ROYAL WEDDING.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10305, 4 March 1922, Page 4

ROYAL WEDDING.

PRINCESS M.VftY’S MARRIAGE. A SIMPLE. . CEREMONY. GREAT -REJOICINGS. LONDON, February 28. Princess Mary, only daughter of (he King and Queen, was married to Viscount Lascelles in the West* minster Abbey on Tuesday. Stalwart Guardsmen, whose uniforms and black bearskins added splendour to the occasion. Stood in such close formation along the route that onlookers had little chance of seing the procession. The streets were filled with vast crowds. Londoners, however, notwithstanding aIL the disadvantages of overcrowding, gave the Princess a fitting welcome. Enthusiastic as was the reception of the Queen, with whom were the Duke of York, Princes Henry -tend George, Dial which awaited the bride will live in her memory. Her appearance was the signal for a roar which ran through th dense throng from the Palace to Admiralty Arch with amazing rapidity. The Princess acknowledged this joyous feu-de-joie of cheers smiling all the way. The moment of the bride’s arrival at the Abbey, the crowd was so dense that the police had the greatest difficulty in maintaining the cordon. Dozens of women and children fainted and, were carried to ialand refugees, where medical aid was stationed. AT THE ABBEY. The Abbey with all: its wealth ofhistoric ceremonials was probably never a sotting foi" one more beautiful in' its simplicity, ami where public interest so generally centred than the wedding of the King's only daughter. It is centuries since a King’s daughter was married in the Abbey. There wore delegates from every unit of the British Commonwealth of Nations, and, unlike previous great ceremonials, there was a notable absence of foreign Royalties, though foreign nations paid their respects through their Diplomatic Corps. The remarkable enthusiasm evinced throughout, the country since the Princess was affianced, was mainly accounted for by the filet that she is greatly beloved and was to remain at home among her own folk, instead of gracing some Foreign Court. Well before the appointed ho\ir the invitees to the Abbey began to arrive—Peers, Commoners, Labourites, Social Reformers and various religious bodies’ taking up their allocated position. New Zealand was represented by Sir James and Lady Allen, who occupied prominent positions. Every part of the grey old Abbey was filled with guests in resplendent costums, forming an animated scene. Outside the Abbey, the scene was no less thrilling. Thousands of spectators found accommodation in the huge stands and the space behind the troops, in Whitehall was densely packed with sightseers. As the procession swung .through Admiralty Arch into Whitehall, volleys of cheering greeted the Princess, and a great ovation was accorded her as the carriage entered Parliament Square, the latter finely decorated in a colour scheme of blue, white and silver, with masts bearing banners and medallions and monograms “Mary —i iLahcplles.” Such wounded men as are still in hospitals in London were provided' with special accommodation to view the procession. There were two processions from the Palace, separated by a short interval. The Queen with a Captain’s escort of the First Life Guards formed the first, which left the Palace at 11.3. The Kinfe with tthe Princess forming the second procession, left at 11.16, accompanied by a Field Officer’s escort. There was a moment of alienee as Britain’s monument to the glorious dead —its base piled round with wreaths of immortelles —brought to mind that joy and sorrow were fellow travellers on life’s journey. While those in the Abbey were awaiting the coming of the bride, Mr Sydney Nicholson, the Abbey organist, played a selection of music chosen to represent early English music, and later British compositions. The Abbey choir was strengthened by the choir of the Chapel Royal. THE CEREMONY. Cheering outside the Abbey announced the arrival of the Royalties, and conversation In the Abbey died away to silence as the Princess, on her father’s arm, approached the altar, accompanied by (lie bridesmaids Princess Maud Rachel ■Cavendish, Lady Mary Thyime, Lady Victoria Cambridge, Lady Doris Gor-don-Lennox, Lady Elizabeth BowesLyon, Lady Diana Briclgemun, and Lady Mary Cambridge. Each brides-maid-carried a bouquet of sweet peas, caught wilb silver ribbon : streamers. Viscount Lascelles, with Sir Victor Mackenzie, awaited the Princess’s arrival at the altar, where the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Dean of Westminster, (ho Bishops of London and Oxford, and other clergy in magnificent vestments, formed an effective sotting to tho diaphanous draperies of the bridal party. The Dean of Westminster received the King and bride at tho west door. Tho Dean and his Canons, with the choir, then preceded the bridal procession up the nave, singing “Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us,” which was selected as the opening hymn by the bridr Imrsoif. Tho Archbishop of Canterbury conducted tho marriage service, at tho conclusion of which the hymn “Praise my Sou), Urn Ivin); of Heaven” was sunt,' to Gosses music. Tho Archbishop delivered an address, after which (.lie blessing was pronounced, and as (lie bride and bridegroom proceeded to Edward ihe Confessor’s Chape) to sign the register, tho anthem. “Beloved, let. us love one another,” specially composed fnr tlm occasion by Mr Nicholson, was sung. Then as (he bridal party left the chapel, all the Royalties, wilb the Earl and Countess of Harewood. joined the procession in tho nave, forming a brilliant pageant. The organist played the “Bridal March”from Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliet,” followed by Mendelssohn’s “Wedding Marcli,” as tho parly quitted the Abbey. In lii.-■> address, (tho Archbishop said it van probable tliat no daughter of a reigning King had ever been married in the Abbey, ami certainlv no marriage Dad taken place with unite such associations, fie referr-j ed to the worl; done during, the war I by I’rim-eas Mary in the Iea<I«• ish 1 j> I of disciplined English girlhood, and i t>v tile bridegroom in ( be field Ad-| defcdng I t>e t'riimesM. 1m Scid: "To you. m;, child, the war days of your childhood drought occasion of glad rwr-MVe," and to the bridegroom:"Vonr work, my brother, did much more Minn stand the tern." Now. j lie added, they would together set" I themselves to secure the strength, i orderliness ami sunshine of a gn at, j English homo. | Viscount Lasceiirp i »-]m wore the' uniform of the Grenadier Guards. 1 with Ribbons and Stars of order) ppoko the vows in a firm voir,-, which wae dearly audible across the Abbc-y.

