AN IMPORTANT ROYAL WEDDING.

Shannon News, 19 July 1929, Page 3

AN IMPORTANT ROYAL WEDDING.

One of the most important and the most picturesque marriage ceremonies (writes Coralie van Paasen in the Sydney Sun) will be the marriage of Umberto, Crown Prince of Italy, with Marie-Jose, only "daughter of King Albert and Queen Elizabeth of Belgium. The love affair between Prince Umberto and Princess Marie-Jose is of long standing. They first met when ' the Belgian Royal family paid a visit to Rome shortly after the war. Princess Marie-Jose was then only a child, and Umberto had not completed his, studies at the Royal Military school. From that visit onward the matter was practically settled, and the young people began to correspond. Apparently the Royal parents on both sides approved the likelihood' of an alliance later on. For Marie-Jose was sent to a boarding school for girls in Florence with special instructions to learn the Italian language. Umberto and Marie-Jose met again last year at the wedding, of the Duke of Apulia with Princess Anne of France, daughter of the Bourbon Pretender to the throne of St. Louis. They walked together in the gorgeous procession from the ancient palace of the kings of Naples to the church, and the Italian 'people grasped at once, from.; 'the affectionate" attitude Of the young couple, that the bob-haired Belgian r , princess was destined to be Queen of Italy some day. Th& marriage will be held in Turin, and not in. Rome. ' Present, plans indicateone of -tin.; most elaborate and gorgeous ceremonies that Europe has t seen for many years. After the wedding in the basilica of Turin, a military display and a parade . v. ill be held in Rome before the altar of the Fatherland, during which King Victor will promote his son to. the rank of major-general in the Italian army. The" list of foreign princes and dignitaries to be present, on that occasion indicates ' something of the splendour and pomp that will mark the marriage ceremony. King Alfonso and Queen Victoria.of Spain, accompanied by the Royal Infantas, will make the journey on a Dreadnought to Naples. They will be accompanied by General Primo do Rivera and a suite of Spanish grandecs. •'• '

The Belgian sovereigns arid their son, the Duke of Brabant, will be present, as well as the Prince of Wales, King Gustavo Adolpho of Sweden, the Norwegian Crown Prince, the PrinceConsort Henry of the Netherlands, the King 'of Bulgaria, Prince Nicholas of Rumania; King Alexander 'of Jugoslavia, and the ex-King Manoel of Portugal.