ROYAL ROMANCES.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 April 1921, Page 6

ROYAL ROMANCES.

ROUMANIAN AND GREEK BETROTHALS. DOUBLE WEDDING ARRANGED. Lucerne, Nov. 22. The vestibule of the Hotel National here had the appearance of a Royal ante-chamber yesterday afternoon, when i the Queen of Roumania, accompanied by the Grand Duke and Grand Ruchessr Cyril of Russia and the Infanta Beatrice of Spain, arrived to assist at the religious celebration of the engagement between the Crown Prince Charles of mania anU Princess Helene, eldest daughter of the ex-King Constantine. The Queen of Roumania was met at the door by Constantine, and the exQueen Sophie, his wife, and their children, all of whom she affectionately embraced. The religious ceremony was solemnly performed by a Greek priest in the Greek private chapel in the Hotel National. All the members cf the family there had luncheon in a room beautifully decorated with pink carnations. ' “THE CONTRACT QUEEN.” Before leaving for Zurich by motor car, the Queen of Roumanii spoke to me about the engagement and also that between her eldest daughter, the Princess Elizabeth, and the Duke of Sparta, exCrown Prinie of Greece, 'which was re- j cently announced. The Queen stipulated that politics must not be discussed, but she was the first to ignore this, as she confessed, to use her own words 1 , that “politics are nowadays so mixed up with business that is difficult to know where to draw the , line.” She was occupying for the day . a suite of rooms overlooking the blue waters of Lake Lucerne. Her sombre robes were relieved only bj r a single row of large pearls. In Roumania her business transactions on behalf of her country have earned her the title of “the Contract Queen,” which gives her no little pleasure. One cannot be in her presence for two minutes without realising her wonderful business acumen. Add to this a magnetic personality and a charming pre- t sence, and it will be readily understood why her dealings in oil and other matters with hard-headed American financiers and others generally turn in favor of Roumania.

“We are exporting oil in exchange for locomotives and bridges,” she said, “And now,” she added with a. laugh, “I am exporting my daughter.” The the Queen spoke of the great happiness which the dual union between her family and that of Greece gave her. She would not sa.y whether it would result in political alliance between the two countries, but it would undoubtedly facilitate the realisation of the Little Entente for which M. Take Jonescu the Roumanian diplomat, had ‘been striving.

“People will probably say,” she added, “that I have been very astute in marrying my daughter to a future King. But their engagement took place long before it was known that the Duke of Sparta might become an Heir Apparent again.

“MUCH-IN-LOVE SON.” “My daughter always wanted to lead a private life. What she will say now that the possibility has arisen of her husband some day becoming King of the i&eUenes X don’t know*

“But,” she added, “I don’t think that an objection to a crown would be taken as a reason for divorce.”

Speaking of her son’s engagement with Princess Helene, the Queen characterised it as “a perfect match in every sense.”

The first time she saw Princess Helene, she said, she was completely charmed with her sweet disposition and did not rest until she had “brought them together.” “It was a case of love at first sight,” declared the Queen, “and now, to-day, my much-in-love son is the happiest man on earth.”

Until the political situation in Greece is settled no for the double wedding can be nxed, but it is likely that both events will take place in Bucharest or in Athens simultaneously. Ex-King Constantine, ex-Queen Sophie, and all the family were lined up in the doorway to say good-bye to the Queen of Roumania.

As the car drove away her Majesty waved her hand and cried, “Goodbye, ‘Tino!’ ” Prince Charles of Roumania- is 27 and a grandson of the late Duke of Edinburgh. He married Mlle. Zizi Lambrino daughter of a Roumanian general, at Odessa, in 1918. The marriage was annulled by the Roumanian courts last year. Princess Helene is 24. The Duke of Sparta is 30. Priflcess Elizabeth, a beautiful woman of 25, is Queen Alex- •?»«»!