FAMOUS WEDDING MECCA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 287, 5 December 1933, Page 3

FAMOUS WEDDING MECCA

PEERS AND PORTERS REGISTRY OFFICES CEOSED ROMANCE OF HENRIETTA STREET Two of London’s famous registry offices —Henrietta {Street and Princes Row—the scenes of some of the most romantic marriages in recent years, were rccentlp closed on the stroke of three o’clock, not to open again. Royalty, the cream of society, American millionaires, and members of foreign nobility made a special point of going t‘> one of these registry offices to bo married. And, conversely, few Uovcnt Garden porters would be mar ried elsewhere than at Henriel ta Street. Probably the last fashionable society wedding to take place there was the mairiage a few weeks ago of Lord Claud Hamilton, Equerry to the King, to Airs. Violet Newall. There is now one registry office for the City of Westminster, and that is at Caxton Hall. Henrietta Street, just off tho Strand, has probably scon more colourful and romantic weddings than any other registry office in the world. Some of them and the strange incidents that accompanied many of thorn wore re ; called by one of the registrars to a Sunday Chronicle representative.

“I have married people in eveniug dress, in full military kit complete with medals and orders, in ordinary working clothes, and in fancy dress,’’ the registrar said. “I have married actors and actresses still wearing their stage clothes and make-up, who have nipped out from tho theatre between acts to be wedded. “The society marriages have been far too numerous to recall. Among the outstanding ones 1 remember the very popular wedding of Prince Henry of Plcss, when throngs of people lined tho streets outside and cheered him. “American millionaires I have bad in plenty. Many of them write from their homes to ask if they can coni® over and be married in Henrietta Street. They come over and apparently get a great thrill out of it. Wo nl.-o get a considerable number of people from Ihe Continent, chiefly France. Henrietta Street seems to be well known in that country. “The curious thing about French bridegrooms is that they insist oa being married in evening dress, even if tho ceremony takes place in the morning. “Then, of course, wo have the Pearly Kings of London, who arrive here to be wedded to their ‘Queens.’ All their relatives seem to come, too, complete with donkeys and carts. “Again there are the fruit porters from Uovent Garden, near by, and we even have people who ‘reside’ in Bruce House, where one may live for a shilling a night. “There have been pathos and human drama ns well as the ‘high spots’ of romance. 1 have seen too many instances of the bride wail patiently for the bridegroom who ne\Pr turned up. Now we are leaving this office, whose walls have seen and heard so much, for a bigger building. But there can never be another ‘Henrietta. Street.' ” Princess Row register office has been noted chiefly for its fashionable weddings. Last year Prince Lennart, grandson of the King of Sweden, was married there to Miss Karin Nissvandt, daughter of a prominent Swedish business man.