THE ROYAL WEDDING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17026, 27 April 1923, Page 7

THE ROYAL WEDDING.

BRIGHT SUNSHINE IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY. LADY ELIZABETH RAISED TO ROYAL HIGHNESS By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.—Aus. Ts T .Z. Cable Assn. (Received Apn'S 27, 9.45 a.m.)

LONDON, April 26. Brutons Street was also a centre of attraction, a large crowd waiting to see ths bride leave her home for the Abbey When their left Buckingham Palace the weather was dry and the sun was trying to break through. The Queen’s dress was of soft aquamarine tissue, veiled with a classically draped overdress, in which a white Rose of York was interwoven with delicate blue threads. Thera were also showers of blue tinted aquamarine crystals on the skirt, corsage and sleeves.

The departure of the Duf .3 of York and his groomsmen from the Palace was the sign I for great cheering, hut perhaps the greatest ovation was that accorded the bride as, with her father, she passed Hi ds Park Corner. The sun shone through as the bride entsrcc} the Abbey. Princess Mary and Visooi it Lasceiies joined the procession of Royalties within the Abbey. The Unite of York was d essed in the Royal Air Force uniform, wearing the Star anc Ribbon of the Garter, anti the Star of the Order of the This* ie. The Prince of Wales was dressed in Naval uniform, anti Prince Henry in the uniform rf his regiment.

Titers was tumultuous cheering from the seething throng, which gathered in bright sunshine before the Abbey. The bridal pair, who received cordial greetings from their Majesties and other Royalties after the signing of the register, entered their carriage at the Abbey door, and again there was prolonged cheering among the spectators, the Duke of York and his bride smilingly and gracefully acknowledging the ovation. The we eking breakfast was heiui in the State dining room where there was a brilliant scene, the members of the Royal family, with intimate relations, and members of the bride’s family and a few privileged court officials, were assembled there, while in the adjacent supper room a hundred high State officials an:! members of the Household were gathered. The King proposed the ts’aot of the bride and bridegroom. it was reported that the King had conferred the dignity of Royal Highness upon the Duchess of York, making her the fourth lady in tire land, ranking next to Princess Mary.

PRINCE’S “SCOTTISH LASSIE.” INCIDENT AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE. LONDON, April 26. The King and Queen gave a third reception at Buckingham Palace. The bridal pair shared the honours with Princess Mary, whose twenty-sixth birthday took place a few days ago. When the Duke visited the headquarters of the Amalgamated Engineers’ Union, Mr Brownlie, the president, assured the Duke, “ You will be safe in the hands of a Scottish Lassie.” 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.”

A BRILLIANT SPECTACLE.

POPULAR BRIDE AND GROOM. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, April 26. For the second time within fourteen months, the Abbey was the scene of a Loyal wedding. Three thousand guests attended the brilliant spectacle, while outside was a scene of animation and enthusiasm along the route between the Abbey and the Palace, where from an early hour sightseers began to occupy coigns of vantage. During the past week the Duke of ork and his Scottish bride have become increasingly popular, and the selection pf his bride from his own land has won the entire approval of the people. In most respects, the wedding ceremonial closely followed that of Princess Mary. The route was lined by the First Battalions respectively of the Grenadier Guards, the Coldstream Guards, the Scots Guards and the Welsh Guards, while various Guards’ bands were stationed at points in the route. At the Abbey, a dismounted party of the Eleventh Hussars, and detachment of the Somerset Light Infantry and East Yorkshire Army Ordnance Corps lined the pavements. The Duke of York’s connection with the Navy and the Air Force was marked hv the guards of honour at the Abbey doors being furnished from them. In addition to the military, nine thousand police were stationed along the route. 1 Queen Alexandra preceded the King | and Queen to the Abbey by a few min-

utes. while the Duke of York, accompanied by the Prince of Wales and Prince Henry, left the Palace shortly after their parents. The bride, accompanied by her father, left her home at Bruton Place just after eleven o’clock. 1 lie procession of Royalties was along a gaily decorated route down the Mall, across Horseguards Parade, into Whitehall, and thence to the Abbey, which was entered by the west door. ' AT THE ABBEY. Y bile the congregation was assembling Mr Sydney Nicholson, the Abbey organist, played Purcell’s ‘‘Suite.’ .Basil Harwood’s ‘‘Andante and Finale ” from Sonata in C sharp minor” Handel’s minuet from “ Berenice ’ and St Saens’s ‘‘ Benediction Nuptiale.” A great ovation was accorded their Majesties as they alighted at the Abbey. As the King moved in the procession to his appointed place. th e organist played Elgar’s “ Imperial March.” For the bridegroom’s procession. Parry’s “ March in C” was played, when th? Duke of York, accompanied by his brothers, took their alloted places. The bride, escorted bv her father, walked to- the altar preceded by a choir, singing the hymn “Lead Us, Heavenly Father.” As the young couple took their places before the altar, the Dean of Westminster read the exhortation. alter which the Archbishop of Canterbury began the service. With him were the Archbishop of York, Primate of Scotland, and the Abbey clergy. The scene was impressive, and the great congregation was hushed in silence as the Archbishop began the marriage service’. When he had finished. the choir chanted th« Psalm “ God be Merciful Unto Us,” to Wesley’s setting. ADDRESS TO MARRIED COUPLE. I Then followed prayers, after which

