A ROYAL WEDDING

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1929, Page 7

A ROYAL WEDDING

OSLO’S DAY OF JOY. DUKE OF YORK BEST MAN. (By Sir I’ercival I’liiilips). OSLO (Norway) March 22. Norwegians will remember lor years t.) come the shining face of tlieir new crown Brim-ess as she drove with in luisuaiki through tlie High Street o. Uslo in a great State coach and lon. ms att-er llo.ll alter ilieir marriage a. the Cathedral of St. Saviour. .die loosed as happy as a brich could be—c.lid very r lovely too, in her crown of si I. or tissue with the veil thrown back, in one hand she held a oonqnet of wliite lilies, her dark eyes were night with gratitude, and her graceful head bent in eager little nods in response to the affectionate cheers that made good her first journey as a iwife. The young man beside her, so smart and upright in his dress uniform of die Infantry of the Line, was no less stirred by the ovation from his father’s people to the .lady of his choice, but it must bo confessed that his own eyes were more often on the figure at Ids side than on the multitude round him. Afore than one woman’s heart beat faster to see his expression of mingled pride and adoration revealed with such boyish frankness before all the world. The royal ceremonial of this wedding day was its least important lealure. One might almost believe that the King of Norway woo’d have had if so, for he supervised the smallest details, and it was his wisli that the Keynote should be simplicity. A NATION’S BLESSING. The affection of the Prince and Princess for each other, and the affection of the nation for them both, made it more than a mere pageant performed according to the etiquette of a royal Court. It was a family affair, with all Norway as a family showering its blessings and good wishes on the future head of the house and his wife. The setting was in keeping with this atmosphere of simplicity, and so were the details of the ceremony. The bride went to church in a motor-car to be married. Site merely drove down the long Karl Johnn-street from the palace a little before noon to the cathedral; which is like a Georgian parish church,' and no larger. The only decorations of the church consisted of white flowers ait the altar and the entrance to the chancel. Two chairs of crimson velvet and gilt were placed on either side of the altar beyond the rails, and behind them rows of ordinary chairs for the royal guests and their suites.

In one transept sat the servants of the royal household. In all, only 1,700 persons were able to obtain admission. to. the cathedral, and. the galleries wore packed to the utmost. A procession of 19 motor-cans brought ilio members of the two royal bouses from the palace, the bridegroom being’in the first and bis bride iii toe last. Punctually at 11.45 the organ announced’the arrival of the Crown Prince by the strains of a wedding march composed by Rickard Nordrank, composer of tlie Norwegian National Anthem. and p’aved by Rolf Ewind Alnacs, himself a composer of note. The Crown Prince, very straight self-possessed, entered with the Puke of York, his best man, who was in British Naval uniform. They walked together in stop to the chancel, and sat in front chairs at the side of the altar. A few minutes later came the members of the royal families. King Haakon came first. escorting the bride’s mother, Princess Tngeborg, and was followed by the Crown Prince o' Sweden with Queen Aland, and after them came other relatives of the brid ■ and bridegroom.

A PFGAL ]>ETDE. The bride entered at five minutes past twelve, on the arm of her father, looking s'ightl.v pale but very regal, and advanced down the aisle, while the students ch’oifr above her -sang without accompaniment the excerpt from Verner von Heidentsamm’s poem. “A People,” known as “Sweden.” set to music by William Steinhammar and sung in Swedish. before the Princess Martha walked her two little Danish nephews. Georg and Fleming, the sons of her sister.

princess Alnrgareta and Prince Axel of Denmark, in costumes of blue voi-

After her came the eight bridesmaids, four Norwegian and four Swedish, in blue, wa king in couples bund-in-band and carrying bouquets of pink roses. .she .passed to her chair on the Epistle side of the altar, facing the v-'rown Prince and the Duke of York, and sat down with her father beside

j lie ceremony that foil jwed lasted ijirely thrco-qunr.ers of an Tiour. Alter a moment’s pause the women choristers sang a psalm miuh used at Norwegian weddings arranged in three verses by its composer Scliijoerring, liio first line of which is, “Love.is from clod,” tin its conclusion Prince Olaf advanced to the altar, and Princess .darllia rose with her father, who conducted her to the side of her bridegroom. Prince Charles paused for a moment and looked at bis daughter with emotion kissed her hand, and then walked back to his scat. “JA.” The Bishop Lunde, regarding the couple benignly through his spectacles, made then a homely address based on the text. “Hnve faith in God.” His mellow voice was heard throughout the church as he reminded them that a house built without the help of God was a house built in vain, and that when love dies the home fell to ruins, Love and harmony, he said, were the only foundations of happin-

The wedding ceremony, which followed the ordinary ritual of the Established Church, was very brief. To the usual questions of the bishop Prince Olaf replied in a loud, clear “Ja,” and the response of Princes 1 Martha was equally audible to the congregation. The Prince and Princess left tin church to the strains of the same wedding march, ami when they had enter eu the state coach the other members of the Rovnl Families departed also the Crown Prince of Sweden escorting the Duchess of York. FRIGHTENED HORSE. The journey back to the palace evoked an outburst of enthusiasm such as has never been seen before in Oslo. While passing the ; . Parliament House, the windows and roof of which were filled with cheering spectators, one of the horses attached to the coach became frightened by the tumult, and a postilion had,'.to dismount and lead the animal for the remainder of the way. The Princess' did not lose her composure, but continued to smile as though oblivious of the incident. The police in front of the palace were unable to control the crowd, which swept through the barriers after the coach had entered. There was a momentary hush when the national anthem -was heard from within the palace, but on its conclusion the people were more demonstrative than ever, and were not satisfied unti. the Prince and Princess had appeared twice- on tlie balcony above the main entrance. The Crown Prince and Princess loft by special train at 6.30 p.m. for a frontier station, where tlieir special saloon will bo attached to the night oxpres' for Sassnitz, Rugen (across tlie Baltic) . A SILVER BRIDE. . VEIL OF OLD BRUSSELS LACE. Princess Martha’s wedding dress was of silver lame trimmed with silver lace and bouquets of orange blossom. The train which was also of silvei lanne was garnished with lilies made of the same material and the Prim cess wore a veil of antique Brussel lace. On the way to and from thr church she wore a, cape of silver lame and lace, trimmed with ermine. The bridesmaids’ dresses were o: pale blue tulle, worn over an under.dress of crepe do Chine. GALLANT HUSBAND. At the palace this afternoon, when the Crown Prince and Princess appeared on the balcony, the weather was intensely cold. Tlie Princess was .shivering in her thin wedding gown, and the Prince, taking off his heavy cloak, placed it round her shoulders. . The crowd cheered enthusiastically at the incident.