DUCHESS’S CAR MOBBED WHEN OUTSIDE CHURCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18418, 21 March 1928, Page 5

DUCHESS’S CAR MOBBED WHEN OUTSIDE CHURCH.

EXCITING SCENE AT WEDDING OF BROTHER. (Special to the “Star.”) LONDON, February 4. Extraordinary scenes occurred yesterday outside St George’s Church, ITanover Square, where the lion Michael Bowes-Lvon, brother of the Duchess of York, was married to Miss Elizabeth Cator, who was one of the Duchess’s bridesmaids. Although the ceremony was timed to take place at 2.15, the first sightseers took up their positions before eleven o'clock in the morning. By two o'clock there was a big crowd of people, stretching round and across Hanover Square, in which women predominated by about thirty to one. Some of these women sightseers were so anxious to catch a glimpse of the Duchess of York, who attended the wedding with the Duke, that they threw themselves on her car, and very nearly went underneath it.

It was only the driver’s skill that prevented enthusiasm from being turned to tragedy, and the Little Duchess, for all her experience of crowds, was obviously a little concerned at the incident. The Duke and Duchess drove to the wedding in their grey limousine car, and the Duchess was dressed all in grey—a grey velvet wrap, which she kept drawn together over her dress, and a little grey hat. The Bride Late. The Royal guests arrived at St George’s Church several minutes before the bride, who observed a tradition of the past and was late for her wedding. It was after twenty minutes past t\yo when Miss Cator arrived at the church, and her coming was the signal for another rush forward on the part of the tremendous crowd. The bride, who is the only daughter of Mr and Mrs Cator, of Woodbastwick Hall, Norfolk, and who was given away by her father, wore an effective white and silver picture gown. It had a long full .skirt of shimmering white satin, which gave gleams of a silver under-robe. The bodice was tight-fitting, so were the wrist-long sleeves, and there were touches of silver embroidery on the dress. Miss Cator wore a coat over her wedding dress during the journey from her home to the church, but the February wind played tricks with her fairy-like veil of ivory tulle, held in position with sprays of orange blossom. Exquisite Train. As she passed up the aisle it was the exquisite train falling behind her gown which drew particular looks of admiration from the distinguished crowd of guests. 1 his train consisted of two antique wedding veils of valuable lace, which had been worn by Miss Cator’s two grandmothers at their weddings, and which were mounted over fine silver material to serve the new purpose at 3’esterday’s welding. There were no grown-up bridesmaids, but the little girl attendants and small pages made an attractive group. There were four of each. The boys, wearing full Highland dress of Royal Stuart tartan, were the lion Timothy BowesLyon. Master Janies Leveson-Gower, Master David Stuart and Master Frank Seymour.

Delightful tiglU-waistcd, long-skirted Stuart period dresses were worn by the four little girls—the Hon Nancv BowesLyon, Miss Anne Bowes-Lyon, Miss Juliet Colman and Miss Daphne Richardson. The dresses were of deep coffee-coloured lace, the typical square “tabs” of the period being bound with gold. Lace caps, with touches of gold, were worn. Duchess's Brother Best Man. Another brother of the Duchess of York, the Hon David Bowes-Lyon, was best man. and the ceremony was per formed by the Rev Lord Victor Seymour and the Rev H. B. Maling, vicar of Woodbastwick. Among the well-known Society wort,en at the church were Lady‘Rose Leveson-Gower, Lady Grey of Fallodon, the Dowager Countess of Airlie, Lady Nunburnholme, Lady Glamis, Lady Katherine Hamilton, Lady Dorothy Macmillan and Lady Rachel Stuart. Most of the women guests wore winter coats, for new clothes were not the order of yesterday among the guests, and sightseers expecting a grand fashion display were disappointed. Lady Strathmore wrapped her blackvelvet coat over a black lace gown, and the bride's mother was in a rich sapphire blue velvet coat. Many of the crowd went on to see the bride arrive at the house in Belgrave Square, at which Mrs Cator held a reception, and from which Mr and Mrs Michael Bowes-Lyon subsequently went to St Paul's, Waldenbury, which Lord and Lady Strathmore have lent them for the honeymoon. The Queen’s Gift. A number of Royal gifts were included among the presents. The Queen sent three tables of Sheraton design made in the Sandringham workshops, and Princess Mary a leather travelling clock, to which was attached a note which read: “With every good wish for your happiness.—From Mary.” The Duchess of York sent a black fox fur and some exquisitely fine Jrish Imen, marked with a decorative cvpher composed of the bride's and bridegroom’s initials. In addition there were blankets—pale pink, pale, blue and white bound with wide ribbon of the same shades.