Evening star., 1921-11-23
PRINCESS TO WE'D,
ENGLAND REJO|CES
BetrothaI to viscount Las.
ceIIes, British Peer, Meets
Popular Approval.
By the Associated Press.

SPAsSSs 'HP S'
By the Associated Press. .-.'
LONDON, November 23.-The be-,
trothal Of Princess Mary, only daugh-
ter of King George and Queen Mary
to Viscount Lascelles, was announced
last evening.
The morning newspapers express
at the betrothal Of the
Princess Mary to an Englishman, and
equally approved her cnoice of hus-
band in the Viscount Lascelles. 1t is
that there would have
been general disappointment II she
had married q member OF foreign
and thus have left England
where she is universally popular.
Her choice, says one newspaper,
will suit the democratic and romantic
instincts Of the British people and the
modern views Of monarchy In an age
when the dynastic principle is under
The betrothal OF
the princess makes 1t easier to believe
that the Prince of Wales In his turn
will make q marriage which will ap-
peal to the same romantic and demo-
cratic sentiments of the nation. This
Is typical Of many of the comments
King George Gives Consent.
in Buckingham Palace yesterday an.
nounced that he had given his consent
to the marriage
Premier Lloyd George. the Arch
bishop Of Canterbury, Viscount Blrk-
enhead and the cabinet ministers were
present at the council meeting. aIter
which the premier had an audience
with the king. Later Viscount Las
celles dined with the king and queen
and his hancee.
The engagement of Princess Mary.
which has been awaited by the Brit
ish public with considerable interest,"
and curiosity, is another break in
royal tradition. which Is likely to be
extremely popular with the kings
subjects. There are precedents, how
ever, for going outside royal houses
for partners-for instance. the mar
riage of Queen Victories daughter
aoa''s the marriage s9 las Aes Of King Edward's
Louise to the Earl Of Fife.
Princess Mary is only a little less
endeared to the hearts ct the people
than her brother. the Prince of Wales.
In recent years she iaa has enterea @ into no
kinds Of public functions and inter
esting herself in charitable work. She
was yesterday engaged in opening
nurses home and inspecting a band
Of girl guides at Brighton. She receiv-
ed glowing ovation, which undoubt,
edly would have been redoubled
had the crowds known Of her engage
ment.
The princess is a trained nurse. hav-
ing undergone hospital. training in
all its branches. She is musical. and
an expert needlewoman; ,,.. Her 1
the girl guides movement.
viscount Lascelles tHenry George
Charles Lascelles) is the eldest son
Of the Earl of Harewood, and is
thirty-nine years OF age. Princess
Mary was twenty-four years old last
The viscount- who was educated at
Eton, was an attache at the British
embassy in Rome from 1905 to 1907
and aide-de-camp to the governor
general OF Canada from 1907 to 1911.
and served with distinction in the Eu-
wounded and won the distinguished
service order and bar and the French
croix de guerre.
The Lascelles family is one of the
Oldest in Yorkshire. dating back to
the reign of Edward I. but the earl
eighteenth century. the present earl
being the fifth of the line: The
family residence Is Hardwood House,
one Of the finest country seats in the
British Isles, and Ii surrounded by
several thousand acres. comprising for
the most part great deer park; % ,,,
count. has long been prominent in
English jockey club affairs and is
an acknowledged authority on the
turf The viscount was elected a
member of the Jockey Club only this
last summer. ,T
yfscount Heir to Earldom.
yiscount Lascelles. who is heir to
the earldom, is credited with being
one Of the richest young peers in
The family has long been
stranger to America, through his
residence of several years in Canada.
and toward the close of his services
with the governor general he spent
some time in New York city.
There have been many suitors for
the hand Of Princess Mary and sew
eral times during the last few years
her betrothal to this or that member
Of the British peerage has been ru-
mored, only to be denied. 1t seems to
have been Fpretty generally accepted
for some time past that the princess
would not figure in a match with one
Of the other reigning families Of Eu-
rope. among whom, for one. thing.
eligible men of princely rank are no
longer as numerous as they were in
pre-war. days. 1T was, noNeVers- re-
ported last spring that the princess
might marry Alexander. the Serbian
prince regent. since become King of
Jugoslayia, but this report met with
q speedy ofioial denial by the Serbian
in Washington.
Meanwhile expressions Of gratif1ca :.
lion over the betrothal are coming
from people in all parts of the empire.
messages weFeS pour
Ins into Buckingham Palace today
rom every direction. bearing affec-
Honate expressions Of loyalty and
rood wishes from all ranks Of the
British coinmunity. - -, :.
A large crowd assembled outside the
palace thisp morning in hopes Of greet
1nc the princess when she drove out.
NJ q ntime the Irish Guards Band play
ed bright and tuneful selections in the
eorecourt fof the palace, during the
changing Of the guard
which occurs daily when :. the royal