In a "picturesque ceremony" that was "strongly reminiscent of the old French court," Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and Princess Louise of Orléans were married to at Wood Norton, Worcestershire, which is the country seat of the bride's brother, the Duke of Orleans.
The New York Times reports that the "ceremony could have been a little grander," if the Duke of Orleans were the King of France, and not the pretender.
It was suggested that "political reasons accounted for some absences," but forty members of European royal families, mostly members of the bride and groom's families. The actual number of guests totaled 400 and included numerous ambassadors including the American ambassador to the Court of St. James, Henry White, and his wife.
The civil marriage was conducted by the Registar in St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Evesham at 8:30 this morning. The guests included the groom's former brother-in-law, the King of Spain, and the Duke of Orleans, and "other necessary witnesses."
The family tried to keep this event a secret, but "quite a crowd gathered near the little church and heartily cheered the Princess, who is the most popular among the country people."
The religious wedding took place at noon "in an artistic temporary chapel" built for the occasion. The bride entered the chapel on the arm of her brother, and the procession included the King and Queen of Spain and the Queen of Portugal.
The bride and groom stood under a "canopy of royal blue velvet emblazoned with the fleur de lis." Princess Louise did not have any bridesmaids, which is in "accordance with the French custom." Louise wore a "superb lace veil of the finest point d'Angleterre," which she designed herself.
A wedding breakfast followed the ceremony. Members of the royal families and relatives of the bride and groom were served in Wood Norton's banqueting room, while the rest of the guests ate "in the far-framed museum" on the grounds of the estate.
Prince Carlos, 37, is the son of the late Count of Caserta. He also bears the title Infant of Spain, which was bestowed on him by King Alfonso's marriage at the time of his marriage to Alfonso's sister, Mercedes, the Princes of Asturias. The couple married in 1901. Three years later, Mercedes died in childbirth, leaving Carlo, a naturalized Spanish citizen, with two young children.
Princess Louise, 25, is the youngest daughter of the late Count of Paris. She has three sisters, the Queen of Portugal, the Duchess of Aosta, and the Duchess of Guise. The Duke of Montpensier is her youngest brother.
The bride and groom received presents that were worth $5 million dollars. Most of the presents are jewels. Several detectives, foreign and British, were hired to protect the gifts.
1 comment:
My Grandmother was their Head Cook
Post a Comment