The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-02-26
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ROYAL NUPT|AL
IN NOTED ABBEY
Hospital Will Reap Rich Har-
vest as "Grandstand' for
GIittering Procession.
U. S. AMBASSADOR INVITED
Several American Women
Among Those Favored
With Summons.

LONDON. Feb. 25.-With the
wedding of Princess Mary and
Viscount Lascelles only three days
away, the British capital is in a
fever of happy excitement.
The metropolis is crowded with
tens of thousands of visitors from
all over the world. Hotels are
thronged beyond capacity and
many of the outsiders have had
to seek quarters in the suburbs.
Many Americans.
The influx for Tuesdays notable
event has included thousands OF
Americans. Many hundreds OF these
were touring the Continent and
timed their tours so that they could
be in London on tho wedding day.
Not a few have come from America
for the occasion, but only a handful
Of Americans, and those only because
OF their high official positions, can
view the ceremony.
Every member of the vast British
Empire has contributed official rep
resentatives and unofficial country
groups of visitors. The Continent
has poured an increasing flood or
strangers in London and the city has
assumed already a holiday aspect.
Though so many thousands have
came the vast majority are here in
the hope that they catch glimpse
of the royal principals as the we'd
ding procession passes to and from
Westminster Abbey Tuesday morn
ing.
There is room in the abbey for not
When ono
remembers the national aspect of
the event he must appreciate that
the abbey provides little enough &C.
commodation for those the King and
Queen wish to invite.
Harvey To Attend.
All ambassadors and ministers &C.
credited to the Court of st. James
have been invited. This makes pos
sible the attendance of Colonel ana
and Lord Harecourt, who have been
issued to Cabinet ministers and for
mer holders of portfolios, to delega-
tons from the House Of Lords and
the House Of Commons and repre-
sentatives of the leading religious
denominations. Each invitation,
where the occasion requires, includes
the guests wife.
This makes certain the attendance
Of a few other American women be-
sides Ambassador Harvey's wife.
Lord CurZon, Lord Lee or Fareham
an dILord Harecourt, who have been
invited, have American wives. 1t is
possible that Lady Aston, the former
Virginia girl, will be in a Parliament
delegation.
The unenviable task of issuing III
vitations has been the lot OF the
State Chamberlain. In the case or
the Lords what appeared to be an
insuperable difficulty was bridged
nicely by asking the peers whether
they desired to attend the ceremony.
OF course, they all did.
Peers Draw Lots.
But less than fifty tickets could
be allotted them. The peers grace
fully solved the situation by draw
ing lots for the seats.
Much against his personal inclina-
lions, King George has been led to
decide not to invite leaders of the
Irish Free State. 1t was diplomat
ically represented to him that the
cabinet members Of the new govern
ment in Dublin might have to de-
cline the Invitations because Of the
interpretations their political op-
pOnenIS WOulu VII
Those who view the professions in
the streets will in many instances
have to pay high prices for vantage
points. 1t will cost some of them as
high as SIS for their glimpse. Bid
ding for seats at windows or on
roofs of buildings alopg the route
about a mile in length-has been
brisk.
Among the points OF view most
coveted are those about Parliament
square, adjacent to Westminster
Abbey, affording a good view of the
party arriving and leaving.
Westminster Hospital, opposite
the Abbey, is accounted the grand
stand. This hospital has been in
desperate need OF funds. The ur-
gency will be lessened by the readi-
ness Of spectators to pay generously
for windows or places on the roof.
A Colorful Event.
with the weather favorable, there
Is no question that the wedding day
will be the most folorful occasion
since the coronation, even though
some Of the luster of the event in
the Abbey will be lost in the de-
cision to invite the ladies to wear
morning dress, with hats, with or
ders and decorations. 1t had been
announced previously that ladies
would wear court dress without
trains. wells or feathers, thus lend
ing another picturesque detail. The
change has been made in view of
the fact that the weather may be
cold and because OF the continued
prevalence of influenza.
The hour of the ceremony has
been officially set for 1870 o'clock,
and all details have been arranged
to accord with this appointment
The royal party will start from
buckingham Palace. Four pairs of
horse carriages will comprise the
procession OF Queen Mary and Dow.
ager Queen Alexandra, driving
through the main gate from the
quadrangle under the royal apart.
ments. A detachment OF Household
Cavalry and n detachment OF troops
will fall in behind this procession,
a. will he the case with the next
procession. that of King George and
Princess Mary.
Then will follow, others OF the
royal family with appropriate escorts
OF cavalry and troops.
The group will move, coming and
L. AI.n 4 l. AZ