Duke of Kent and Princess Marina Married in Abbey.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20476, 30 November 1934, Page 12

Duke of Kent and Princess Marina Married in Abbey.

TWO CEREMONIES PERFORMED. —— % Simple Magnificence Grips Millions of Listeners Throughout the World. (United Press Association.—By Electric TelegraDh.—Copyright.) LONDON, November 29. WITH SIMPLE CEREMONY Prince George, Duke of Kent, was married to-day in Westminster Abbey to Princess Marina of Greece. Thousands listened in London’s streets to the ceremony, which was broadcast also throughout the Empire and was audible to the whole world, millions listening to the proceedings. There were two ceremonies: One at the Abbey, the other in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace, where the betrothal according to the Greek Orthodox Church, of which the Princess is a member, was performed, the actual marriage being omitted as the Duke and Duchess were already man and wife.

The weather was typical of London’s November, wintry, cold and hazy, but a pail of fog which shrouded the city during the night had lifted.

New Zealand was represent guests in the Abbey by Sir Jj Thomas Mill and Mrs Mill, Mr I Fraser, Arthur Fair and Matlie The density of the crowds in London for the Royal wedding easily eclipsed those for the weddings of the Duke and Duchess of York and Princess Mary and Earl Lascelles. It recalled the crowds which gathered in London for the coronations of King Edward and King George. The first cavalcade left Buckingham Palace at a.m., the King and Queen and Prince Waldemar of Denmark being in the first carriage, the Kings and Queens of Norway and Denmark in the second, Prince George of Greece, Prince Paul of Yugoslavia and Princess Nicholas in the third. All were escorted by a sovereign’s escort of Life Guards. A few minutes later the Duke of Kent, wearing a commander’s uniform, and accompanied by the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York as his supporters (Royal custom not permitting a best man) left St James’ Palace with a captain’s escort of Horse Guards. Finally, the bride and her father left Buckingham Palace at 10.46 a.m. escorted by Life Guards. The wedding route between the Palace and Westminster Abbey was a blaze of colour. Flags of all nations, including those of Australia, New Zealand and other dominions, hung from the buildings. Fifteen Hundred Guests: Fifteen hundred Royal guests had assembled at the Abbey, where Dean Foxley-Norris received the King at the west door at 10.50, and led the procession to the nave, accompanied by the Royal guests and officers of the Court. Dr Bullock, Abbey Organist, meanwhile playing Sir Edward Elgar’s “ Sonata in G.” Their Majesties took their seats in the Sacrarium. Seated with them with the Kings and Queens of Denmark and Norway, Prince Charles of Belgium, Prince Paul of Yugoslavia, the Count and Countess Toerring (Princess Marina’s other sister and her brother-in-law). Prince Waldemar, Prince George of Greece, Princess Maria of Greece, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Cyril of Russia. The bridegroom’s procession arrived at 10.56 and was similarly conducted to the Sacrarium, the Prince of Wales being on the bridegroom’s right and the Duke of York on his left, the organ meanwhile playing Purcell’s “ Trumpet Tune and Air.” While the Royal parties were being ushered to their places at the Sacrarium, the Dean, Canons, choir and bridesmaids assembled at the west door to greet the bride and Prince Nicholas. At the great moment of the bride’s arrival the choir began to sing *' Gracious Spirit, Holy Ghost,” the music by Sir John Stainer, the hymn which the bridegroom personally selected for singing during the bridal procession from the west door to the Sanctuary. Dream of Loveliness. The bridal gown was a dream of loveliness, and was echoed in the dresses of the bridesmaids, who carried bouquets of small white roses, tied with silver ribbon. Immediately following the bride were the child bridesmaids, Princess Elizabeth of York and Lady Mary Cambridge, in white frocks similar to those of the older bridesmaids, but of lighter material and in simpler style. They carried posies of white roses instead of bouquets. Princess Irene of Greece, Princess Juliana of the Netherlands, Princess Katharine of Greece, the Grand Duchess Kyra of Russia, Princess Eugenie of Greece and Lady Iris Mountbatten completed the bridal procession, in addition to Lady Mary Hope and two other Ladies-in-Waiting. This was Princess Elizabeth’s second experience as a bridesmaid. She was bridesmaid to Lady May Cambridge in 1931. Lady Iris Mountbatten is the fourteen-year-old daughter of the Marquis of Carisbrooke, the King’s cousin. Lady Mary Cambridge is the ten-year-old niece of the Queen. Bridesmaids’ Gowns. The dresses of the older bridesmaids closely followed on the lines of Princess Marina’s, but, while hers had a mediaeval waistline and the skirt formed a short train, those of her attendants were widely sashed in stiff, bright lame and were only ankle-long. The cloth used in the body of the dresses was heavy, white crepe, sewn all over with cobweb-fine silver thread. The bridesmaids wore turban headdresses and court shoes of the same heavy lame as the sashes. The child bridesmaids had short, high-waisted frocks of stiffened white tulle. A half-wreath of white rosebuds outlined the front of the neckline and a similar.half-wreath was worn on the side of the head. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Bishop of London, the Greek Metropolitan Germanos and the Archimandrite Michael Constantinidos awaited the bridal procession, which followed Princess Marina, who was her father’s arm, to the steps of the Sanctuary.

