Royal Wedding in Berlin.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXV, Issue 5, 5 August 1905, Page 59

Royal Wedding in Berlin.

Describing the marriage of the Duchess Cecilia and the Crown Prince of Germany, which was a most brilliant affair, a Berlin correspondent says: —“The Crown Prince was a striking figure in the uniform of the First Begiment of the Guard. The Duchess Cecilia looked a picture in her forgeous silver embroidered robe with her wreath of myrtle, her veil, and a bouquet of snow-white carnations in her hand. Immediately following were the Court officials. Then came the Emperor with the bride’s mother on his arm, ami the Empress, escorted by the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. The Giand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwer-in followed between the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and Prince Arthur of Connaught. At the entrance to the chapel. Dr. Dryander, the Court Chaplain, met the procession, and led the way to the altar. The Crown Prince stepped to the right of his bride, and the Royal guests formed a semicircle. The chapel was beautifully decorated with flowering plants. On the conclusion of the choral part of the service, Dr. Dryander addressed the young couple, lie then performed the marriage ceremony. The Crown Prince’s “Yes’ - in response rang through the chapel. The bride responded in an equally firm though softer tone. As the bridegroom and bride exchanged rings a battery of artillery in the Palace Park began to fire a salute of 36 guns. With a prayer, a blessing, and a hymn, the ceremony ended; and the illustrious party in stately procession left the chapel for the picture gallery, where the newly-married couple received congratulations. At the conclusion of the marriage fes tivities, a torchlight nance was given in the White Room of the Palace, at which the Princely personages, the Diplomatic Corps, and the high nobility were present. The newly-married pair opened the dance, encircling the room, preceded by the Court Marshal, Count Zu Eulenburg, and twelve pages in scarlet tunics carrying torches, the orchestra playing a polonaise, while all present bowed low. In the second turn of the hall, the Crown Princess danced with the Emperor, and the Crown Prince with the Empress. In the third, the bride had the Grand Duke of Mec-klenburg-Schwerin for partner, and the bridegroom the Grqnd Duchess. At the fourth turn, the Crown Prince of Greece and the Archduke Franz Ferdinand danced on the bride’s right, and on her left the Crown Prince of Sweden and Norway and the Grand Duke Michael, while the bridegroom led the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwer-in and the Duchess Marie. After the Princely personages had accompanied the Crown Prince and his bride to their apartments in ceremonial procession. Baroness Tiele Winkler performed the time-honoured custom of dividing the bride’s garter. The Duchess Cecilia’s wedding dress is a truly magnificent robe, designed and made by Levilion, of Paris, at a eost for the materials alone of 20,000 francs, a

sum that was brought up to 50,000 francs (nearly £2000), when the superb Court train and the sumptuous embroidery that embellished the dress were added to it. The gown itself is fashioned of doth of silver woven in Russia from threads of solid silver as line as cobwebs. Massive and heavy though it is, it is of an excessively supple texture, and has a wonderful shine upon it, like the radiance of pure silver. It is naturally of enormous weight, and this has been further added to by th? embroidery, which was carried out by sixty German girls who took over three weeks to complete it. Rosebuds and thistles form the beautiful designs. Owing to the weight of the material, the robe had to be designed on the simplest lines. 'l’he decollete bodice is slightly bloused at the belt, and that it is trimmed with a band of embroidery which is repeated upen the short sleeves, which are formed of ten small long hs of the clo l h of silver attached together. On the skirt there is a wide band of embroidery to match those upon the berthe and sleeves; otherwise that part of the toilette is very simple, falling in rich folds from the wais to the feet. 'l'he Court train is composed of rubyred velvet of the finest quality. embroidered with silver and lined with splendid ermine. It was held in position on the shoulders by two superb diamond eagles, but the weight of it must have been errific. and it would require all the support that could be given it by the train-bearers in attendance. The Grand Duchess Cecilia was very quietly brought up. Since the death of her father in 1897, when she was only eleven years old, she has been under the constant care of her mother, the Grand Duchess Anastasia, who has very distinct and simple ideas as to The upbringing of children. 'l'he Grand Duchess Cecilia is an excellent linguist, and speaks French and English as well as her native tongue, while it is said that she can read books in the Russian language with ease, 11. r summer sojourns in St. Petersburg have proved an immense help to her in mastering the intricacies of this difficult tongue. and her natural aptitude has like wise stood her in good stead. Site is, besides, an intense nature lover, and devoted to art in all its branches. She is very fond of music, and has spent many pleasant hours of late playing accompaniments to the Crow n Prince, who is a good violinist. Always fond of reading, her literary tastes have developed considerably since she has grown up. and serious books claim a large m asure of her attention. Not long ago a newly published life of Frederick the Great proved of the utnics interest to her. th? famous dictum of that Emperor that the King is the first servant of .he State having always made a special impression upon her mind. Always devoted to sport in all its branches, as well as dancing, the Grand Duchess Cecilie is by no means frivolous-

minded, and take-, life seriously. She possesses very strong religious convictions, and the clergyman who prepared her for Continuation was much struck

by the earnestness she >how ed in the pursuance of her studies. Her first meeting with the Grown Prince took place last year at Schwerin.