PRINCESS ELIZABETH BETROTHED

Chronicle (Levin), 10 July 1947, Page 5

PRINCESS ELIZABETH BETROTHED

Press Assn.

! ENGAGEMENT TO PHILIP MOUNTBATTEN

By Telegraph

-Copyright

Received Thursday, 11.15 a.m. LONDON, July 9. King George tonight announcsd his consent to the betrothal of Priacess Eiizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, the former Prince Philip of Greece. A Court circular issued from Buckingham Palace tonight stated : "It is with the greatest pleasure that the King and Queen announce the betrothal of their dearly befcved daughter, the Princess Eiizabeth, to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, R.N., son of the late Prince Andrew of Greece and Princess Andrew (Princess Alice of Battenberg), to which union the King has gladly given his consent."

Reuter says that the marriage date has hot been fixed, but it was indicated authoritatively tonight that it would take place some time before next spring. All eonditions of the marriage are controlled by the Royal Marriage Act, 1772. It is under this Act that King George has now given his consent to the betrothal. Later, at a date yet to be decided, he will give his consent to the wedding. Earlier Reuter's political correspondent, in forecasting the announcement of the engagement, said: "If this is true I gather that the wedding at Westminster Abbey is not likely to take place before October, because many formalities are necessary." A meeting of the Privy Council will be held in August before the King and Queen go to Balmoral. His Majesty, at this meeting, will approve the Order-in-Council setting forth the Sovereign's consent to the wedding of the heiress to the British Throne. Common-

wealth representatives, members of the Opposition and leaders of the church will attend the meeting. The announcemenf of the betrothal was given in the ordinary way in a Court circular, which is the King's only medium of giving information directly to his subjects. His Majesty, at the same time as he told Mr. Attlee of his approval of the betrothal, informed the Prime Ministers of the Commonwealth nations. Court eircles do not know exactly when Philip proposed to Eiizabeth, but it is believed that the couple reached an understanding last autumn, when Philip was at Balmoral. The King's consent was not given until the Royal Family's return from South Africa. Philip and Eiizabeth are expected to make their first semipublic appearance together at the Buckingham Pa'lace gar*den party tomorrow. Philip will stay at Balmoral with the Royal Family in August. The first felicitations to arrive at

the Palace came from Mr. Attlee and the four Dominion Prime Ministers. Philip Mountbatten drove into Buckingham Palace in a twoseater sports car this evening, and remanied some time in the Palace.He drove away unrecognised by the large crowd waitiri g in the hope of seeing Eiizabeth and Philip, who were expected to appear on the Palace balcony. Princess Eiizabeth, accompanied by her lady-in-waiting, drov? away from the Palace later and was loudly cheered as the car turned up Constitution Hill. Eiizabeth, with Lady Margaret Egerton, her lady-fn-waiting, attended a private dinner party at the Dorchester Hotel, given by Lady Serena James. The Princess, in a yellow evening gown with an ermine cape, arrived quietly and unnoticed by the public. Earlier today a Royal party visited the internatienal horse show, but without the Queen, who has a slight cold. As the Royal party left the Palace a large crowd which waited for the departure, despite a heavy thunderstorm, surged round the cars so that they were forced tc slow down. Again when the partj returned in the evening a crowd gathered at the Palace gates for a glimpse of Princess Eiizabeth, whc sat in the baek seat with Princess Margaret. She waved and smiled as the crowd cheered.