Marriage of the Duke of Norfolk

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 14, 7 April 1904, Page 31

Marriage of the Duke of Norfolk

TJie Duke of Norfolk, the Premier Duke and Earl,, in the peerage of the United Kingdom and Earl Marshal of England, was married on February 15 to Miss Gwendolen Constable-Maxwell, elder daughter of Lord and Lady Hernes, of Everingham, Yorkshire. In deference ■fro the wishes of both families the wedding was a quiet one, but the simple decorations of the little hamlet gave evidence of the desire of Lord Herries' tenants to honor thte occasion all they could, "and a glance at the wedding presents revealed a wider interest outside. The value to the Duke of many of t*ie gifts was their representative character. The King sent him a silver gilt inkstand, with an inscription in facsimile of his Majesty's writing, and from the city of Sheffield his Grace received magnificent presents. The Duke is a large property owner, there, has filled the maypral chair twice, and ever since he succeeded to the title has been a generous supporter of various public movements. The Corporation of Sheffield presented the bride with a splendid diamond necklace. The gift of the Cutlers' Company consisted of a case of cutlery and silver, and from the Governors of the Royal Infirmary, of v\rhich the D/iike is president, he received an illuminated address. His Grace is equally popular around his Sussex home, Arqndel Castle, and from the borough of Arundel was sent a silver casket. He was the first Mayor of Westminster, and the Corporation presented him with a congratulatory address. His Grace received 212 presents and 18 addresses, the latter coming from public bodies- with which he is associated. The Duke's, gifts to the bride consisted of a superb pearl necklace and a high diamond tiara. ' Beautiful weather favored the event, which took place in the chapel adioining the residence of Lord Herries. In issuing tickets to witness the ceTemony Lord Herries was generous in his remembrance of his tenants. The house party included tihe Marchioness of Bute, Lady Margaret Stuart, the Earl and Countess of Loudouji, the Bishop of Middlesbrough, Winifred LadyHoward of Glossop, and Lady Mary Howard, and there was a large number of muted guests. The bride entered tihe c'h'uich accompanied by her father, Lord Ilerries, who gave her away. The bride was accompanied by ten bridesmaids— the Hon. Miss Angela, Con-stable-Maxwell, sister of the bride ; her cousin, Lady Margaret Criehton-Stuart , her little nieces, Miss Mary Maxwell and Miss May Maxwell-Stuart , the hridegro'om's niece, ('ceil Kcrr, daughter of Lord Ralph anrJ Lady Anne Kerr ; Miss Magdalen Talbot, daughter of Lord Edmund Talbot, the Duke's brother , Miss Minna Stewart, daughter (if Lady Pjhihppa Stewart , Miss Howaid, daughter of Mr. and Lady Mabel Howard, of Grcystoke Castle , Miss Maxwell Scott, and Miss Howard, daughter of Loid Howard of Glossop The officiating cleigy were the Bishop of Middlesbrough, the Ro\ Father English, chaplain at Evennghani, the Rc\ Father Ryan, of Pockhngton, and the Hey Father Wurt/berg, cousin of the Duke of Norfolk. The Nuptial Mass was celebrated by Father English, the only persons communicating being the bride and bridegroom At the close of the Mass the Bishop of Muddlcsbroaigh delnered an address on the mamed *tate As the bridal procession left the church the organist played the bndal music from ' Lohengrin ' The wedding breaikfast was laid in the dining hall Lord Ilerncs proposed the health of the bnde and bndegrooni, to which the Duke ot Noifolk replied Accompanied b\ his bride an«l the house party, his Grace then went to a large maiqiuec, where luncheon had been laid for the tenants. Here Mr Thomas Runley read an address from the tenants to the Duchess, offering her tiheir congratulations, thanking her for the interest .she hod always taken in tihe work of the Church and in their fami'ics, and. wishme: her e\oiy blessing The Duchess replied by s.aying she had always felt it a great pleasure to take an intercut in their" welfare, and no new interests would rp.Tike atiy difference in the old ones' Her Grace then walked around the tent, and greeted her old rnenris Trie Pope sonl a sicncd photograph of himself, with his blessing foi the bnde and bridegroom As the tall ami st lately lady who thus becomes the Earl Marshal's second bride is the Duke's cousin once removed, a special dispensation for the marnage of the two relatives had to he obtained from the Pope. She is only twcntv-se-\en years old— thirly vcats a mincer than her husba,nd, who has known her from childhood Vis.s Maxwell is not often seen in society, ibm-eh I ord ITcrries, her father, is very popular in the East Riding, of wl.ic* he has been Lord Lieutenant for nearly a quarter of a centmrv She has one sister, but no brothers The two girls arc so much alike that they are often taker, for twins They were born in the same year— one in January and the other in December.