THE ROYAL WEDDING

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1930, Page 6

THE ROYAL WEDDING

ROME’S WELCOME. TO BELGIAN PRINCESS. [United Press Association—By Electric Te legra p h —Copy right. ] ROME, Jan. 6. Despite the necessity for elaborate precautions against outrage, the arrival platform was crowded when the Princess Marie Jose, of Belgium, with Their Belgian Majesties, reached Rome. Princes, Princesses, Ambassadors and notables made their appearance.

King Albert was the first to leave the carriage. This was the signal for tumultous cheering. Meanwhile Prince Umberto, who was helping Princess Marie Jose to alight, caused even more rapturous cheering. Princess Marie Jose, who was dressed entirely in white, was a charming ligure. Prince Umberto was in full uniform. During their drive to the Quirinal, the engaged couple were pelted with flowers from balconies, windows and terraces, many pf which fell on the escorting Cairassiers. Signor Mussolini and the Cabinet Ministers did not go to the railway station, but they were presented to the Belgian Royal Family at the Quirinal.

The popularity of the marriage is enhanced greatly by the fact that four hundred who were prisoners for small offences were released as- a mark of clemency on the occasion of the wedding. THE BRIDE ARRIVES. PRINCESS MARIE JOSE AT ROME. ROME, January 5. Princess Maria Jose, with the King and Queen of the Belgians arrived at ten this morning and were welcomed at the station by the King and Queen of Italy, and other members of the Royal Family. Thev drove to the Quirinal Palace escorted by the military, through enormous cheering crowds. THE ROYAL PAIR. THE BRTDE. Princess Marie Jose was born at Ostcrnl on Aug 4th, 1900, and she is the only daughter of the King and Queen of the Belgians. Her early years were spent with her parents at the Royal castle of Lacken, where the King and Queen themselves undertook the education of their children. They held it essential that this training should he made as simple as possible, its aim being the development ot character, and that it should he governed by their individual tastes and inclinations. During the war the young Princess attended a hoarding school in England Later, she spent some time in Florence, at school at the Villa do Poggio Tmperiale, where her presence was made the occasion of popular demonstrations of sympathy towards Belgium. It was in 1917 that Queen Elizabeth took the Princess to Venice, where the Italian Royal family and the young Prince Umberto were staying; and there the Rdval children met for the first time, little foreseeing the betrothal twelve years later. Towards the end of the war the Princess was at the Royal residence of La Panne, whence she returned to Brussels with lie. parents on the day after the signing of the Armistice. She was then 12 years old. and had still to complete her education. Since 1925. the Italian and Belgian Royal Families have been drawn more closely together. In the summer of that year Prince Umberto visited Belgium and the Belgian Royal Family spent some time at Yiareggio. It was at this juncture that rumours of an engagement were first heard, to be renewed in 1927. after the Princess had paid another visit to Italy. Two qualities in the Princess especially appeal to the Italians, to judge by accounts in Italian papers. One is her love of and knowledge of music, and the other is her interest in the poor and unfortunate. At Brussels her (frequent presence at the opera and concert was noted with approval by a people among whom the opera and concert play a large part in social life. As for her broad charity an Italian journalist at Brussellsi declared that she “ approaches human misery like a true queen, offering a hand that is skilled in giving comfort.” There is no doubt about [lie popularity of Maria Jose among her country men and women. For her there is always reserved a special ovation, and the Brussels burgher, who rather prides himself on showing what lie 'feels, did not conceal his feelings about the Princess during the recent fetes to celebarte her engagement. The two Royal famlles are already linked through the Bavarian House, since the Queen of the Belgians was Duchess of Bavaria, and a Bavarian princess married Prince Thomas, Duke of Genoa, who is an uncle of the King of Italy, His daughter, Princess Bona, married Prince Conrad of Bavaria.

What, however, makes the marriage especially popular is the fact that Princess Marie Jose was educated at Florence and speaks Italian fluently. She always showed, even before there was any talk of lier marriage with the Crown Prince of Italy, a sincere love of, and attachment, to Italy, which she calls her second mother country.'' THE BBTDEGROOM. Prince Umberto Nicola Tomasso Giovanni Maria, Prince of Piedmont and Heir Apparent to the Italian throne, was horn on Spetember loth, 1904. He