Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-11-16
Blythe Associated Press

LONDON, Nov. 15.-The wedding
of Princess Elizabeth and 1t. Philip
Mountbatten next Thursday will
bring to this bomb-scarred capital
of an economically embattled empire
something of the traditional state
splendor which the war interrupted
Nearly 80 members of foreign
royalty-not all of them occupying
mony along with diplomats, cabinet
ministers, prime ministers of Brit
ish dominions and members of the
nobility. The occasion recalls the
last great regal show, the coronation
Of King George vi and his queen
in May, 1887.
1t will be the first marriage of an
heiress to the British throne since
Charlotte Augusta, daughter of
George w, and Leopold of SAKE
Coburg were wed in 1916. Charlotte
Augusta died before reaching the
throne. Queen Victoria, Britain's
last woman monarch. was already a
queen at the time of her marriage.
OF the millions filling London on
the wedding day only some 1000
the invited guests-will attend the
ceremony in Westminster Abbey.
Royalty Invited to Rites.
Bidder to the wedding are King
Haakon of Norway, King Frederick
and Queen Ingrid of Denmark
Queen Frederick of Greece, King
Mihai of Romania and his mother
Queen Helen, who arrived in Britain
in the monarch's private plane to-
day; former Queen Victoria Eugene
of Spain; former Queen Marie and
former King Peter of Yugoslavia and
his consort, Alexandra; Crown Prince
Gustaf Adolf and Crown Princess
Louise of Sweden, Princess Juliana
and Prince Bernhard of the Neither
lands, and Prince Charles, regent Of
Belgium.
Scotland Yard and Buckingham
Palaces own security staff have been
instructed in extraordinary safety
precautions on their behalf.
The United States representa- ton
remains in doubt. Invitations were
sent to Ambassador and Mrs. Lewis
Douglas and their daughter, Shar-
man, and it is expected they will
attend. Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt,
widow of the late President, was
asked but declined because of her
United Nations commitments. In
formed sources intimated that Sec
rotary of State Marshall, who is COM
ing for the foreign ministers con-
ference, might attend, but there was
no official confirmation.
BY invitation of 1t Mountbatten
himself, Mrs. Cobina Wright, ST., of
Hollywood, Calf, mother of the
movie actress and long time friend
of the bridegroom, will have place
in the abbey.
Invitation List Not Issued.
France, Russia, Switzerland and
some of the other continental coun-
tries, and perhaps few of the Latin
American republics, probably will be
represented by their highest ranking
diplomats in London. Buckingham
Palace has refused to announce the
invitation list as a whole.
In helping frame the list, Princess
Elizabeth did not overlook the lit
tie people," Guests in the abbey
will include servants of the royal
household, railroad station masters,
soldiers from crack British regi-
ments, members of the girl guides
and the auxiliary territorial service
and workers in industry.
For every person privileged to
witness the ceremony there will be
hundreds thronged in the thorough
fares and squares along the pro-
cessional route from Buckingham
Palace to the abbey, distance of
not much more than mile.
There is a possibility, although no
weather forecaster is saying so out
loud yet, that London may be COW
cred by pea soup fog on the we'd
ding day. The weathermen noted
that November 20 was foggy in six
of the last Is years and rainy in
seven of the remaining 10.
An early boom has started in the
renting of window seats and stand
ing space in buildings along the
professional route. AS much as $500
to $4OO were paid for some of these
vantage points-larger fees than
were handed out for coronation
perches.
Spectators will have second
chance to see the bride and groom
when they drive to Waterloo Sta
ton. There they will board spe-
cial train for their honeymoon at
Broadlands, near Romsey in Hamp-
shire.
Hotels and lodging houses in the
London area were booked up weeks
ago. Restaurants and cafes have
virtually no tables left for any night
of the week.