PRINCESS MARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 April 1922, Page 10

PRINCESS MARY.

A BRILLIANT WEDDING. SERVICE IN THE ABBtEi STATELY AND YET SIMPLE. VIVID SCARLET AND GOLD. London, Feb. 28. Vivid scarlet and gold tempered by snow white. That was the most insistent impression that one formed this morning in the Nave of the Abbey, from a raised vantage near the grave of the Unknown Warrior and not far from the west door. Magnificent were the scarlet coats and gold lace of the splendid military men; regal the new white ermine wraps of the ladies. Clergy flitted about in scarlet cassocks; detachments of uniformed nurses were in dresses of scarlet with white caps, and white aprons adorned with the scarlet cross. 'Scarlet Guards lined the doorway, scarlet Guards showed the way to the seats; scarlet clad Beefeaters kept the processional way at regular intervals up the Nave.

There was a marvellous kaleidoscope of ever-moving colors, but scarlet predominated. Naval officers were just as handsomely uniformed, but it was more of a military spectacle than a naval one. And assuredly it was the day for the male bird to be" out in all his glory. Many women were expensively dressed —ermine, gold lace, wondrous ospreys, lovely brocades, but somehow in a great mass they failed to impress in the way that they should, because the uniformed men; —with orders and decorations — seemed to fill, the scene, and their splendour and enhanced by the wondrous shafts of strong sunshine which danced and sparkled upon glittering orders, and I burnished gold, and made the electric 1 lights look very pale. The rays occa- ! sionally caught the golden woof of the ! Indian potentates’ headress and lighted up the tinsel gossamer of the ladies* jhats and toques, but it was undeniably a day when uniforms were in the ascendant.

SIMPLICITY THE KEYNOTE. The Abbey opened at nine o’clock, and the two hours’ waiting sped fleetly by. In more ways than one the marriage of Princess Mary was very simple, and the guests were representative of all ranks and stations in life. Boy Scouts handed them the programmes, which were severely plain in style and get up; there was no bridal bouquet; there were no flowers on the altar, only the famous Abbey gold plate. Indeed, simplicity was the keynote all through. As the guests took their seats, one realised how marvellously representative they were of all stations and walks of life. Ranged with the heads of the Civil Service were leaders of religious bodies (including General and Mrs. Booth and Prebendary Carlile), nurses in their becoming uniform, Girl Guides with a handsome banner, naval and military luminaries. the Diplomatic Corps, 'political leaders, representatives from overseas, leaders of the Stage, University representatives in their gowns of every degree.

SEVERAL PROCESSIONS. There were several processions—one of the Yeomen, one with the arrival of the Lord Chief Justice, another comprised of twenty tall members of the Honorable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms with their plumed helmets and their colors; another of the scarlet eassocked and white surpliced Abbey choir, the boys having freshly goffered white ruffles round their necks; their number had been augmented by the inclusion of the children of the Chapel Royal, who are dressed in scarlet and gold uniforms. Among people passing by one saw Sir James and Lady Allen, who had seats in the choir and so were very near the actual marriage ceremony; Lord and Lady Liverpool and Lord and Lady Strathspey. Other New Zealanders who were so fortunate as to be in the Abbey were: Sir John Salmond, the Hon. Arthur Myers and Mrs. Myers, Lieut.-Col. J. Studholme and Mrs. Studholme. Mrs. J. B. Mac Ewan, Mrs. H. Rolleston, Dr. and Mrs. Irving, Mrs. W. H. Montgomery, Miss L. D. Allen, Miss Burt, Mrs. Bernard Myers, and Mrs. Riddiford.

