Sidelights on The Royal Wedding

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26619, 15 November 1947, Page 7

Sidelights on The Royal Wedding

N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent Rec. 7 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 14. The War Office announcement that the Sovereign’s escort of the Household Cavalry will wear full dress uniform for the wedding procession on Thursday was not unexpected. Several newspapers have been persistently campaigning for this relaxation of general austerity orders and interested crowds for the past week have watched troops of the Royal Life Guards exercising irf Hyde Park in full panoply of plumes, breast-plates and long red and blue riding coats. It is eight years since .the Household Cavalry has worn its full dress in a State ceremonial procession and in the interim many of the men and horses have been changed. Sufficient uniforms to outfit the full escort were available, however, though a number of adjustments were necessary. The red coats and bearskins of the Royal Footguards, however, are unlikely to appear again until an extension of uniform replacements is possible. „ Another rehearsal of the royal wedding procession will take place on November 16 and on November 17 there will be a rehearsal of the ceremony in the Abbey. A further preview of the royal wedding presents will also be held on the same date for the press. All newspaper representatives ' attending the Abbey ceremony are being issued with special police passes and a second check is being carried out by the police on all persons who will occupy window seats along the route of the procession. The Evening Standard diarist claims to be able to give some information about Princess Elizabeth’s wedding dress. He says it is made of white slipper satin, classically cut and lavishly embroidered. There are long, tight-fitting sleeves and a fitted bodice and with the waist billowing into an extremely full skirt which trails on the ground at the back. Bands of flowers are embroidered on the ski,rt in crystals and pearls. The tulle bodice, pointed waistline, and cuffs are outlined in similar embroidery. The train is white silk tulle, fanshaped, five yards long, descending from the shoulders, with similar embroidery in flower and wheat motifs. The veil will be of white tulle held in place by a diamond and pearl tiara. The shoes are of white satin, highheeled, With open toes, and each with a heart-shaped silver buckle. The Evening Standard’s long and detailed description of the royal wedding dress follows the publication by the Daily Mail of reproductions of reputed sketches of the dress which appeared on November 10 in the Rome newspaper Giornale d’ltalia. This in turn was followed to-day by a report that the New York Daily News had published a detailed description of both the bride’s and bridesmaids’ frocks. This was reproduced in full by the Evening Standard. These disclosures have caused a tense atmosphere between certain newspapers and the palace authorities, as signed undertakings were given by the great majority of the British and overseas press that details of the wedding dress and sketches of it would not be published before the day of the wedding. The Evening Standard refused this agreement, and announced that it would publish the details as soon as it could secure them. American women are reported to be so eager for details on the wedding and wedding dresses that one of the leading New York stores has sent its snecial “ bridal consultant ” to London to report upon all details of the trousseau and ceremony. So far she has nol even succeeded in obtaining a sekt for the ceremony. An American song composer has also despatched a special composition entitled “ Two Lip Time,” dedicated to Princess Elizabeth, which he asked should be sung in the Abbey. Official reactions are not stated. Special branch detectives will seal Westminster Abbey on November 19, after making a thorough search. Guards will be posted at all doors until after the wedding. Special branch men will be on duty in the Abbey during the service, and every guest' will be closely scrutinised to eliminate the possibility of unauthorised persons securing admittance. Fiife hundred city police will reinforce the 5000 metropolitan police on duty in central London.