BLUE SKIES OF FRANCE

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 450, 4 June 1937, Page 5

BLUE SKIES OF FRANCE

HAPPY WEDDING BRIEF, SIMPLE CEREMONY Duke Made His Responses In Firm, Clear Tones Press Association—CopyrightReceived June 4, 10.35 a.m. London, June 3. Dr. Mercier, Mayor of Monts, upon his arrival at the Chateau de Cande for the wedding of the Duke of Windsor and Mrs Wallis Warfield was conducted to the salon and took his place at a table opposite two armchairs, in which sat the bride and and bridegroom.

Major Metcalfe sat on the Duke’s left, and Mr Herman Rogers sat beside Mrs. Warfield. The guests were seated in row behind the couple. The ceremony was very simple; it was over in twelve minutes. The Mayor read the article of the civil code under which the couple promise fidelity and help one to the other. The husband must protect his wife, and the wife must obey her husband; she must live with him and follow him wherever he deems fit; the husband must maintain his wife in accordance with his status.

Dr Mercier then declared: “By one of the chances of destiny the most moving idyll of all times takes place under the blue skies of France.

“I salute your Royal Highness as former Sovereign of a most friendly nation, I greet in the name of France the Prince and her whom his Royal Highness has chosen from the noble country attached to us. By the same preci" ous bonds I present to you the most sincere wishes for your happiness.”

The Mayor, addressing the Duke, and using all his Christian names and titles, including Admiral of the Fleet, Field Marshal and Marshal of the Air Force of Great Britain, asked if he took Mrs Wallis Warfield as his wife. The Duke replied in firm, clear tones: “Oui, Monsieur le Maire.” Dr Mercier repeated the ques* tion to Mrs Warfield, who replied: “oui,” in a slightly unsteady voice. The Mayor then declared: “In the name of the law we declare you united in the bonds of matrimony.” Only eleven witnessed the civil ceremony—Mrs Merriman, Major Metcalfe, Mr and Mrs Herman Rogers, the Prefect of Tours, the Commissioner of Police and five journalists. Most of the other guests-waited in the library, which had been transformed into a floral bower with scores of bouquets and baskets of blooms.

There were several American flags, but nowhere in the decorations were there any British flags.

The famous French organist, Marcel Dupre, played the Wedding March while the wedded couple proceeded to the music room for the religious ceremony, during which there were tears in the Duke of AVindscr’s eyes though he made his responses clearly and firmly.

Once or twice the bride placed an encouraging hand on his arm.

The Duke did not kiss the bride either during the civil or the religious ceremony.