Friday, November 5, 2010

Tears for Astrid as she leaves Sweden

Embed from Getty Images 

 November 5, 1926

Princess Astrid of Sweden, standing "almost alone on the deck of the Swedish cruiser Fylgia," was unable to hide the tears that came as the warship steamed out Malmo's harbor today to take her to Belgium to join her husband, Crown Prince Leopold.

The AP reports that the "tears were brought on seemingly by a realization that she was leaving her native land for an adopted one."  There were also tears of joy  over the "warmth of the farewells of a great crowd that had gathered to see her depart."   She was also able to witness the departure of her Danish relatives aboard a ferry.  King Christian X stood on the deck, "earnestly waving his hand."

As the Fylgia was no longer in sight, a final roar of "guns in salute" was heard, the last official "word" for the first part of the royal wedding.

Princess Astrid and Crown Prince Leopold were married yesterday in a civil ceremony at the palace in Stockholm.
Princess Astrid's father, Prince Carl, all the bridesmaids and ushers, and Crown Prince Olav of Norway are all en route to Flushing, where they will join the Princess and her mother aboard the Fylgia for the trip to Antwerp.

One of the Princess's bridesmaids is a "school chum of whom she is extremely fond." The young woman works as a stenographer in a government office, and she was not in a position to be able to afford "an expensive outfit or remain away from her work for the trip to Brussels."

At his daughter's request, Prince Carl called on the young woman's boss, and "made arrangements for a fortnight's holiday."  She also received all she needed in "the way of expenses and attire for the ceremonial."  She, too, is on her way to Brussels for the religious wedding. 

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