GAY LONDON SCENE

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1934, Page 5

GAY LONDON SCENE

EVE OF ROYAL WEDDING HUGE CROWD OF VISITORS EXCURSION CONTINGENTS ELABORATE DECORATIONS By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 8 p.m. London, Nov. 29. London is crowded with visitors for the Royal wedding. Additional police have been called bn to control the exceptionally heavy traffic in Westminster, where numbers of sightseers flocked into the gaily decorated streets. The weather was exceptionally cold yesterday and at midnight Bond Street was densely packed with pedestrians and motor-cars. All the neighbouring parking places were fully occupied. A layer of clouds, imprisoning the day’s smoke, plunged London into darkness early in the afternoon, but the forecast is for mild weather with bright intervals. Scenes of the wedding eve will live long in London's memory. Rarely have there been such crowds in the streets, and never such traffic congestion. The crowds made merry despite a drizzle. The brilliant decorations produced bizarre effects against a pall of fog. Not since Armistice Day has London presented a scene of such wholehearted enjoyment. Floodlights, spotlights and streamlights illuminated flag-bedecked and festooned buildings, transforming the streets into brilliant tunnels, roofed and walled in variegated colours, in which Union Jacks and Greek flags predominMany of the thoroughfares were almost impassable, buses taking 90 minutes to cover a normal ten minutes’ journey. Everyone was good-humoured, as befits the citizens of Europe’s happiest capital. Expresses brought Scottish, Irish, Welsh and Continental contingents throughout the night, some excursionists spending two nights in the train. LAST BACHELOR OBLIGATION. The Duke of Kent fulfilled almost, his last bachelor obligation when he dispatched to each bridesmaid a brooch of aquamarines and diamonds initialled “G. and M.” Congratulations arrived by the thousandfold from all parts* of the world, including Herr Hitler’s telegram to _ His Majesty conveying sincerest felicitations. Queen Mary, the Duke of Kent, Princess Marina and Princess Nicholas visited the theatre in the evening. The audience rose and cheered when the party entered two Royal boxes. A police cordon was broken by the cheering crowd as the Royal party left the theatre. Many women lost their hats in the surging throng round the Duke of Kent’s and Princess Marina’s car, endeavouring to thrust handkerchiefs through the windows. The Royal pair returned to the palace via Bond Street, viewing the decorations from the windows of the car. The delighted crowds waved cheerily. Crowds of people, including many in evening dress, outside Buckingham Palace at midnight saw the Duke of Kent and Princess Marina return. The Duke afterwards drove away in a car alone. The most disappointed functionaries were the Duke of Kent’s Comptroller, Major Ulrick Alexander, who, owing to influenza, had to be replaced by. Sir Piers Legh, and M. Cedard, the Kings chef, who is ill in bed and therefore unable to prepare the wedding breakfast. ~ The bride will cut the weddmg cake with the Duke of Kent’s sword, and will distribute pieces to the guests who will search for mascots.