PRINCE WED

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1935, Page 5

PRINCE WED

PALACE SERVICE POPULAR ENTHUSIASM CROWDS THRONG LONDON DAY OF BRIGHT SUNSHINE SCENE AT ROYAL CHAPEL By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright London, Nov. 6. The wedding day of the Duke of Gloucester and Lady Alice Montagu-Doug-las-Scott was favoured with what Londoners have come to call “Royal weather.” Brilliant sunshine and unclouded skies recalled the King’s jubilee day rather than the foggy November morning when the Duke and Duchess of Kent were married, intensifying the regret at the cancellation of the pageantry and the Westminster Abbey ceremony. Crowds, however, gathered near Lady Alice Scott’s home in Grosvenor Place from which she was to leave in a glass-ed-in coach drawn by four bay horses. Hundreds gathered at an early hour to see the bridal pair and the Royal Family appear on the balcony after the. ceremony. Trains all night long brought sightseers from the provinces, including a little group from the Buccleuch estate, some of whom have known Lady Alice since her childhood. The Duke of Gloucester breakfasted with Their Majesties, and from the windows of the Palace saw the crowds lined 10 deep. FLOWERS AT CHAPEL. The first , guests arrived about 11 o’clock and found the Royal Chapel decorated with hundreds of white flowers, two gold vases bearing sheaves of longiflorium lilies, white heather, orange blossoms, roses and narcissi. Sheaves of flowers six feet high adorned the pillars. The colours of the disbanded Third Battalion of the Scots Guards were conspicuous. Their Majesties, Queen Maud of Norway, King George of Greece, the Duke of Kent, the Duchess of York and the Princess Royal sat on the right of the altar, and behind them the Duke of Connaught, Princesses Louise and Beatrice, the Crown Prince of Sweden and the Earl of Harewood and his two sons. Opposite sat the Buccleuchs. The dowager duchess sat at the rear of the chapel with other relatives and members of the Cabinet. Crowds cheered the members of the Royal Family when they drove through the palace gates. Among the first arrivals were the little Princesses in white fur capes, over their bridesmaids’ dresses. They leaned forward excitedly and waved to the cheering crowds. When the sunlight was reflected on the glassed-in coach of the bride the enthusiasm was tremendous. The vast crowds, mainly women, lining the entire route from Grosvenor Place to Constitutional Hill waved flags and handkerchiefs. Lady Alice was calm and self-possess-ed and continually smiled and waved her white gloves. Her gown looked dead white in the strong light; She held a bridal bouquet of white roses and-lilies of the valley. .... BRIDE ENTERS PALACE. Lady Alice entered the palace supported by her f.:ir-haired brother, the new Duke of Buccleuch, who was in the scarlet and gold uniform of the Grenaadier Guards. They entered the draw-ing-room where the eight bridesmaids were drawn up in two ranks. The bridal procession then entered the chapel. The Prince of Wales and the Duke of York stood behind the Duke of Gloucester, who was a magnificent figure in a blue and gold tunic, scarlet breeches and black-topped boots. The Prin<?e of Wales wore the uniform of a colonel of the Welsh Guards and the Duke of York that of a colonel of the Scots Guards. The Bishop of London opened the service, and the Archbishop of Canterbury performed the marriage ceremony. The Primus of Scotland prayed for God’s blessing. Lady Alice showed not the slightest trace of nervousness and spoke the responses in a firm voice. The Archbishop of Canterbury gave a short address and ended the service with his blessing. At the conclusion the Duke bowed to his parents as he led out his bride, who with the bridesmaids curtseyed in unison. The Royal party after signing the register proceeded to the balcony. The tremendous cheers which greeted the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were renewed when the King, bareheaded and with the blue ribbon of the Garter across his scarlet tunic, and the Queen in blue and gold followed. The Duchess of Gloucester waved repeatedly before leaving the balcony. SIMPLE BREAKFAST. The wedding breakfast was simple. It was served at 12 round tables. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Princess Elizabeth sat with Their Majesties. The King proposed the health of the bride and bridegroom in a very few words. The sky was clouded and there was a slight drizzle after lunch. Nevertheless, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester adhered to the arrangement to drive to the railway station in an open landau. The Prince of Wales headed the Royal Family and the bridesmaids in showering rose leaves and confetti on the pair. The King farewelled them at the main entrance to the palace, while the Queen waved good-bye from the balcony as the carriage was lost to view amidst cheering crowds. The carriage went up the Mall, along the Strand and then to St. Pancras station, Every inch of the route was lined with people, while thousands watched from the windows of offices along the route and shouted “Good luck!” The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester had to run the gauntlet of photographers when entering the Silver Jubilee express, which was lavishly decorated with flowers. They waved their last farewell from the windows as they departed for Kettering. The bridal train was cheered at each station as it passed, and the Duke and Duchess had an enthusiastic reception at Kettering. In the twilight at Westminster Abbey when the last visitor had gone and the doors had been locked Canon Donaldson chanced to see lovely flowers on the tomb of - the Unknown Warrior. He found they were the Duchess of Gloucester's bridal bouquet. Meanwhile the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were speeding to Kettering for their honeymoon.

Simple and homely was the welcome at Kettering, where the Duke and Duchess drove in a specially lighted motorcar through the floodlit town, cheered by 4000 school children. Old Buccleuch retainers opened the gates leading towards Broughton House, where the staff, tenants and children, who brought gifts from the village school, had gathered in the great hall.