ted among the fifteen hundred ames Parr and Lady Parr, Dr David Jones, Mesdames Malcolm ;w Holmes. Shortened Form of Service. The service followed the shortened form used in the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of York. In the simple magnificence of the English marriage ritual the Dean opened with the exhortation, the Archbishop of Canterbury solemnising the marriage directly after. Prince Nicholas giving away the bride. The gathering hushed to hear the quiet responses of the bride and bridegroom, their “I wills,” for which the whole world was listening in. It was a noteworthy service, and included the bride’s old-time promise to obey. As the bridegroom made his vow. With this ring I thee wed,” Princess Marina’s finger graced the plain band of gold won from a Welsh mine. Following the solemnisation, Psalm 67 was sung to Sir Edward Bairstow’s music, then the lesser litfiny, the Lord’s Prayer, and prayers by the Archbishop of York. The married couple by this time had advanced to the altar, where they were kneeling while the fifteenth century hymn, “God be in my Head,” the music by Sir H. Walford Davies, was sung, preceding the Archbishop of Canterbury’s address. After the address, John Goss’s hymn, “ Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven,” the final prayer and Benediction by the Primate and the National Anthem completed the serAn anthem specially written by Dr Bullock was sung during the signing of the register in Edward the Confessor s Chapel, the principal theme being: “Father, hear the prayer we offer, Not for ease that prayer shall be.” Archbishop’s Address. The Archbishop of Canterbur3% addressing the bridal couple, said: “Never before in history has a marriage been attended by so vast a company of witnesses, for, by a new and marvellous invention of science, joining in the service, a whole nation, nay, a whole Empire, are wedding guests, and more than guests—members of a family. “It must be most moving to you to know that this wealth of good wishes and goodwill is being offered you as their wedding gift.” After urging them to face the coming years in the spirit of the vows just exchanged, the Primate continued : "You, Sir, have already fully taken your place in service to the community. You, dear bride, as your husband’s comrade, will find new happiness in sharing the joys and sorrows of ministering to the needs of the good British folk, who have already, with a warmth swift and spontaneous, taken you into their hearts. God bless you both, guide you and keep you always.” Signing the Register. For the signing of the register the Duke and Duchess of Kent passed behind the altar. On an oaken table in the chapel open registers waited the signatures, all signing two copies belonging to the Abbey in addition to a special register of Royal marriages which has been in use for 160 years and contains the signatures of practically every Royal personage in Europe for the last century and a half. The choir, minor canons, canons and Dean headed the procession of the bride, bridegroom and bridesmaids back to the west door to the music of Mendelssohn’s “ Wedding March.” A captain’s escort of Life Guards awaited the married couple, who reached the Palace by an extended route. There was a tremendous welcome in the streets, cheering mingling with the triumphant bells which pealed the news of the marriage. The King and Queen followed the bridal couple to the west door, accompanied by Prince and Princess Nicholas and the Prince of Wales, who drove in a carriage with his parents direct to the Palace, the principal Royal guests following in other carriages.