ROYAL WEDDING

Western Star, 8 November 1935, Page 3

ROYAL WEDDING

CLOUDLESS SKIES. CEREMONY AT PALACE:. DRIVE TO STATION IN OPEN CARRIAGE. CHEERING CROWDS LINE ROUTE. LONDON, November 6. The Duke of Gloucester’s wedding clay was favoured with what Londoners have come to call “Royal weather.” The brilliant sunshine and unclouded skies recalled Jubilee Day rather than the foggy November morning when the Duke and Duchess of Kent were married, intensifying the regret at the cancellation of the pageantry and the Abbey ceremony. Crowds, however, gathered near Lady Alice’s home in Grosvenor Place from which she left in a glass coach drawn by four bay horses. Hundreds gathered in front of the Palace at an early hour to see the bridal pair and th© Royal Family appear on the balcony after the ceremony. Trains all night long brought sightseers from

the provinces, including a little group from the Buccleuch Estate, some of whom had known Lady Alice since childhood. The Duke of Gloucester had breakfast with their Majesties and from the windows of the Palace saw the crowds lined ten deep. The first guests arrived about eleven and they found the Royal Chapel decorated with, hundreds of white flowers and two gold vases bearing sheaves of longiflorum lilies, white heather, orange blossom, roses and narcissi Sheaves of flowers six feet high adorned the pillars, the colours of the disbanded Third Battalion of the Scots Guards being conspicuous.

ROYAL PARTY IN CHAPEL Their Majesties the King and Queen Queen Maud of Norway, King George of Greece, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, the Duchess of York and the Princess Royal sat on the right of the altar and behind them the Duke of Connaught, the Princesses Louisa a.nd Beatrice, the Crown Prince of Sweden, the Ear] of Harewood and his two sons. The Dowager Duchess of Buccleuch sat at the rear of the chapel with other relatives and members, of the Cabinet. Crowds cheered the members of the Royal F’amily when they were driving through the Palace gates. Among the first arrivals were the little Princesses in white fur capes over their bridesmaids’ dresses. They leaned forward excitedly and waved to the cheering crowds. When the sunlight was reflected on th© glass coach the enthusiasm was tremendous and the vast crowds, mainly women, lining tlic entire rout© from Grosvenor Place to Constitution Hill waved flags and handkerchiefs.

A SELF-POSSESSED BRIDE. Lady Alic© was calm and self-possess-ed. She continually smiled and waved her white gloves. Her gown looked dead white in the strong light, and she held a bridal bouquet of whit© roses and lilies of the valley. She entered the Palace supported by her tall, fair-haired brother, the new Duke of Buccleuch, in his scarlet and gold uniform of the Grenadier Guards They entered the drawing-room where the eight bridesmaids were drawn up in two ranks. The bridal procession then entered the Chapel. The Prince of Wales and the Duke of York stood behind the Duke of Gloucester, who looked a magnificent figure in his blue and gold tunic, scarlet breeches and black topped boots. The Prince of Wales wore the uniform of a Colonel of the Welsh Guards and the Duke of York, the uniform of a Colonel of the Scots Guards. The service followed the order previously announced. Lady Alice showed not the slightest trace of nervousness and she spoke the responses in a firm voice

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Duke bowed to his parents as he led out his bride, who with the bridesmaids curtsied in unison.

BRIDE AND BRIDEGROOM CHEERED. The Royal party after signing the register proceeded to the balcony Tremendous cheers greeted the Duke of Gloucester and his bride and they were renewed when the King, bareheaded with the blue ribbon of the garter across his scarlet tunic, and the Queen in thy : -;id gold followed. The Duchess of Gloucester waved repeatedly before leaving the balcony. 'The Wedding breakfast was very simple, being served at twelve round tables The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Princess Elizabeth sat with their Majesties, and the King proposed the health of the bride and bridegroom in very few words. The sky was clouded and there was a slight drizzle after lunch. Nevertheless the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester adhered to their arrangement to drive to the station in an open landau. The Prince of Wales headed the Royai Family and the bridesmaids in showering rose leaves and confetti on the pair.

ROUTE LINED WIT Hi PEOPLE. The King farcw-elled them at the main entrance to the Palace, wdiile the Queen waved goodbye from the balcony as the carriage, lost to view midst the cheering crowds, proceeded up the AT all, along the Strand and then to St, Panovas station. . Every inch of the route was lined, with people, while thousands watched from the windows of offices and chops along the route mid shouted good luck. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester had to run the gauntlet of photographers on entering the Silver Jubilee express, which was lavishly decorate:! with flowers and they waved their last farewell from the windows as they departed for Kettering As the Duke of Gloucester's, carriage crossed the Palace yard the guests pelted it with ros e petals ami the King and Queen (ame out on the balco'iv t" watch its progress down the .MrII. Their Majesties were warmly greeted by thei assembled crowds to which they waved acknowledgment.