Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Friday 10 April 1953, page 3


Royal playmates wed in splendor

Luxemburg, Thursday

BELGIUM'S fairy-tale Princess Josephine-

Charlotte was married here today to her childhood playmate, handsome Prince Jean of Luxemburg.

The marriage took place amid a medieval setting of Royal pageantry such as postwar Europe has seldom seen.

Nearly every Royal House in Europe was represented among the guests.

An invasion of nearly 150,000 sightseers from Bel-gium, France, the Nether-lands, and Germany more than tripled tiny Luxem-burg's population.

One notable absentee was Britain's Princess Margaret. Her planned attendance was cancelled because of the death of her grandmother, Queen Mary.

But an imposing Royal roster included one reigning king, two ex-kings, a reign-ing queen, and 21 Royal princesses.

In addition, there was a postwar record gathering of archdukes, archduchesses, and other minor Royalty and nobility.

"Gorgeous lace"

The wedding ceremony was celebrated at 10 a.m., in the 300-year-old Cathedral of Notre Dame, following a private civil ceremony per-formed by Mayor Emile Shamilius, at the nearby Grand Ducal Palace.

The pretty, blue-eyed Princess wore a gown of white facille organza and tulle, with a train of gor-geous Brussels lace.

Her veil was held in place by a platinum coronet set with 850 diamonds from the Belgian Congo.-U.P.