Royal Wedding Recalls Earlier Abbey Ceremony

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26624, 21 November 1947, Page 2

Royal Wedding Recalls Earlier Abbey Ceremony

At the present time, when attention is focused on the royal wedding, the description of an earlier royal wedding from Hector Bolitho’s “ Victoria and Albert ” serves as an interesting comparison.

“ Although the day was grey with rain," the account of Queen Victoria’s wedding says, “ the people surged around the Palace and climbed the trees and covered the fences, waiting, from dawn onwards, to see the cavalcade drive past. Thousands of people stood at tiie door ot Buckingham Palace. The crimson carpet /was spread upon the steps. The door opened and the Coburg Princes came out, in their dark green uniforms. Albert was dressed as a British field-marshal, and across his breast was the ribbon of the Garter, which Victoria had given him. The Order,. in diamonds and

waited for her. The dresses of the peeresses were blue end white, light green and amber, crimson and purple, and flecked with flowers. It was a day of bows, rosebuds, white satin ribbon, silver lace and orange blossoms. The cushions in the high dark Chapel were crimson, and they were heavy with gold borders and fringes. The alter was rich, with salvers, vases and flagons. When Albert came in, the gentlemen of England Hpprefl n : m, and the ladies waved their handkerchiefs, and they snvled with plea.ure when they saw that, the collar of the Garter over his sho'dders was en-

precious stones, shone on his coat, and ne wore the garter of diamonds below his knee. When he stepped out into the great wet space in front of the Palace, trumpets split the air, colours were lowered and arms were presented to him, as to a Sovereign. “ The doors of Buckingham Palace opened again, and the little Queen came out. Her dress was white and vast. Her eyes were lowered, and her head moved slightly when the people cheered. They pressed in about the carriages, a London crowd, shivering in a damp London day ' ■ “ Within the Chapel, the great, the noble and the beautiful of England

livened by two white rosettes. He looked pale and pensive. “ The trumpets and drums sounded again as the Queen came into the Chapel. One glory enveloped another. The great train of the Queen’s dress was carried by 12 ladies. At the end of* the service the young Queen stepped away from the bridegroom to kiss the Queen Dowager. Then they drove back to Biwk'ngVmni Pa’ace amid the clapping of hands and the waving of handkerchiefs. Later in the afternoon the carriage left Buckingham Palace for Windsor. The Queen looked very pretty in her white satin pelisse trimmed with swansdowm with a white satin bonnet and feathers.”