DOUGLAS WEDS PERG

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 308, 29 December 1937, Page 2

DOUGLAS WEDS PERG

HISTORIC ENEMIES UNITED GREAT EVIJNT IN SCOTLAND Two great ducal families whose ancestors, traditional enemies, have made border history for more than six centuries, were united this week (writes a London correspondent on December 4), when the Marquess of Douglas and Clydesdale, politician, aviator, and boxer, was married at St. Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh, to Lady Elizabeth Percy, descendant o* the famed Harry Hotspur. The groom is the son and heir of the Duke of Hamilton, premier peer of Scotland. The bribe's molner, the Duche.is uNorthumberland, is Mistress of the Robes to the Queen. Lady Elizabeth s brother, the Duke, gave her away The cathedral, i;s va-t pillars an ; vaulted roof softly flood!:!, was ig Pitifully decorated with while line.-, chrysanthemums, .uid s,:ays of ..b-ie heather. The Highland dress an 1 u.i ■ forms of the guu. !•; leal a . no .- colour to th? scene. Nem.y . . guests were present, inciuuinp representatives of all the leading i.umlics of Scotland, many English visitor.;, bud of Lord Clydesdale's constituents irom East Renfrewshire, and members of the staff and tenants of the two great estates. Many thousands more waited outside the cathedral to cheer the young couple on their way. The groom wore full Highland dress with red velvet tunic and plaid of the Douglas tartan, as did his brother, Lord George Nigel Douglas-Hamilton, who supported him as best man. The bride wore a gown of while and silver brocade in an iris pattern, cited to give the effect of molten metal. The heart-shaped neckline was inspired by fashions of the Plantagenet Courts of six centuries ago, and the gracefullydraped skirt fell in statuesque folds about the ankles. At the back the gown was veiled by a court train of ivory net, and over this cascaded a bridal veil surmounted by the traditional wreath of orange blossom. White lilies of the valley, and sprigs of white heather were used loi the bridal bouquet. The Bridal Procession The bridesmaids were Lady Diana Percy, sister of the bride, Lady Anne and Lady Margaret Cavendish-Ben-tinck, cousins, Miss Barbara Lampton. Miss Jean Meade, Miss M. WynneFinch, Miss Rosemary Loes, and Miss Rosemary Grosvenor. Their dresses were of pale silver lame with epaulettes of white fur, and they carried white bouquets. In addition, there were six little maids of honour in frilled organdie frocks, and three small pages in Highland dress. The officiating clergy were headed by the Venerable Robert Rattray Mangin, Archdeacon of Lindisfarne, and the Very R.ev. Charles L. Warr, Dean of Thistle. The singing was led by the choir of St. Giles’ Cathedral, and Dr. J. Greenhouse Al It, master of music at the cathedral, was the organist. The ushers were Lord Clydesdale's fellow-officers from the Glasgow squadron of the Auxiliary Air Force, with officers of the Edinburgh squadron and the High Constables of Holyroodhouse.

A secret rehearsal of the brilliant bridal procession and ceremony hail been held on the previous clay. This wedding is the biggest social occasion that Edinburgh has seen for many years, and it is said that nothing but a Royal visit has caused such enthusiasm in living memory. Crowds, lined the High Street 10 deep on either side as the bride drove along the "Royal Mile" from Holy roodhouse, where, a.s the guest of th. King and Queen, she had prepared for her wedding, the first bride to do so there since Mary Queen of Scots, nearly 400 years ago. Pipers Honour Bride and Groom After the ceremony, the bride and bridegroom were piped away from the cathedral, and later piped in the Assembly Rooms in George Street, where the Duchess of Northumberland held the reception. The piper on the second occasion, Pipe-major Donald Matheson, family piper to the Duke of Hamilton, drew a merry laugh from the bride and groom by leading them in io the tunc of “I’ve Got a Wife of My Ain." Cheers from 2000 guests rocked the hall when the bride, taking the sword from her husband’s side, cut the first slice from the s.x-

foot-high wedding cake. The bridegroom had made good his jovia claim that in taking his bride fron Alnwick Castle, seat of lhe Perc> family, he had achieved the greatcs; raid ever made by a Douglas. The first part of the honeymoon ij to bo spent at Kiclder Castle, Northumberland, one of the Duke of Northumberland's seats. Lord and Lau\ Clydesdale will then go to another oi the Percy estates, Albury Park, surrey. and later they expect to gc abroad. Dungavel, near Strathaven Lanarkshire, will continue to be tin Marquess’ principal home. Four large removal vans were required to carry the thousands of wedGing presents to the reception. Prick of place was given to the gift of Their Majesties, a pair of diamond and topaz clips especially chosen because the Xing and Queen thought the golder topaz so well suited to the bride's redgold hair. Queen Mary’s gift was e pendant, the Duke and Duchess oi Kent sent a vanity case and two silver talvers, and the Duke and Duchesr of Gloucester a morocco writing table set. The gift of the Princess Royal anti the Earl of Harewood was a can table. Lord Clydesdale’s present to hif bride was a diamond and ruby brooch inscribed "Tender and true." and the bride’s mother gave her a pearl necklace and ermine coat. Lord and Lady Clydesdale have boll' visited New Zealand, the latter quit, recently with her moi her, her brother the Duke of Northumberland, anher sister, Lady Diana Percy. Lore Douglas Hamilton, leaves England al the beginning of next week on hif way to New Zealand, as advance agent of the English public schoolboys’ tour.