THIRD SON TO MARRY

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1934, Page 11

THIRD SON TO MARRY

PLANS FOR THE WEDDING STORY OF THE BETROTHAL. Prince George will be the third of Their Majesties' five children to be married. The first was Princess Mary, whose marriage to Lord Lascelles took place on February 28, 1922. The Duke of York was the next to wed. His marriage to Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was solemnised on April 26, 1923. In both cases the scene of the ceremony was Westminster Abbey. Nevertheless, Royal weddings in the Abbey are not common. It was there on January 20, 1382, that Richard 11. was married to Anne of Bohemia. Over five centuries passed before another Royal marriage took place there—the wedding of Princess Patricia, daughter of the Duke of Connaught and first cousin of the King, and Commander the Honourable Alexander Ramsay, on February 27, 1919. Thus, within very recent times, three Royal weddings have been solemnised in the Abbey, the most historic church in Christendom.

The fourth seems likely to be celebrated under the happiest circumstances. Since reaching man’s estate, Prince George has been much in the public eye. Particularly in the past three years he has taken an ever-increasing share of the duties which fall to members of the Royal Family, both in tours at home and abroad. By character and personality he has won the hearts of the people, and congratulations were rained upon him when the news of his betrothal was announced.

To the Princess of his choice, too, a warm-hearted welcome has been given, recalling the demonstration of popular affection which greated Princess Alexandra of Denmark when she arrived in England 70 years ago to become the bride of the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII.

Five years ago the Prince and Princess first' met. The Princess was then on a visit to London. The Royal couple met occasionally later, as was natural, whenever the Princess happened to be in England, but a budding romance seems never to have been suspected, even by those in the closest touch with Court circles..

The secret was kept almost until the last. Prince George left England for Yugoslavia on August 15, and his arrival there was recorded by a Press cablegram, which stated that the visit was understood to be of a purely private nature. To those in touch with events that statement offered both a clue and a disclaimer. It was understood in England that the Prince had left to spend a holiday with Prince Paul of Yugoslavia, who had invited him to participate in

chamois hunting and shooting. And so he had. But Prince Paul is also the brother-in-law of Princess Marina, having married her elder sister. It was at Prince Paul’s summer residence on Bohinjsko Lake, in the mountains of Slovenia, that Prince George actually proposed. Princess Marina is accustomed to spending the long summer holidays there. Certainly few lovelier settings for a romance could be found than Prince Paul’s home on the edge of Bohinjsko Lake, which is one of Yugoslavia’s beauty spots. Rumours of the engagement quickly spread, but, until the consent of the King had been obtained the official announcement had necessarily to be delayed. But little time was lost. The King, then in residence at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, telegraphed his approval, and the consent of Princess Marina’s parents was also obtained.

Over the kneeling forms of the pair the Archbishop will pronounce the

benediction. The man and woman, as the Prayer Book calls them, will go to the altar. If precedent is followed, the Archbishop of York will later deliver a brief address, impressing on the newlymarried pair the sacred nature of the matrimonial bond, expressing to them the joy of. the nation and the Empire, and invoking the Divine blessing on the union. There will remain then only the signing of the register. Following the Abbey service there will be another, conducted in a chapel at the Palace according to the rites of the Greek Orthodox Church, to which Princess Marina belongs. This service will be attended only by close relatives. There will be a choir but no organ music. The most picturesque feature of that ceremony will be the holding of marriage crowns, probably of orange blossom, over the heads of the bride and bridegroom while the service is being conducted. The crowns will later be exchanged.