Thursday, March 10, 2016

Crown Prince Carol weds Princess Helen

March 10, 1921

Crown Prince Carol of Romania and Princess Helen of Greece were married today in Athens, reports the Associated Press.    This is the second "union of members of the reigning dynasties of Greece and Rumania within a fortnight."   The other marriage was between Crown Prince George of Greece and Princess Elisabeth of Rumania.  

George and Helen are the children of King Constantine and Queen Sophie of the Hellenes, and Carol and Elisabeth are the children of King Ferdinand and Queen Marie of Romania.    The two queens are first cousins.

The civil ceremony took place in the palace, and was followed by "an elaborate wedding in the cathedral."  The procession was led by the bridal couple, who rode in a golden carriage, which "proceeded through the principal thoroughfares. which were lined with cheering thousands."

Queen Marie and Queen Sophie were in the second carriage.  The "striking beauty and animated features" of Marie contrasted with Sophie's "somber, immobile countenance."

The rest of the procession was made up of King Constantine, Prince George, and the other members of the royal family.   Fourteen Princesses and seven Princes attended the ceremony.  Prince Christopher of Greece attended without his American-born wife, Princess Anastasia, who was not well.

Princess Helen wore "a white satin gown trimmed with gold."  Her veil, "which was of rare beauty," was made by the women of Bucharest, and valued at 500,000 francs. She wore a "jeweled diadem," costing 1,000,000 francs.  The diadem was a gift from Crown Prince Carol, who wore the uniform of a General.

A wedding luncheon was held at the palace after the ceremony

The newlyweds remain at Tatoi for a week before heading to their honeymoon in Sinaia in the Carpathian mountains.



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