RICH INVESTMENTS. Shortly before the members of the Royal Family were due, the Abbey clergy assembled with the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Bisbop of London, the Dean of Westminster, all wearing crimson capes embroidered with gold. The bearer of the gold cross was vested in pale green with rich embroideries. Minor Canon Nixon, the Abbey Precentor, walked in the procession. in front of the choir, carrying an exact copy of a precentors staff of 1302. This staff has a large white dove on the top, and gold fleur-de-lys round an oak stick. Speh a staff has never before been used in the Abbey. People near to the west door had much to interest them, because they were the first to see all arrivals, whether guests, bridesmaids, Royal relatives, the Queen and her sons, and then the King with the bride. The Royal procession was very imposing. Those in it included: The Marquis of Cambridge; Lord Leopold Mountbatten, the Marquis and Marchioness of Carisbrooke, H.H. Princess Mary Louise, H.H. Princess Helena Victoria, Lady Patricia Ramsay, Brigadier-General the Earl of Athlone, H.R.H. Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, H.R.H. the Duchess of Albany, H.R.H. Princess Beatrice, H.R.H. Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyle, H.R.H. Princess Christian, H.R.H. Princess Victoria, and H.R.H. the Princess Royal. QUEEN-MOTHER AND QUEEN MARY. Then came Queen Alexandra with Prince Henry. The Queen-Mother looked younger and better t-han she has done for a long while, and she walked with firm step and graceful carriage, bowing to guests on either side. Her dress was of deep Royal --.ip with the Ribbon of the Garter cross the corsage, and a purple toque with fan-shaped osprey. Immediately behind came Queen Mary, with the Duke of York on one side and Prince George on the other, all three sons being in uniform. Queen Mary was very animated on her arrival in the Abbey, and she looked every inch England's Queen in her stately dress of magnificent cream and gold brocade, patterned with a beautiful raised design in. deep parchment-tinted velvet flowers and ' half circles. The circles were intersected | with smaller designs of Oriental character. | The fabric was as soft as it was rich, and | was made in crossing folds from the shoul- j tiers. These are caught below the waist at ' the left side by a rich embroidered motif ' and tassels of shaded gold and ivory-tinted tube-shaped beads. The bodice had rather severe lines of tubular bead gold embroidery QUtliaiufi the folds, and acrasa it was

worn the Ribbon of the Garter. • Thp~ sleeves, of gold lace on gold net, were very bright, and the design was outlined with small bright crystal and ivory toned embroidery. The Queen’s jewels were pearls and diamonds. Her toque of cloth of gold tissue mounted on “Garter” blue chiffon velvet, was finished with a full and handsome panache of white ostrich feathers, tipped with gold. A DIGNIFIED BRIDE. This procession passed out of sight much too quickly. Then a few minutes later word went round that the King and the Princess had come. In the distance the Princess could be seen, with one of her ladies-in-waiting taking away her ermine wrap and arranging her veil, the Beef-eaters standing near. Her long white gloves were being carried, but there was no bridal bouquet. In the distance the bride looked pale and a little tired, but very dignified as with head erect and lightly resting her left hand on the King’s right hand, she started bravely off on her long journey to the altar, looking very natural and walking with firm tread at a slow pace, the while her guests met her with graceful curtsies. The way was flanked partly by the choir and partly by the Beef-eaters. So soon as the Precentor saw that the bridal procession was ready, he signalled with his staff to the organist, and the music pealed forth the hymn, “Lead Us, Heavenly Father, Lead Us.”

ARTISTIC WEDDING DRESS. Many hours of careful thought must have been devoted by tiie designer to the Princess’ wedding gown—its sheen of silver, its filmy tulle, its exquisite embroidery of pearls and beads, and its graceful drapery of precious Honitpn, lace which had. previously been worn by the Duchess of Teck and Queen Mary on their own wedding day, all went to constitute a magnificent work, of art. The cloth of silver, soft, yet substantial, which -formed the underdress, was a gift to the Queen from an Indian potentate many years ago. This was veiled by a lovely robe of finest white Marquisette, embroidered all over in a design of roses and leaves in pearls of different sizes, and in bright silver. The flowers were raised from the surface in the pearls and silver; the leaves were in brilliant floss silk veined and stemmed with silver. The overdress fell from the shoulders, on each of which was a rose duster of brilliants and pearls. the sleeves being of embroidery slightly weighted with an edging to match. The bodice had rather a square decolletage. A girdle of frosted silver, encircled with pearls, indicated the waist, and at the right side was placed a large cluster of orange flowers, mounted in silver, trails depending therefrom to the hem of the gown. The train, four yards in length, specially woven at Braintree by an exservice man. was suspended from both shoulders. Its fabric, with warp of silk and woof of silver, shimmered as the light fell upon it. Upon the centre was embroidered in fine stitehery in silver thread, silk, and crystal, a very fine design, which comprised the rose, the shamrock, the thistle, and. the daffodil, the Dominions being represented by the maple leaves, wattle and fern; while India, figured tn silver lotus flowers, which formed a raised l>order all round the train, and in the heart of each lotus was a touch of blue velvet “for luck.’’ The long bridal veil of tulle fell far down on trie train. The. bridal wreath, one of the lightest and loveliest ever designed, consisted of three slender strands of silver, over which orange blossoms were very lightly trained. Over this the tulle veil was thrown back, for it is the tradition of Courts that Royal Princesses never go to the altar with their faces veiled.

