The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-29
Week S CEREMONIAL
At SPANISH WEDDING.
Many Scenes Of splendor Will be
Included III. the Official
Programme.
MADRID AWAITS EVENT
All the Grandees Of the Kingdom
to be Present at State s#
Banquet.
MADRID AWAITS EVENT.
MADRID, April %.

Madrid, April rs. f5fE
All Madrid is looking forward to tho
marriage on June ! OF King Alfonso and
Princess Enn, and the stately details are
already being discussed, especially by the
ladies. ,9lsa 55
But, though there is interest, there 10
| less curiosity than would be the case IN
| England. for every ono Knows what tho
ceremony will be. A rigid etiquette pre-
sides over all such functions In Spain.
AS the wedding OF yesterday was. go the
wedding OF today Is, and there IS nothing
| new under the sun. @
Tho wedding obeervances are protraoted
over nearly week. FIRST there is a SOL
emn mass. attended by the King. Queen
mother, all tho members OF the royal
family and the grandees.
The King kneels IN front Of the altar,
and hands to the bishop three large gold
cups continuing gold, incense and myrrh,
es an offering to heaven. Ss;, lt
| On the evening of the same day the
marriage contract is signed. The cere-
mony Is performed in one OF the salons
| OF the palace. the Lord Chancellor pre-
siding at table covered with crimson
velvet. 1t Is n brilliant array that Wit
nesses the signatures Of the august bride
| and bridegroom-elect fter the ceremony
comes family banquet. 4
1
there will be an official state BANQUET, at
which all the great people Of Spain and
| the distinguished guests Of the court are
present. n gala performance at the opera
and q grand state ball at the palace, at
which no fewer than 5000 people will be
present siS
The wedding itself takes place at II "A.
NJ. O It will be soemnized in the priva te
chapel OF the palace, to which none are
admitted except the most favored, the ac-=
commodation being Unite However, the
galleries afford room for thousands to-
view the procession going to and coming
from the chapel. j The King first proceeds.
to the chapel. Then follow the BRIDE
with the Queen mother and the Infanta9
Dona Paz on either side, and preceded im-
modiately by the Papul Nuncio and the
cardinals Afterwardi comes a magnificent
cortege, rcomposed4ao of all the foreign.
princes and princessesy and the representa-
tives Of all the courts of Europe. III 81,
Then follow the royal household and tie
erandees of Spain, all of which have their
assigned places in the chapel. According
| to custom, the ladies all wear white man
tillas OF beautiful lace.
The sceremony3ls to be performed by
tho Cardinal Archbishop OF Toledo, who
also repeats tho nuptial mass and gives
| the Pa pal blessing. 3 III aFratts.sa ffi.5&
After the ceremony the newly welded
King and Queen wend their way through
tho galleries to eign the register. Then
tho procession. formed as before, makes
the round of the galleries. i#4t \
Then comes a dramatic moment. Out =
side tho palace will. of course. bea vast
concourse of people anxious to catch a
glimpse OF their beloved King and his fair
young Queen. Suddenly all the windows
on the balconies will b9 thrown open. and
tho bride and bridegroom. surrounded by:
their family and the court. will come on
to the balconies.