The Washington times., 1925-09-23
PRINCESS MAFALDA WEBS IN
TRUE LOVE MATCH

1W44 n - ~1
and bridegroom. But a touch OF
color was added to an otherwise
staid proceeding by the presence in
resplendent uniforms of military and
naval knights of the Annunziata, :
among others Marshal Diaz and Ad-
miral Tahan de Revel.
COlOrfuI in Chapel
More colorful was the religious
ceremony which Immediately fol-
lowed. The bridal procession filed
out of the gloomy royal hall and
vending its way across the court
yard, marched to the charming
had been chosen by the royal
mother, Queen Helena, for the re-
Hgious ceremony.
The first plans had decreed, as is
usual when q Catholic marries out
side the faith, and the Prince of
Hesse is Protestant. that the
religious ceremony should not in
clude the nuptial mass. But this
decree was modified, and despite the
differences in faith a nuptial mass
followed and Mafalda thus on her
wedding day received the full beni-
son of mother church.
The little procession filed down
the nave of the gothic chapel and
on the chancel steps. Below the
high altar resplendent in the purple
OF the episcopate stood the vener-
able Monsignor Beccaria, who had
christened Mafalda and all Of the
children of the King and Queen,
and who officiated at Yoland's we'd
ding two years ago.
Monsignor Beccaria red out the
simple promises Of the Catholic
marriage ritual.
NuptiaI Mass Is Sung
The promises until death us do
part" having been reiterated, Mon
signor Beccaria addressed the newly
weds briefly on the duties Of
Christian marriage and then hav-
Ding been clothed in white satin
vestments gorgeous in their gold
embroideries, and accompanied by
deacons and acolytes approached
the great altar and to the accom-
paniment Of Gregorian cantors,
celebrated the nuptial mass.
This was the most colorful fea-
ture of the entire ceremonial. AS
the mass began a single shaft OF
sunlight came through the great
east window and lowered over the
brides head like an aureole. The
white-haired old Monsignor Bee
caria in solemn, but musical voice
intoned the prayers of the mass and
the Gregorian choir sang the re-
sponses magnificently.
Princess Mafalda, at her hus.
bands side, rose or kneIt as the
ceremonies demanded and thus in
the consecrated morning light the
service proceeded, a natural and a
supernatural vision of simplicity,
solemntty and sancity.
Royalty in Force.
More than 200 guests, in addition
to all members Of the royal family,
had gathered for the pre-nuptial
social festivities and for the cele-
bration which followed the cere-
mony.
Princes and princesses from Bel
GUM, Rumania, Serbia and Greece
were there. King George of Greece
was accompanied by Prince Christie
pher and Princess Irene.
The wedding ceremony, at 1890
a. m. was followed by a sumptuous
luncheon at noon, and a motor tour
through the park of the royal
castle Of Racconigi at 1870 p. m.
Princess Matalda ordered the-mag-
nificent gift of the Italian govern
ment placed in her boudoir. 1t was
a statue in silver by the sculptor
Giambologa representing Neptune
guarding the Tyrrhenian and
Adriatic seas.
The girls whose patient fingers
wrought the princess bridal gown
added another pleasure to the royal
wedding. It was telegram con-
veying best wishes of the workers
of the Maison Coen of Rome.
Danish Prince BetrOthed
COPENHAGEN. Sept. 23.-Crown