A NOTABLE WEDDING

Hokitika Guardian, 14 April 1928, Page 4

A NOTABLE WEDDING

DUCHESS OF YORK’S BROTHER. LONDON, Feb. 0. Visions of her own wedding nearly live years ago must have tome very vividly to the Duchess of York yesterday when, with the Duke, she arrived at St. George’s, l-Janover Square. W., to see her brother, the Hon. .Michael Bowes-Lyon, married to her friend, .Miss Elizabeth tutor, daughter of Air and All's John Cator. of Woodbastwick Hall. Norfolk, who was one of her bridesmaids. It was a matter for wonclci. though, that she or the bride even got to the church—for the streets all around were packed with people. Such tremendously excited crowds they were, too, and not of women and girls only, though these, naturally were infinitely more numerous than the men. Nor were only the streets crowded; there was not a window within view-range of the church that was not filled with eager faces. SCAFFOLD GRANDSTAND. Not far from the church some rebuilding work was going on he hire the crowds collected, hut it could not continue seriously to go on alteiuaids. for the scaffolding was taken by assault by scores of recklessly excited sightseers who used it as a graudsta ml. Hours ere the bride was due hundreds of women and girls took tlicii stand immediately Tie tore the church, and they needed a good deal ol coaxing hv tin* police to move aside so that the ceremonial scarlet carpet could he laifl on the steps.

Presently coaxing had to be reinforced with deliberate pushing---noth-ing less than this, done by long chains of policemen with joined hands, would have kept the people back from the very doors ol the church. Very often, however, the sheer weight of the crowds broke these human barricades.

U was when the crushing and pushing and shouting were in full swing that tin- cry rose: "Her comes the Duchess!” TINY IlirniT.ANl) ('HIKES. Instantly the crowds swayed in the direction of the voice- and then swayed hack again under the more than ever determined pressure of the police. Finally the police gained just .sufficient space to allow the pnssnge of the car in which the Duke and Duchess sat smiling. And when at last she •stepped out and walked into tin- church beside the Duke the cheering was deafening. The bride-, too. was cheered until the streets rang. She came in a mist ol ivory satin and Brussels lace—lace which her great-grandmothers wore at their weddings. A very lic-autitul bride she was, though the sight ol the great crowds had made her a little pale with nervousness.

Within the church a very charming scene was set. Then- were waiting for the bride her lour little pages miniature highland chiefs in all the bravery ol the Stuart clan, and with bejewelled skean dims, the bridegroom's gilts to them, si m k in their hose.

One of them was David Stuart, the li.l-vears-nld son ol Lady Rachel Stuart, and the others were the Moll Timothv I'owes-Lyon. the 5)-.v ea i s-old son of Lord and Lady Glands. James Leveson-Gower. and i-rank Seymour. Side by side witli them sweetly wondering, stood tin- !i 1 tic- bridesmaids. dressed like tin- grcal ladies ol ('liarles tlu- First's time, tlu-ir led in shoes ol red satin. They were Iho Hon. Nancy Bowes-Lyon (twin sister of the lion. Timothy Bowes- L yon). .Miss Anne Bowes-Lyon. Miss Juliet Column, and Miss Daphne Richardson. Each carried a po>v of red tulips, and wore a diamond arrow-brooch-—a present. from the bridegroom.

I,ilies and chrysanthemums decorated the church, and just within the doors stood two bay trees, on one ol which rosy apples had been tied, and on the other oranges. The bride was given away by her father; the best man was tbe lion. David Bowes-Lyon, youngest son ot tbe L.ivl and Countess of Strathmore.

Chief among the officiating clergy was the Rev. I.ord Victor Seymour, uncle of Ihe bride. BRIDE’S “OBEY." The old form of service was used, the .bride promising to obey. Outside the crowds waited patiently. though rain was falling heavily, and the scenes that occurred when the Duke and Duchess of York left the church were even more tumultuous than those which marked their arrival. Their car was .swallowed up in the dense masses of people when it began to move a way. and again and again it was stopped. Women and girls pressed against the sides of the car, rapped on the windows, stood on the running-hoards and clustered on the hack. B.v very strenuous efforts the police at last cleared space for it. hut only at a snail's pace could it pass through George street, Conduit street, across New Bond street, and into Bruton street, where the press ol people was less. Thereafter its progress was uninterrupted. The Duke and Duchess passed through tho ordeal smiling, as though they thoroughly enjoyed it.