bridal party in the Western door*way. The clergy took their* seats around the altar and on the sedilia, which is part of the tomb of King Sopert, the mythical founder of the Abbey. The Royalties were heralded by the Royal Standard and a party of Gentle men-at-Arms, who wore gilt be-plumed helmets throughout the service as soldiers on duty. They were assisted by a body of Boy Scouts in khaki with green scarves, who showed the guests to theiv seats in the choir and transepts. These included the Ambassadors and their ladies, Cabinet Ministers, the wives of Dominion Premiers and High Commissioners. the leading Navy, Army and Air Force officers, all in uniform, wearing their orders and medals. Mr. Lloyd George’s shock of white hair was prominent among the unofficial visitors. Other interesting groups wore the blackcoated Labour members and the work ing lads chosen by the Industrial Welfare Society to represent the youth of British industry, in which the bridegroom was specially interested.

ROYAL PROCESSION. The vast congregation rose as Dean Ryle and the Abbey clergy led the Roya. procession up the nave through the choir screen to the scarlet and silver seats in the eacrarium under the picture of the ill-fated Richard 11. Princess Mary, in a cream frock and biscuit-coloured hat, accompanied her mother. Another charming personality was Princess Pat and Commander Ram say The Queen was a noble figure in blue, with a striking silver hat, but perhaps the most notable was Queen Alexandra in mauve, who took a full part >n the service and seemed the youngest woman of her years in Europe. The King and other Royalties took their seats at the right of the altar and Lady Strathmore and the bride’s rela tions and friends opposite. Meanwhile the bridesmaids awaite I the Earl of Strathmore and the bride in the little Poet’s Corner at the end of the nave. The bride, a virginal figure, wore a light veil loaned by Queen Mary Her wedding gown was sleeveless, but .the bridesmaids wore Jong gloves which have been out of fashion a long time. Each had a bunch of white flowers on the side of her hair, but no hats, an J carried bouquets of white York roses. As the bride passed the grave of the unknown warrior in the nave she re leased her father’s arm and placed a bouquet on the tomb and then joinel the bridegroom at the altar steps. He was in the blue-grey uniform and gold belt of the Royal Air Force and was supported by the Prince of Wales and Prince Henry.

As the bridal hymn ended the bride and bridegroom knelt down and Dean Ryle commenced the service, the Arch bishop of Canterbury taking the actual marriage ceremony. Every word could be heard in ,the transept and 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 Archbishop of York’s resonant voice told in the address. THE QUEEN’S DRESS. Bruton Street was also a centre of at traction, a large crowd waiting to see the bride leave her home for the Abbey. When their Majesties left the Palacp ,the weather was dry and the sun trying to break through. The Queen’s dress was a soft aquamarine tissue, veiled with a classical!’.’ draped overdress in which the white lose of York was interwoven with deli cate blue-tinted aquamarine crystals on the skirt, corsage and sleeves. The departure of the Duke of York and the groomsman from the Palace was the signal for great cheering, but perhaps the greatest ovation was that ac corded the bride as, with her father, she passed Hyde Park corner. The sun shone through as the bride entered the Abbey. Princess Mary and Lord Lascelles joined the procession of Royalties within the Abbey. The Duke of York was dressed in the Air Force uniform, wearin" the star and ribbon of the Carte/ and the star of the Order of the Thistle. The Prince of Wales was dressed in naval uniform, and Prince Henry in the uniform of his regiment. There was tumultous cheering from the seething throng in Broad Sanctuary when in bright sunshine the bridal pair, with, tlnbi Majesties and the Royalties, aftesigning the register, entered the carriages at the Abbey; there again was prolonged cheering among the spectators, the Duke of York and his bride smilingly and gracefully acknowledging the ovation. The wedding breakfast was held in the State dining-room, where there was a brilliant scene when the Royalties

[with intimate of .the I bride’s family and a few privileged 1 couyt officials assembled, while in the adjacent supper-room a hundred high State officials and members of the household gathered. The King proposed the toas: of the bride and bridegroom. It is reported that the King conferred the dignity of Royal Highness upon the Duchess of York, making her the fourth lady in the land, ranking next to Princess Mary. The King and Queen gave a third reception at the Palace. The bridal pair shared the honours with Princess Mary, whose 26th birthday was a few days ago. When the Duke visited the headquarters of the Amalgamated Engineers’ ' Union Mr. Brownlie, president, assured the Duke: “You will be safe in the hands of a Scottish lassie.” To-day the Duke picked out Mr. Brownlie at the King’s party at Buckingham Palace and presented his fiancee, saying: “Here is the Scottish lassie, Mr. Brownlie.” Official: The King has conferred the Order of the Thistle on the Duke of York, the Q.V.C.O. on the Earl of Strathmore, a V.C-.0. on Wing-Com-mander Greig, Comptroller of the Duke’s household. The Duchess of York will be styled Royal Highness, ranking next to Prin cess Mary. 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. The wedding was celebrated on the Glamis estate. The whole region was en fete, including the town of Forfar. The children and villagers were entertained at sports and a banquet. There was a huge bonfire.