Preparations are being made for the wedding tomorrow in Palermo, Sicily between Prince Henri, Count of Paris, and his cousin, Princess Isabelle of Orléans-Braganza.
Prince Henri, 22, is the son of the Duke of Guise, pretender to the French throne, and Isabelle, who will celebrate her 20th birthday in August, is the daughter of Prince Pedro of Orléans-Braganza, pretender to the Brazilian throne.
French law that forbids "any direct descendant of the former royal families ever again setting foot on French soil." When the young Count of Paris entered France "for the patriotic purpose of serving his term of military service," he was "immediately arrested and condemned to three months in imprisonment."
Palermo was selected because Prince Henri's family own a "magnificent palace,which has already been "the scene of three weddings of members of the family." The most recent wedding to take place in Palermo was the marriage of Henri's sister, Princess Francoise, to Prince Christopher of Greece.
Palermo was selected because Prince Henri's family own a "magnificent palace,which has already been "the scene of three weddings of members of the family." The most recent wedding to take place in Palermo was the marriage of Henri's sister, Princess Francoise, to Prince Christopher of Greece.
Wedding ceremony will take place at the Cathedral with "great pomp and solemnity. The witnesses for Prince Henri will be the King of Spain, represented by Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, son of Infanta Luisa of Spain, sister of the Duchess of Guise, and the Duke of Apulia, the son of the Duke and Duchess of Aosta. The Duchess of Aosta is the former Princess Helene d'Orléans. The Duke of Apulia is a cousin of the King of Italy.
Later tomorrow, the newly married Count and Countess of Paris will leave by "motor car for an unknown destination on their honeymoon.
1000 guests have been invited to the ceremony. The couple had first planned to marry in the private chapel at the Bourbon-Orléans palace, but then moved the wedding to the Cathedral in Palermo. The Archbishop of Palermo will officiate, after receiving special permission from the Vatican. Cardinal Lavitrano needed the Vatican's permission owing to the "large numbers of important members of the 'Action Francaise' group of French monarchists, who have been denounced by the Holy See.