Princess Mary’s voice was also audible and unshaken, hut the words were indisguishable as her back was to the an dience. AFTERWARDS. Great cheeriugs rose when the bridal carriage drove away, too couple bowing acknowledgments. Perhaps only one thing was wanting to complete the Princess’s happiness, and that was the fact that her elder brother, to whom she Is devotedly attached, was unable to participate in the ceremony. On the return journey a longer route was taken, both for the benefit of the spectators and to enable their Majesties and other Royalties to return to the Palace by a shorter route in tlnm to receive the newly married couple." Spectators from the Abbey and Whitehall began to converge on the Palace, while the throng was so great at Hyde Park Corner that the ambulances were busy, over 20 persons being treated for fainting and exhaustion. All clubs in Piccadilly were gaily decorated, the windows filled with clieerihg people. As the newly-married couple drove down Constitution Hill they received tremendous acclamation : Trom the, vast crowd. . From the balcony of the Palace Viscount Lascelles and the Princess bowed to the crowd. Princess Mary beckoned her father and mother and Queen Alexandra, who joined her amid tumultuous cheering. As the Princess, on the ret uni journey, passed the Cenotaph, the carriage was stopped, and she handed a Grenadier Guardsman a beautiful floral tribute which she specially reserved for the purpose. The soi-! dicr saluted, and placed the flowers at the foot of the memorial. The whole scone was unexpected, aim many of those who witnessed It were, moved to tears. THE HONEYMOON. Princess Mary and Viscount Lascclles left the Palace at four o’clock in an open State landau, drawn by four white horses, with outriders in scarlet liveries and attended by an escort of the First Life Guards on the way to Paddington Station, whence they left for Shifnal, where the first portion of the honeymoon will he spent. The route to Paddington was ’densely crowded, and the young people received one long ovation. It is noteworthy that Princess Mary and Viscount Lascelles went on their honeymoon with a single maid and valet. CONG RATU LATION S. Paris newspapers devote articles to the Royal wedding. Marshal Foch issued through the “Matin,” a manifesto. in which ho recalled with deep .emotion tho ties existing between i (England and France. I I In Sydney the shipping and many buildings were beflagged in honour of Princess Mary’s marriage. Some of the churches rang wedding peals. The Governor-General sent Australia’s congratulations, and also the Premier’s. The King replied: “Heartv thanks.” NEW ZEALAND'S GREETINGS. The Governor-General sent the following message to Her Royal Highness, Princess Mary, on the occasion of her marriage :—“On behalf of-the Government and people of New Zealand, with whom I associate myself, I beg to tender to Y6ur Royal Highness, on this auspicious day, with deep respect, the sincere and heartfelt good wishes for your iinure happiness.” (Signed) “Jellicoe.” THEIR MAJESTIES’ THANKS. The King sent ' massages to the nation saying : “The Queen and I cannot allow a day to mass, which lias been to us so happy and memorable, without making it known how deeply we have been touched by the warm, affectionate good wishes of my subjects in all parts of the Empire. Our beloved son-in-law and daughter could not begin their new lily under auspices brighter than those affoided by the kindness and enthusiasm of my people throughout the realm. We appreciate their goodwill all the more vividly because ho know veil that many at this moment arc living in -the shadow of greatest hardship and anxiety. From the depths of our hearts, we thank you all for making yourselves partners in our great joy.” MARRIAGE SERVICE MODIFIED. The Daily Mail states that modifications were made for the Royal wedding, in the stark 16th century language of the marriage ceremony, which met with modern criticism, and the alterations will be embodied in the revised Prayer Book which is now under consideration. The first alteration is in tho preface beginning: “Dearly beloved we arc gathered,” from the words “to satisfy” down to the word “understanding” being omitted. The two following paragraphs wore changed, and in the new form they read: "Firstly, it was ordained for the increase of mankind, according to tho will of God and that children might he brought up in tear and nurture of the Lord and to the praise of His holy name; secondly, it was ordained that, the natural instincts of affection implanted by God should he hallowed and controlled, and that those that are not called of God to remain unmarried should live chastely In matrimony Thus, in holiness ami pureness of living, mankind should dwell together in families." The remainder of the service was unaltered. Tho Princess promised to obev. GENERAL. LONDON, Febuary 2S. There wcto uproarious scenes in tho West End during [lie evening, the participants being chiefly girls and young men. By fio’olock (he neighbourhood of Buckingham Palace was u seething mass of people waiting in (lie hope that Hie King and Queen would appear on the balcony, LONDON, March I. The "Daily Mail” records a touching incident at. the signing of the. 1 marring register As the little party passed through the door from (he altar Viscount Lascelles turned and kissed the bride. Blushing. Princess Mary turned towards (he Queen, with one word: “Mother”, Kissing her fondly, the Queen said: “God bless yon Mary.” The King then kissed’his daughter, and shook hands with Viscount Lascelles.