GORGEOUS UNIFORMS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20476, 30 November 1934, Page 1

GORGEOUS UNIFORMS.

Age-old Pageantry Witnessed at Royal Wedding. RADIANT BRIDE AT THE ALTAR. CUnited Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received November 30, 10 a.m.) LONDON, November 29. 66 ' | 'HE HUSH of (he dread high altar, where the Abbey JL makes us ‘We . . ” Kipling’s lines were never more convincingly illustrated than to-day, when banked along its long-drawn aisle of history, a congregation gathered from all corners of the earth attended on their King Emperor, whose youngest son was marrying the heiress to another age and another civilisation 2000 years older than the British. Above them in a fretted vault, to which the pale, cold light of November could not penetrate, hung in impalpable folds a thousand years of their nation’s story—round them were, the monuments and memorials of generations.

As the organ pealed the Abbey filled - slowly from the opening doors. Look- i ing downwards upon the thronged J aisles and transepts there seemed to be every imaginable variety of uniform, from that of Field-Marshal to Boy 1 Scout, Admiral of the Fleet to Chelsea pensioner. Mr S. M. Bruce’s sober blue and gold was quite eclipsed by the gorgeous Windsor uniform of Mr Ramsay MacDonald. Most of the civilian members of Cabinet had found some uniform with which to emulate their gorgeouslycaparisoned colleagues in the -services, i Wearers of such costumes as the Second Diplomatic found themselves * in total eclipse. Even a young Earl 1 clad in the full dress uniform of a ] Second Lieutenant of the Guards outshone them, while the Aga Khan, tra- < ditionally clad in fez and gaberdine lacked his usual Oriental splendour. ] Famous Guests. As the seats filled men and women < whose names are writ large across the Empire's history, mingled with those * whose work was done before the younger folk started in the race. The first touch of age-old pageantry came with the entrance of the King’s bodyguard of Gentlemen-at-Arms, who made a stately procession up the aisles with the King’s Colours, the congre- . gation rising. After that, as the clock moved through the minutes, the nave, presbytery and sacrarium filled with gorgeous colours as dignitaries of the Church entered in procession, escorting the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Bishop of London, the Greek Metropolitan Germanos and Greek Archimandrite. Then in quick succession came members of the Royal families from the whole of Europe. Modest Little Princess. The first of our own Royal House to enter were the Princess Royal and Earl of Harewood, the Duchess of York and Princess Margaret Rose, who sat composedly on a footstool at her mother’s knee, except that maidenly modesty occasionally suggested to her that her skirt had rucked and must be adjusted by vigorous pulls. The Duchess, herself a radiant bride amid the same surroundings only a few years ago, wore a dress of deep rose, contrasting with the Princess Royal’s dress of powder blue. Bridal Procession. Silence settled on the congregation as the sound of St Margaret’s peals cut through the organ’s music. The first of the bridal procession were the King and Queen, with the King and Queen of Norway, the exKing of Greece, Princess Nicholas, of Greece, the Prince Regent of Yugoslavia and Prince Waldemar, of Denmark. Then followed the bridegroom and his two brothers. The King and his three sons were all in full dress naval uniform. The Bride’s Dress. Then came the bride and her father, slowly, almost timidly, approaching the sacrarium. Her dress was of virginal white, with a train held by Princess Elizabeth and Lady Mary Cambridge. The Queen’s blue velvet costume and Princess Nicholas’s crimson cloak were other high points of colour, while everywhere the flame of diamonds stabbed through the rich splendour. Towards the end of the service the crowd in Victoria Street was so dense thrt the foot police were unable to control it and were obliged to appeal for reinforcements of mounted men. Many women collapsed in the crush. When the Duke and his bride appeared in the doorway of the Abbey, surrounded by the bridesmaids, the crowds burst into a frenzy of cheering. Unforgettable Scene. Parliament Square during the service presented an unforgettable spectacle. The roofs of the Government Buildings and other offices opposite were black with people, while double rows of policemen swayed with the pressing crowd in the adjoining streets. Practically every man in the crowd outside was silent and bareheaded during the ceremony, amplifiers enabling them to hear the responses clearly, particularly Princess Marina’s gentle voice. There was a solemn hush as the vows were exchanged and the great gathering inside the Abbey hung on every word as the Archbishop spoke to the couple as your “ Friend and Father in God.”