November 2, 1926
King Albert and Queen Elisabeth of the Belgians arrived today in Stockholm today as official ceremonies to celebrate the forthcoming marriage of their son, Crown Prince Leopold, to Princess Astrid of Sweden.
The king and queen and their son received "a rousing greeting," as they entered the city, according to the AP report.
King Gustav V, Prince Carl, and Princess Ingeborg, the parents of the bride, and the princess herself, received the Belgian royal family warmly. King Gustav "hurried to embrace and kiss" Albert on both cheeks. Queen Elisabeth gave a tender embrace to Princess Astrid, as Crown Prince Leopold "stood by."
The two royal families enjoyed an informal luncheon at the palace. This afternoon, King Albert received "the various diplomats" in Sweden.
Princess Astrid had a busy day today as she tried on her wedding gown that she will wear for Thursday's civil wedding. The gown "fit perfectly." She also spent time in the kitchen of her home, "which is an apartment of the type familiar to Americans," and baked a chocolate frosted cake that will be served at the royal dinner tomorrow. The cake was made especially for Crown Prince Leopold, who celebrates his 25th birthday tomorrow.
Astrid is the niece of King Gustav. She is 20 years old, and is "known throughout Sweden as the personification of modesty. It has been said that she is "overwhelmed by the brilliant preparations for the wedding." She will also move from her parents' home to the palace. Although Prince Carl and Princess Ingeborg's home, despite being luxurious, is in reality "an apartment of the type familiar to Americans."
Princess Astrid and Crown Prince Leopold have been "avoiding the public gaze as much as possible," and only leave the palace for "short walks or to attend informal functions."
Tonight a gala dinner in honor of the Belgian sovereigns will be held at the palace.
According to the New York Times, the Swedish civil wedding "is not considered by the Belgian dynasty to constitute a binding marriage," although the civil marriage will be recognized by Belgian authorities. Astrid will, however, be a "lawfully wedded wife in her own country." She will become the Crown Princess of Belgium only after the Roman Catholic wedding next week in Brussels.
"Catholic piety" will "compel the newlyweds to separate" after the civil ceremony. The Crown Prince will return home with his parents aboard a Belgian cruiser. Princess Astrid and her mother will follow on a Swedish warship.
Astrid's father, Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland, dislikes "the sea so much" that he will travel to Brussels overland. The water route was chosen because King Albert and Queen Elisabeth did not want to travel through Germany.
There have been vague reports about "the romantic background" of the forthcoming wedding, but the "full and authentic story" was told to The New York Times correspondent by an official of the Swedish court, who said:
"Every royal marriage is always described as a love match, but I think you will agree that that of our Princess really is one, and quite extraordinary one, too, when you hear how it came out."
More than a year ago, Princess Astrid and Prince Leopold met "quite by chance" at a thé dansant at the home of mutual friends in Paris. The young heir to the Belgian throne danced twice with the tall, slender, Swedish girl. "whose brunette complexion and vivacious temperament make her seem French rather than Scandinavian."
The princess is a descendant of Jean Bernadotte, the founder of the Swedish dynasty.
When the dance was over, Prince Leopold escorted Princess Astrid back to the hotel, where she and her mother "were staying in inconspicuous incognito."
The prince is equally "inconspicuous." Not long after meeting Astrid, he and his mother made a secret trip to Stockholm to see "the Princess whom he meant to make his future Queen." They were in Stockholm without even King Gustav knowing of their arrival.
Queen Elisabeth saw Astrid at a luncheon at a local hotel before "she made her presence known at the Swedish court. A few hours later, Princess Astrid was officially presented to Queen Elisabeth, who then gave her consent to the marriage.
Leopold traveled three more times to Sweden to meet Astrid, all without the press finding out. They also met in London and in Belgium at the castle of "mutual friends." With a "lover-like haste," Prince Leopold arrived in Stockholm two days before his parents.
The marriage plans were "obstructed for many months, by the desire of King Gustav and Prince Carl that Princess Astrid remains Lutheran "instead of embracing Catholicism." There was some opposition to the wedding, although the Pope did grant a special dispensation to allow the Crown Prince to marry a Protestant "with the usual proviso that their children be raised in the Catholic faith."
When the dance was over, Prince Leopold escorted Princess Astrid back to the hotel, where she and her mother "were staying in inconspicuous incognito."
The prince is equally "inconspicuous." Not long after meeting Astrid, he and his mother made a secret trip to Stockholm to see "the Princess whom he meant to make his future Queen." They were in Stockholm without even King Gustav knowing of their arrival.
Queen Elisabeth saw Astrid at a luncheon at a local hotel before "she made her presence known at the Swedish court. A few hours later, Princess Astrid was officially presented to Queen Elisabeth, who then gave her consent to the marriage.
Leopold traveled three more times to Sweden to meet Astrid, all without the press finding out. They also met in London and in Belgium at the castle of "mutual friends." With a "lover-like haste," Prince Leopold arrived in Stockholm two days before his parents.
The marriage plans were "obstructed for many months, by the desire of King Gustav and Prince Carl that Princess Astrid remains Lutheran "instead of embracing Catholicism." There was some opposition to the wedding, although the Pope did grant a special dispensation to allow the Crown Prince to marry a Protestant "with the usual proviso that their children be raised in the Catholic faith."
I have no favourite royals but I never get bored of the wonderful Princess Astrid! Thanks, Marlene
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