EIGHT BEAUTIFUL GIRLS. Immediately then came the eight bridesmaids, for whom the bride had chosen beautiful dresses of white and silver, to be in accord with the general scheme. Princess Maud, Lady Rachel Cavendish, Lady Mary Thynne, Lady Victoria Cambridge, Lady Doris Gordon-Lennox, Lady Elizabeth BowesLyon, Lady Diana Bridgeman, and Lady May Cambridge were all dressed alike, save that the two last-named had shorter frocks. The bridegroom’s present to each was a brooch or crystal set with diamonds and sapphires. They bore crossed coronets and the initials “M.” and “H.” Princess Maud and Lady Rachel Cavendish, the two principal bridesmaids, carried the Royal tram, and headed the procession of silver and white attendants. The rear of the procession was brought up by the choir, and the tiers of people really had time only for little else than a passing impression.

A BRIEF CEREMONY. The wedding service then proceeded, and the archbishop delivered a moving address. Stainer’s sevenfold Amen, beautiful in the. long distance from the chancel, was followed by a verse of the National Anthem, and then while the register was being signed, the anthem, specially composed by Mr. Sydney H. Nicholson, “Beloved, Let Us Love One Another.” In half an hour all was over, and Princess Mary, Viscountess Lascelles, flushed and happy, came past again, this time with her husband, her left hand resting lightly on his right hand. This was the first glimpse the people in the Nave had of the bridegroom, who was in military uniform with his newest decoration —the Ribbon of the Garter—crossing his scarlet coat. They were followed by choristers, canons, bishops and archbishops. Then, after a suitable interval, came the great procession of Royalty, headed by the King and Queen, followed by their sons and Queen Alexandra. The King looked solemn and sorry—the Queen, was erect and bravely smiling, and again she was the cynosure of all eyes. During these processions the organist played the bridal march from Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliet”, and Mendelssohn’s Wedding March.

AT THE COLONIAL OFFICE. In addition to the 15 seats in the Abbey placed at the disposal of Sir James Allen for New Zealanders, there ■were 16 available at the Colonial Office, and they were used by: Mrs. P. R. Sargood, Mrs. St. John Buckley, Mrs. E. J. Cordner, Miss J. Hislop, Mrs. Parker. Mrs. M. W. Richmond, Mrs. G. C. Tothill, Mrs. Norman Beetham, Miss Phoebe Myers, Mrs. Abbott. Miss P. C. Thomson, Mrs. F. M. B. Fisher, Miss Russel], Mrs. E. A. Le Cren, Miss R. Allen, and Mrs. Friend.

These had? the delight of witnessing a touching incident when the bride and bridegroom were returning from the Abbey. As the bridal carriage came up beside the Cenotaph it suddenly halted. A window opened and the bride—no longer smiling, but senious—leaned outward, holding out a bunch of white carnations and lilies of the valley, tied with wihte satin ribbon. Waiting to receive the tribute and to’ place it on the Cenotaph was Regimental Ser-

'geant-Major -Barwick, of the Ist -Scots Guards, specially chosen for meritorious service covering nearly 23 years. He wore seven decorations. The people’s cheers had been stilled to a sur- ’ prised hush while the bride’s deed of i homage was being done, and for a moment only the pealing of the Westmin- | Ster bells were heard. Then there broke out roll upon roll of frantic cheering, I louder and more heartfelt than any- | thing that had occurred hitherto. POINTS OF INTEREST. The IS-carat gold quill pen used for the signing of the register at the Abbey is the symbol of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries, and was the Institute’s present. Princess Mary’s wedding bells w.t>rung by the Ancient Society of Coll.’gv Youths, the oldest association of In'J ringers in Europe, which was established so long ago as 1637, in the reign of the first Charles. It took its name from the church, now vanished, of St. Martin's Vintry on College Hill, where its first members used to practice change-ringing. The tenor bell is very old, dating from 1430, and two of the others were presented by Gabriel Goodman, a Dean of Westminster in Queen Elizabeth’s time. The octave was incomplete, however, until some little time ago, when two additional bells were added; and the existing six were at the same time re-hung and tuned. The peal rung to-day consisted of just over 5000 changes, and was of exceptional interest, being the first full one heard from the peal. Before the King entered the Abbey, and immediately he left it after the wedding, the Royal Standard on the northwest tower was replaced by a flag London had never seen—the banner of the Abbey Church of Westminster. The flag, which is the gift of a lady intimately connected with the Abbey,, has been made in accordance with the design of Sir Farnham Burke, Garter King of Arms. A smaller replica was placed' in the sanctuary. A very special gift from Scotland was the’replica of the famous Broocu of Lome presented by the Clan MacDougall through the mistress of Dunollie Castle. The original has been in possession of the MacDougalls since that famous day when it was won in combat by one of the/clansmen against Robert Bruce, who wore it in the fight. That Lord of Lome was afterwards '♦'more peaceably associa ■ .1 with the sovereign of his realm, and Lornes and Royalties have, kept up the good terms off and on ever since.