Tuesday, February 8, 2011

A grand wedding for Princess Francoise and Prince Christopher





February 8, 1929

The celebrations for the pending wedding of Princess Francoise de Orléans and Prince Christopher of Greece, are "darkened by the sudden death" of  Queen Mother Maria Cristina of Spain, who was closely related to the French Bourbons, reports the Chicago Tribune's Press Service.

The civil ceremony is scheduled to take place in a "grand hall" and the religious wedding  will be in the jewel-like palatin" in Palermo, Sicily

The witnesses for both ceremonies will be King Manoel of Portugal and the Duke of Aosta for the bride, and for the groom, the witnesses will be Crown Prince Umberto of Italy and King George II of the Hellenes.

Initiations for both ceremonies were limited to family members.  The civil wedding will take place on Sunday night at 8:30, and the church wedding will be held on February 11 at 11:30 in the morning.   The invitations are "remarkable for their simple and extreme elegance, bearing the Guise arms.  Women have been informed that they are to wear a "French afternoon high necked dress with hat."  The men have been instructed to dress in uniform or "conventional civilian clothes."

Palermo's local citizens are very excited about the royal wedding.   The Duke of Guise, Prince Christopher of Greece, King Manoel and Queen Augusta Victoria of Portugal are all staying at the Palm, Hotel.   Infante Carlos of Spain, his wife, Princess Louise, and their two daughters, have returned to Spain to attend the Queen Mother's funeral.  Princess Louise is a cousin of the bride.
More royal guests are expected to by tomorrow, including Queen Mother Olga of Greece, former King George II,  Prince Andrew of Greece and his daughters, Princesses Margarita and Theodora,  Prince Paul and Princess Olga of Serbia, Prince and Princess Nicholas of Greece and Prince George of Greece.
Members of the Italian Royal family, including the Crown Prince, the Duke of Aosta, and Princess Adelaide of Savoy, are all expected on Sunday.

Prince Christopher, whose first wife, the very rich American Nancy Leeds, who died in 1923, and Princess Francoise, have been spotted visiting the "historical spots" in Palermo.  King Manoel and Queen Augusta Victoria have also spent time "touring around visiting interesting spots."

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