Wedding of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark

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Wedding of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark
Date29 November 1934
VenueWestminster Abbey
Buckingham Palace
LocationLondon, England
ParticipantsPrince George, Duke of Kent
Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark

The wedding of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark took place on Thursday, 29 November 1934 at Westminster Abbey. The Duke of Kent was the fourth son of King George V and Princess Mary of Teck, while Princess Marina was the youngest daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark and Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia. The couple were second cousins through mutual descent from King Christian IX of Denmark. As Princess Marina's cousin, Prince Philip, renounced his Greek and Danish titles prior to marrying Prince George's niece, then Princess Elizabeth, this is the most recent example of a marriage between a British prince or princess and a titled member of a foreign dynasty.

Engagement[]

The engagement between the Duke of Kent and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark was announced on 28 August 1934.[1][2] The news came as a surprise to the British public. The couple began courting after reconnecting at the home of Princess Marina's brother-in-law, Prince Paul of Yugoslavia, on Lake Bohinj in present-day Slovenia.[1] The Duke prested Princess Marina with a platinum ring with a 7-carat square Kashmir sapphire with two baguette diamonds on either side.[3] A first for a royal couple, they spoke to Movietone News shortly after announcing their engagement.[1][4]

Princess Marina and her parents arrived in Dover on board the ferry TSS Canterbury on 22 November.[5] The Princess and her parents, accompanied by her fiancé travelled to London where they were met at Victoria Station by the King and Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of York.

On the eve of the wedding, the couple and their parents attended a performance of the play Theatre Royal by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber at the Lyric Theatre.[6]

Wedding[]

The Duke of Kent and Princess Marina were married first in an Anglican service according to the Book of Common Prayer conducted by Cosmo Gordon Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury, assisted by William Foxley Norris, Dean of Westminster. It was the first British royal wedding to be broadcast live on the radio.[1] A second Greek Orthodox service was performed by Germanos Strenopoulos, Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain, in the Private Chapel at Buckingham Palace.

Attendants[]

The Duke of Kent was supported by his two eldest brothers, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York. Princess Marina was attended by eight bridesmaids:

Attire[]

Main article: Wedding dress of Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark
Princess Marina on her wedding day

Princess Marina wore a white silk and silver lamé brocade gown designed by Edward Molyneux. She wore a tulle veil with a diamond fringe tiara belonging to her mother.

The Duke of Kent wore ceremonial day dress of the Royal Navy with the insignia of the Order of the Garter, Order of St Michael and St George and the Royal Victorian Order.

Music[]

Prior to the service, works by Bach, Handel and Elgar were played on the organ. During the arrival of the groom, Trumpet Tune and Airs by Henry Purcell was played. The bride walked down the aisle to Sir Hubert Parry's bridal march from The Birds.[7] Hymns sung during the service include "Praise, my soul, the King of heaven." Ernest Bullock composed a new anthem specially for the wedding.[8] The ceremony finished with Felix Mendelssohn's "Wedding March"

Guests[]

Relatives of the groom[]

Relatives of the bride[]

Foreign royal guests[]

Other notable guests[]

Gifts[]

King George V presented his new daughter-in-law with a 36-stone diamond collet necklace which she wore on her wedding day. From Queen Mary, Princess Marina received a historic diamond and sapphire parure which had belonged to the Duchess of Cambridge. The City of London gave Princess Marina a diamond fringe tiara. Princess Nicholas gave her daughter a large diamond bow brooch.[10] The Australian Government sent two small cups made of Australian gold.[11] The Royal School of Needlework made a quilt for Princess Marina and the Duke of Kent.[12] The gifts were displayed at St James's Palace.[13]

Reception[]

A reception was held afterwards in the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace. Music at the reception was provided by the Royal Artillery Band.[14]

The couple received congratulations from various world leaders, including Adolf Hitler.[15]

Honeymoon[]

The couple spent their honeymoon at Himley Hall in Staffordshire.[16]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d Owens, Edward (2019). Family Firm: Monarchy, Mass Media and the British Public, 1932-53. London. ISBN 978-1-909646-95-7.
  2. ^ "Prince George Betrothed". Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent - The Stylish Princess". Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Prince George and Princess Marina talk to Movietone". Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Princess Marina Greeted in Britain". Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  6. ^ "Royal Party at Theatre". Kalgoorlie Miner. 30 November 1934. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  7. ^ "George, Duke of Kent, son of George V". Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  8. ^ "The Wedding Ceremony". Kalgoorlie Miner. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  9. ^ "70 facts about The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh's Wedding". Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent - The Stylish Princess". Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Australia's Wedding Gift". Kalgoorlie Miner. 30 November 1934. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Princess Marina's quilt". British Pathé. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  13. ^ "Wedding Gifts for The Duke of Kent & Princess Marina 1934". Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  14. ^ "The Wedding Ceremony". Kalgoorlie Miner. 30 November 1934. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  15. ^ "World-Wife Congratulation". Kalgoorlie Miner. 30 November 1934. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  16. ^ "Honeymoon At Himley Hall". The Times. 29 November 1934. p. 31.
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