Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-03
PRINCESS LEAVES
TO MARRY PRINCE
Belgium Thrills as Marie Jose
Prepares for NuptiaIS
in Rome.
BY the Associated Press,


BRUSSELS, January 3.-All Belgium
was thrilled today as Princess Marie
Jose, 23-year-old daughter of the Bel
gian monarch, made last-minute prepa-
rations for her journey to Rome, where
she will be married to Crown Prince
Humbert.
A royal romance will ride on the
sumptuously appointed Italian train
that will carry the Princess and the
Belgian royal family to Italy, for the
Princess and her f1ance met IL years
ago, when they were just children, and
from that day to this an affection has
lasted that has warmed the hearts of
the Belgian people -s.s
The train aboard which the Belgian
family will travel will leave Brussels
late this evening and will be guarded
carefully all of the way across Europe
to forestall any mishaps. Particular
care has been taken because Of the re-
cent attempt against the life of Prince
Humbert in Brussels and the discovery
OF a plot among extremists to prevent
the marriage.
Met at Sadua in 1917.
The royal couple first met during
the World War, In the Autumn Of 1917,
when the King and Queen of the Bel
gians visited the Italian battlefront. The
young Primo IS, hardly in her teens, at
the time, was pupil at the boarding
school of the Reale Institute Della Ser
issina Annunziata, in Florence, more
commonly known as the "Poggio I'm
periale"
"Mademoiselle," as Princess Marie
Jose was called at the express wish
OF her mother, went, in the company
of her English governess, Miss Ham
and young Humbert spent several days
together in close association.
1t was during these days that the
11-year-old blonde, curly-haired prin-
cess from the north fell in love
with her princely playmate, who one
day obtained permission to convey
young Marie Jose and Miss Hammers
ley to Venice.
The charm of Venice reacted upon
more proSaic visitors, and when they
had to separate couple of days later,
young Marie Jose first shed lovers
tear.
Hearts Spawned Distance.
For six years she was unable to meet
Humbert again. Their ways had Sepa-
rated, but their hearts we're still filled
with each other. When they next
met, Marie Jose was a sweet young
girl of IT, and Humbert, the dark
eyed prince, had become tall, slender
officer of his fathers army.
The happy days of Padua and Venice
had left deep, genuine feeling in both
hearts, and, with the consent of their
parents, they became engaged, An
italian paper published the news of
the betrothal which, despite its truth,
was officially denied. Events at the
time were not ripe for the news being
announced officially. The prince was
sent on mission to the Near East
and subsequently to far-off South
America.
Princess Adamant.
Many political difficulties were in the
way of the royal lovers romance, but
Princess Marie Jose said:
IN marry my Italian prince or en-
ter a convent"
She never wavered So in August,
1928. both royal families agreed to an
oficial announcement that an engage
ment existed. And now they will be
married after having overcome more
obstacles, perhaps, than any that could
be encountered by lovers in more or
binary walks of life.
Immediately after her arrival in Rome
Princess Marie Jose will be asked to
approve of the choice of the members
of her court, the list of which is to
include the following: Countess Laura
Brandolin Dada, born Boncompag-
noni, daughter of the Governor of
Rome; Princess di Nitro of the family
of the counts of Villa-Kletto, Countess
di Castellarco, Marques Leonardo Ber-
lingiji, Marques di Bagno Gaetani di
Laurenzana and Marques Scilla, Traus.