THE ROYAL WEDDING.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1923, Page 3

THE ROYAL WEDDING.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CAULK ASSOCIATION. ABBEY SCENE DESCRIBED. ('.HEAT -SHEENnon;. LONDON, April 23. Despite the Ion" unit in the cold and rain, the crowds in the vicinity of the Abbey wore in the highest spirits when the wedding quests began to arrive at ten o’clock. .Many stood for hours to got a flood place, including many from the Dominions. It was essentially a woman’s day. AYhile the men folk were going to the city, their wives and daughters were gathering in the Mall and Whitehall. Every typist, clerk, and shopgirl in London seemed > to he holiday making. The underground railways alone handled five •»■ million passengers, apart from the J+ people in the streets. The big stands * in the Broad Sanctuary were crowded and there were 3,0(10 seats sold on behalf of the Abbey Restoration Fund, and the Westminster Hospital, some selling as high as five to ten guineas. The place was ablaze with colour, the searlet and gold draperies of the stands vieing uith the beiluggod blue and white pylons, rapped by monograms A. and E. Even the lamp posts _ and street refuges were painted silver. Colonial and other iournalisl s were allotted seats, specially erected on a stand in the aisle of the north transept of the Abbey. Only flowers were on the altar whieh was decked with sacred vessels and a gold seven blanched candlestick and t!le altar cloth, prehen fed by the King and Queen, showing them kneeling in their Coronation robes. When the Archbishops of Canterbury and York arrived in vestments of green, gold and scarlet, accompanied by the Canons and minor officiating clergy, tin- colour scheme, was "* complete. The pnaes-ion met the King and Queen and the bridal party in the western doorway. The clergy took .•.eats around the altar and on the sedilin, which is part of the King of Sebore’s tomb, he being the mythical founder of the Abbey. The Royalties were heralded by the Royal Standard and a party ol gentlemen at arms, who wore- gilt and beploomed helmets. Throughout the service., as soldiers on duty, they were assisted by a body ol hoy scouts, clad in khaki with green scarves, who showed the guests their seats in the , choir transepts. The guests included the Ambassadors and their ladies. Cabinet Ministers and their wives, Dominion Premiers and High Commissioners, leading Army, Navy and Air Force oliicers, all in uniform and weating their orders and medals. Mr Lloyd Heorge’s shock white hair was prominent among the nonofficinl guests. Other interesting groups were the black coated Labour members and the working lads chosen by the Industrial Welfare Society to lepresent the youth of British industry wherein the bridegroom was specially interested. THE DRESSES AND CEREMONY. LONDON, April 20. The vast congregations rose as Dean R.vle and the Abbey clergy led the Royal procession up Lite nave through Hie choir screen to the scarlet and silver seats in the Sacrariuin under the picture of the illfatcd Richard the Second. Princess Marv, in a cream frock', biscuit coloured, accompanied her

mother'. Another charming personality was Princess Patricia, with C'oinJ mamler Ramsay. The Queen presented a noble figure in blue, with a striking silver hat, but perhaps the most, noticeable person was Queen Alexandra, in mauve, who took a full part in the service and seemed to be the youngest woman, for her years, in the troupe.

'l'ho King and other Royalties took their seats at the right of the altar. Lady Strathmore, the bride’s relations and friends sat opposite. .Meanwhile ihe bridesmaids awaited the Earl of Strathmore and the bride in the little poet’s corner at the end ol the nave. The bride presented a virginal figure and wore a light veil, loaned by Queen Mary. The wedding gown was sleeveless, but the bridesmaids wore long gloves, whieh have been out of fashion lor a long time and each had a bunch ol white Powers on the side of their hair, no hats being worn. 'They carried bouquets of while York roses.

As tho brick* passed the grave of the Unknown Warrior in the nave she released her father’s arm and placed n bouquet on the tomb and then joined -lice bridegroom at tho altar stops. The bridegroom was in a blue grey uniform with the gold belt of the Royal Air Force, and was supported by the Prince of Wales and Prince Henry. As the bridal hymn ended the bride and bridegroom knelt and Dean Ryle commenced the service, the Archbishop of Canterbury taking the actual marriage ceremony. Kvery word could be heard in the transept and choir when he pronounced the kneeling couple man and wile and gave his blessing, hut the responses of the bride and bridegroom conld he heard only by the relatives in the Saerarinm. The Archbishop of York’s resonant voice told in the address. HONORS CONFERRED. LONDON. April 2G. It is officially stated that too King conferred' the' Order of the Thistle on the Duke of York, the G.C ,\ .0. on the Fail of Strathmore. C.Y.O. oil Wing-Commander Orieg, (.omptrollei of the Duke’s household. The Duchess of York is to he styled Her Royal Highness, ranking next to Princess Mary. W EDITING C E LEHR AT ION S. LONDON, April 20. The Duke of York’s wedding was celebrated at the (Hands Estate, the region being en fete, including the town of Forfar. The children and villagers were entertained at sports, a banquet, and a huge houtiio. THE HONEYMOON. LONDON, April 2d. The Duke of York and his bride .have departed oil their honeymoon to Surrey. They received a rousing sendoff along the route from the Palace to Waterloo Station. They had an equally rousing send-off from the royalties at the Palace. The Duke’s brothers, with the Duke of Connaught and the bridesmaids, bombarded them with rose petals in the courtyard, the Queen and Princess Mary watching the fun from the hakony. The villagers at Bookham, where the hones - moon will be spent, have arranged the presentation of an address of welcome. The King has bestowed the dignity of Princess on the bride. London continued the wedding festival throughout the (‘veiling, and far into the night. The streets of the West End wore thronged. People from the suburbs and the country, reinforced the crowds which had seen the wedding, but were- still reluctant to go home. The pavements in many places were impassable, especially Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street, Oxford Street, and Whitehall, the sightseers- incliidt)ig ft iiimflwJ family pflrtfas

The windows of the- principal shops and stores were lit up, and these, with the addition of electric signs and illuminations, flooded tho streets with a blaze of light.

Programmes and souvenirs were still being sold. The more boisterous spirits amused themselves with conlotti streams, motley caps, paper trumpets, whistles and month-organs, while jubilant couples danced beneath Nel son’s Column i’ll Trafalgar Square. It is authoritatively stated that the bride automatically became a Royal Highness, as Duchess of York, on her ma rriage.

The King, however, bestowed the dignity of Princess. Tins decision was arrived at on Wednesday night. Lord Strathmore, ill a letter to a family retainer, says that the Duke of York- was a devoted suitor for two or three veil re.

Evcrv theatre was full on the night of the wedding. Wivn the audiences poured out. many went to already crowded hotel.-, where there acre gala dances. The rest mingled with the street revellers.

Seven thousand roses were used in the decorations in out; .hotel, where there were. 2000 guest-’. There were ro-es everywhere decking the dancing room-, hotel.' and lounges. Every hotel had -orpri-c souvenirs for the guests. lucky -hoes, wedding hells, and portions ni wedding cake. ■The Prince of Wales dined at Claridge-. lb- afterwards worn, to a ball at l.aiisdowno 1 louse, in aid of the Queen Yicioria Nursing Institute.