Duke of York to wed English girl

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January 19, 1922

The Duke of York, second son of King George V, is to marry Lady Mary Ashley, daughter of Lord and Lady Shaftesbury, according to a London cable dispatch received by the Canadian newspaper, the Mail and Empire, and reported by the New York Times.

The dispatch states that the sources of the information are "persons in high standing at the Court.  "Lady May is a great favorite of the Queen.  She is a beautiful brunette and is 20 years old."

Lady Shaftesbury is a lady-in-waiting to Queen Mary.

The engagement is expected to be announced next month at the wedding of Princess Mary and Viscount Lascelles.

The dispatch also stated, "The approaching betrothal of the Duke of York is especially significant because it shows an heir presumptive to the throne may marry a girl of the British nobility."

Recent group photographs showing Princess Mary and Lord Lascelles, "the figures of the Duke of York and Lady Mary Ashley have been prominently displayed."

Lady Mary's late aunt, Lady Susan Ashley, was once considered a bride for the late Duke of Clarence.  There is a "well-authenticated romance between her and the Duke of Clarence," who died at the age of 28 on January 14, 1892.

Lady Susan married the Earl of Mar and Kellie on July 14, 1892.