ROYAL WEDDING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 39, 16 October 1913, Page 5

ROYAL WEDDING.

A BRILLIANT ASSEMBLY. CROWDS FILLED THE STREETS. [By Electric Telegraph— CorYuiGurj [United Press -Association. J (Received U.lO a.m.), London, October 15. The marriage of Prince Arthur 01 Connaught to the Ductless of File took place at tlio Chapel Royal, St. James' t'alace, to-day. There was a brilliant assembly. The Primate officiated. Tito King gave the bride away in the presence of the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Duke ami Duchess 01 Connaught, the King and Queen of Norway, and other Royal personages. Huge and enthusiastic crowds tilled the streets. THE PRESENTS. (Received 9.45 a.m.) London, October 15. The number of presents were over 500, and were valued at £300,000. They include jewels from Royalties in England, Europe, Japan and India. The King and, Queen's gift was a tiara of 1000 diamonds; The Canadian Ministry presented a silver dinner service. THE BRIDE AND BRIDEGROOM. The betrothal of his Royal Highness Prince Arthur of Connaught, their Majesties' cousin, to her Highness the Duchess *of Fife, their Majesties' niece, to which union the King gladly gave his consent, was announced in July. " Princess Alexandra. The Duchess of Fife (Princess Alexandra) is the elder daughter of the late Duke of Fife and the King's sister, the Prince&s Royal, and was born on. May. 17, 1891. Seven years ago King Edward conferred the rank of Princess on her and on her sister, thus bringing them within the provisions of the Royal Marriage* Act and rendering them eligible as wives of English or European royalty.

Princess Alexandra became the Duchess of Fife on the lamented death of her father in January of last year, the dukedom, carrying a special remainder in her favor. The Duke's death followed .closely on the wreck of the "liner Delhi' near Tangier on December 13, which the Duke i and Duchess and their two daughters !suffered glfgjji hardshipsjjwhicU, £aj>en. to. >i,he: 'shore sunk'*)V great waves Jueaking over her, 'and tu'e ¥ojfer'"party 'Vrere "thrown into the surf. Princess Alexandra disappeared for a moment under the sea, but, thanks to their lffo- . belts, thtf, >vhp > l,q.par ! ty ; . : w^ije A i'il)le to float to the shore, though terribly buffeted by the waves.

. The Duchess and her sister, Princess Maud of .Fife, have heen mos' carefully sln'pughtQnp. ?i Both, posses quijft, arid Arts simply briVWll dressed. The late Duko of Fife! during'the last two or three years of his life, frequently chaperoned his to various social functionary but' they have not been seen very* much in the socia 1 world, though pit two occasions this season they have accompanied their mother to dances. The Duchess is devoted to Scotland, and has spent a good deal.of her time at Mar Lodge, Braemar. She is a very skilful angler, and can drive' a pair of horses as well as any man. During the autumn she and her,sister are frequently to he seen in the vicinity of Mar Lodge driving a mail ' phaeton and pair of fine black-brown horses. The Duchess is, like most members of the English Royal Family, very fair, with a slim, graceful figure and a winning smile. She is one of the richest women in England. Tier father's estate was provisionals sworn at CI ,000,000 on May 29, 1912.

Prince Arthur.

Prince Arthur of Connaught.is the only son of the Duke and Duchess of Connaught. He is 30 years of ago, tall, fair,-and very good-looking, and extremely popular not only in society hut in the army, especially with his brother ollicers in the Scots Greys, who have been quartered at York for the past year or so. He was. a great favorite of his late uncle, King Edward, as he is of his cousin the present King. He has charming manners, and possesses the happy knack of at once putting at ease those with whom he is brought into contact. He rides extremely well, and is looked upon in the highest military quarters as a very capable and keen soldier. As a representative of his Sovereign abroad he has been a decided success, and those who have been" attached to his suite are full of praise for his tact and dignity and discretion. There is no more popular royal guest at a dinner party or ball.

He lias boon tlio King's Ambassador to almost every Court of Europe, and it was directly duo to the suggestion of his Majesty that the Prince was made the chief of the four "Councillors of State' 1 who were the official head of the Empire during the absence of His Majesty at the Indian Durbar.

Lord Kitchener onco remarked of liiiu that it was rather a pity ho was born a royal prince, since the fact would probably prevent him from talcing the prominent position in (lie army to which his abilities entitled him.