ROYAL WEDDING IN HOLLAND

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 328, 8 January 1937, Page 5

ROYAL WEDDING IN HOLLAND

PRINCESS JULIANA—PRINCE LIPPE-BIESTERFELD. A MILLION PEOPLE CAME TO WITNESS THE PAGEANTRY. PLEDGE “TO OBEY” WAS OMITTED AT SERVICE (Press Association—Copyright.) Received 11.45 a. tn. THE HAGUE, January 7. Glorious weather favoured the ceremonies associated with Princess Juliana's wedding. It is estimated that over a million people arrived from all parts of Holland to witness the pageantry. There were a few Swastika flags among the decorations, the predominant colours being those of the House of Orange and the House of Lippedetmold.

Among those first to arrive at the 15 th century church of St. James were the bridesmaids, wearing, light woollen cloaks owing to the cold, thus denying the crowds a glimpse of their dresses,, which were carried out in an ori- , gin al rainbow scheme. Each wore a different colour, lilac, blue, green, yellow, orange and rose symbolising a hopeful, happy union as the rainbow promises happiness in uniting 'Earth and Heaven. Princess Juliana herself was responsible for this charming inspiration.

Dense crowds outside the Royal Palace cheered wildly as the Royal couple appeared, as, contrary to English custom, the Dutch practice is to drive to the church together. Princess Juliana looked radiantly happy as Prince Bernard helped her into the golden coach. The procession was headed by an Imposing military detachment, and three coaches with bridesmaids and groomsmen followed. Then came the bridal couple. Queen Wilhelmina and the bridegroom's mother followed in a glass coach. After this came the relatives of the Royal families and distinguished personages. Each coach was escorted by a military detachment. The Duke of Kent and other British guests did not participate in the procession, but awaited its arrival at the. chproh. ~ , - CIVIL CEREMONY, TOO. A fanfare of trumpets greeted the arrival of the procession at the Town

Hall, where the Burgomaster carried out the simple civil marriage ceremony. The bride and bridegroom were asked to stand up, give each other an ungloved right hand and affirm their solemn desire to accept faithfully all the duties of the law imposed on those entering the state of marriage. The couple then drove on to the church. The simplicity and lack of deconation at the church startled those used to pomp at Royal weddings in other countries. There were no floral decorations or candles. The couple took their final marriage, vows, but the pledge “to obey” was omitted from Juliana's vows, presumably at her own request. Princess Juliana’s wedding gown was of heavy ivory satin, cut on Greek classic lines. She wore a court mantle of the same material with a train six yards long. Her long veil of white tulle was hung from a headdress of real orange blossom and held by a diadem of diamonds forming a five-petalled rose of the House of Lippe-Biesterfeld. Princess Juliana wore a bracelet containing 1,700 diamonds from the people of the Dutch East Indies. Prince Bernhard wore the uniform of the famous Dutch regiment, the Blue Hussars.

Princess Juliana was attended by 12 bridesmaids. There also were 12 gentlemen in attendance, including Barons A. and R. von Cramm. The Rev. Dr. Welter, aged 86, who baptised and confirmed Princess Juliana in the same church, performed the ceremony, which was broadcast throughout Holland and Britain at 11 a.m.