the Archbishop \of York delivered an address to the newly-married couple. The Archbishop said: “To this great, this crowning .day of your lives, you have come attended by the august, moving memories of this hallowed place, and by the kindly thoughts and wishes of the nation. Before this host of witnesses, seen and unseen, you have offered your love to one another and to God. You have received from Him. at this altar, a new life, in which your separate lives are now. till death, made one. Will you take and keep this gift of wedded life as a sacred trust? Sacred it must be, lor your love and God’s love ar e within it. With all our hearts we wish that it may be happy. But you cannot resolve that it shall be happy. You can and will resolve that it shall be noble. You will think not so much of' enjoyment, as of achievements. You will have the great ambition to make this one life now given to you something rich, true and beautiful. The inspiration and strength to fulfil this sacred trust will come to you from God, who gave it. You will, we are assured, resolve U. make this wedded life of yours a blessing, not only to yourselves, but to others, not the least- to those who, in a world of toil and struggle, have the most need of help and cheer. The warm, generous heart of this people takes you to-day into itself. Will you not, in response, take that heart with all its joys and sorrows into your own? Yon. Isir, have already given many proofs of vour care for the welfare of our working people. You have made yourself at home in their mines, shipyards and factories. You have brought the boys of the workshop and the public school together in free and frank companionship. You have done much to show your own sense, and to increase the public sense, of the honour and dignity of labour. And your dear bride, in her old Scottish home, has grown up from childhood among country folk, and friendship with them has been her native air. So you have both • been fitted for your place in the people’s life. The nations and classes which make up our Commonwealth too often live their lives apart. It is, therefore, a great thing that there should be in our midst one family which is regarded by all as in a true sense their own. It makes the whole Empire kin, and helps to give it the spirit of one family life. Eiyeb the example be ever before you of Him who, though Lord of all men, is yet their brother, and who was, and is, content to be among His brethren as one that serves. These are some of the hopes we cherish for you. But, after all. it is to yourselves as simple man and maid, now husband and wife, that our heart turns. As you go forth to meet the years to come, on behalf of a nation that is happy in your jov, we bid you God-speed and wish you good luck in the name of the Lord through all the changes and chances in this mortal life. May God’s love ever shadow you. His power protect you. His spirit guide you, His peace enfold AFTER THE CEREMONY. After the address, the bridal party retired to the vestry to sign the register, the hymn, “ Praise, My Soul, t/m King of Heaven.” being sung, folioweu by the choir singing Orlando Gibbons’s “Amen.” and the anthem “Beloved, Let us Love,” composed specially for Princess Mary’s wedding. When the party emerged from the vestry Mendelssohn’s “ Wedding March ” and Stanford’s “ Marcia iSroica ’ 5 were played. As tbe Royal procession moved from the Abbey the bells pealed as never before. About five thousand changes were rung, lasting for three and a half hours. The crowd vied with the bells in giving the wedded couple a warm sendoff. The bridal pair returned to the Palace by a route which extended through the Mall to St James's Street, Piccadilly. Hyde Park, and Constitution Hill. There was one long continued ovation. The King and Queen, accompanied by a field officers’ escort of Life Guards.'and Queen Alexandra, with a captain’s escort of Life Guards. returned to the Palace by a shorter route, to welcome their son and d a n gh ter-in-la w. There was a strong representation of the Foreign Diplomatic Corps, and representatives of all the overseas dominions and Agents-General. AWARD OF HONOURS. 13y Telegraph—Press Association—CopyrightAustralian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received April 27. 10.15 a.m.). LONDON, April 26. It is officially announced that- tho King has conferred the Order of the Thistle on the Duke of York, the G.C.V.O. on the E-arl of Strathmore (the bride’s father), and the C.V.O. on Wing-Commander Greig, comptroller of the Duke’s Household. The Duchess of York will b e styled “ Royal Highness,” ranking next to Princess Mary. LATER DETAILS OF THE WEDDING ON PAGE 8.