Biography of Princess Alice Countess Athlone 1883-1981

Times Newspaper Marriages. 28 Jan 1937. The Duke Of Norfolk And Miss Strutt.

Princess Alice Countess of Athlone (age 53) and [her husband] Major-General the Earl of Athlone (age 63), and Prince Arthur of Connaught (age 54) were present yesterday afternoon at the marriage at Brompton Oratory of the Duke of Norfolk, Premier Peer and Hereditary Earl Marshal of England, and the Hon. Lavinia Mary Strutt (age 20), only daughter of Lord Belper (age 53) and the Countess of Rosebery (age 44).

Princess Alice (age 53) wore a mink coat over a dress of burgundy-red crepe, with a small red hat to match.

The Oratory was decorated with four large stands of flowers, placed at the chancel steps. They were in mixed shades of red and included amaryllis lilies, poinsettia, anthuriums, roses, carnations, and red leaves. While the guests were arriving the organist played Mendelssohn's Allegretto from the Fourth Sonata, Elgar's Allegro Maestoso from the First Sonata, and the prelude and fugue in E flat, and the organ choral "Mortify us by Thy Goodness" by J. S. Bach.

The bride (age 20) arrived with her father, Lord Belper (age 53), and was loudly cheered by the crowd outside the Oratory, who broke through the police cordon. She walked up the nave to Handel's March from the Occasional Oratorio, and was met by Father Talbot and Father John Cuddon. Miss Strutt (age 20) wore a classically simple dress of silver lame, cut on straight sheath lines with long tight sleeves and a high round roll collar. The skirt just touched the ground and was continued at the back to form a long square train. She wore a girdle of silver cord knotted in front. Her long veil of white tulle fell from a simple coronet of orange-blossom and green leaves, and she carried a sheaf of arum lilies. She was followed by six little pages-Robin Herbert, Timothy Hunloke, Bob McCreery, John Scrope, George Vivian-Smith, and Michael Watt; and by six bridesmaids-Lady Katharine (age 25) and Lady Winefride Howard (age 23) (sisters of the bridegroom), Lady Anne Bridgeman (age 23), the Hon. Pamela Digby (age 16), Miss Gillian Drummond, and Miss Nancy Malcolmnson. The bridegroom's (age 28) racing colours, pale blue and scarlet, were introduced into the dresses and suits of the attendants. The pages were in pale blue satin suits piped with scarlet, and the bridesmaids wore dresses of sky-blue corded crepe, with touches of scarlet at the waistline. They had high rounded necklines with long bell sleeves and their headdresses of red bavardia were massed in front. They carried bouquets of red flowers, including tulips, amaryllis lilies, carnations, and euphorbia. The bridegroom gave them brooches showing his and his bride's initials in rubies and diamonds. The Earl of Eldon (age 37) was best man.

The marriage service was very short and non-choral, as the bride (age 20) is not a Roman Catholic. After they had plighted their troth Father Ronald Knox gave an address from the centre of the transept. The bride (age 20) and bridegroom (age 28) remained kneeling at the chancel steps, facing the altar. They then went in procession to the vestry, where the registrar, Mr. J. P. Bond, conducted the civil ceremony.

Afterwards the bride (age 20) and bridegroom (age 28) left for 38, Mayfair (the residence of the Earl of Rosebery (age 55)), where the Countess of Rosebery (age 44) held a reception. The bride (age 20) went away for the honeymoon in a dress of black and red shot silk taffeta, under a broadtail coat with a fur cap to match.

Among those present at the Oratory were:

The Earl (age 55) and Countess of Rosebery (age 44).

The Duchess of Norfolk (age 60).

Lady Rachel Howard (age 32).

Lady Belper.

the Hon. Alexander (age 24) and the Hon. Michael Strutt (age 23), the Hon. Mrs. Parry-Evans. Mr. and the Hon. Mrs. Vernon Malcolmsonson, Lord and Lady Aberdare, the Hon. Margaret Strutt, the Hon. Mrs. Frank Hormsby, etc.