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ROYAL WEDDINC
REJOICING IN ATHENS.
Picturesque Ceremonial.
ATHENS, Jan. 9.-Early this morning
a salvo of guns fired from a battery on
Mt. Lykabettos announced the wedding
day of Crown Prince Paul of Greece and
Princess Frederika of Hanover, a great
great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria.
Crowds filled the centre of the city early,
and squares and streets were blocked
with people long before the wedding pro-
cession was due to pass. Sellers of peri-
scopes did an enormous trade.
The firing of 21 guns announced the
departure of the bridal procession from
the royal palace at 9 o'clock for the
metropolitan cathedral. Twenty coaches
carried the royal guests, including the
Duke and Duchess of Kent (represent-
ing the King and Queen of England) who
had a great welcome last night at a gala
performance, and whose wedding present
is an antique table.
The crowd reserved a special ovation
for the Duchess of Kent who, as Prin-
cess Marina was always a favourite with
the public of Athens. Thunderous cheers
greeted her as she and the Duke drove
in a State coach which formerly belonged
to the Empress Eugenie.
The weather was overcast, with flurries
of snow.
The procession passed through the
trooplined streets of the city. The bride
presented a lovely picture as she drove
with her father in a State coach pre-
ceded and followed by cavalry. One Arch-
bishop of Athens performed the wedding
ceremony with the imposing ritual of the
Orthodox Church. After the ceremonial
blessing of rings the three best men
Crown Prince Michael of Rumanta, and
Prince Peter and Prince Philip of Greece
--held nuptial crowns of flowers over the
heads of the bride and bridegroom while
the words of the marriage serice were
said. Then came the chanting of hymns,
after which the Archbishop took the
hands of the Prince and his bride, while
the best man and the bridesmaids en-
circled three times the table at which the
ceremony was carried out. A sermon by
the Archbishop followed.
Gown Made in Munich.
The bridesmaids were Princess Cathe-
rine of Greece (who is Prince Paul's
youngest sister), Princess Eungenie
(who is his cousin), and Princess Her-
seleide of Prussia. Princess Frederika's
wedding gown was made in Munich and
was simple in cut, accentuating the beauty
of the material, which was shimmering
silver lame. It bad an 18-foot train,
ornamented with a circle of applique
flowers, also in lame, and bordered with
a roll of self-material which outlined the
V-sieck of the gown and fell aaay over
the shoulders. The sleeves were full
length. Princess Prederika's mother
wore a lace veil from head to fcet, her
father the uniform of a general of the
Germany army, the Duke of Kent a
naval uniform and the Duchess of Kent
a grey gown.
The procession returned to the palace.
where a Protestant service was performed
by a -German minister. Later an official
I reception was held. The ciurle will
i spend a few days at a villa neat Athens
which was recently purchased by the
Greek Government, and afterwards
will travel to a destination wnich has
not been disclosed.
Amnesty for Prisoners.
The Greek Government is issuing pos
tage stamps bearing portraits of the
Crown Prince and his bride, and is
granting an amnesty to first offenders
undergoing six months' imprisonment or
less.
It is stated that Prince Paul and Prin
cess Frederika met and fell in love at
e first sight when the Prince was return
- ing after attending the Coronation in
SLondon. His civil list allowance is
£8,000 sterling yearly. He is fond of
dancing and wears a hat only when in
uniform. Princess Frederika was edu
e cated at Broadstairs, in Kent, where she
- was known by her schoolmates as
'"Freddy."
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