THE BETROTHAL OF PRINCESS MARY.

AN EARLY WEDDING.

Innumerable congratulatory messages on the betrothal of Princess Mary to Viscount Lascelles were received yesterday at Buckingham Palace, and there was a continuous stream of callers anxious to inscribe their names in the visitors’ book. It is announced that Princess Mary and Lord Lascelles will be present with the King and-queen when their Majesties visit the London Hippodrome tomorrow for the Royal performance in aid of the Variety Artists’ Benevolent Fund.

No official information is available as to the probable date of the wedding, or in regard to any further details, than was contained in the announcement issued from the Palace on Tuesday night, but there is (the Press Association says) reason to believe that there will be no prolonged engagement. It is natural to expect that the marriage will take place either before the commencement of the coming Lenten season or immediately after the return of the Prince of Wales from his Eastern tour. Present prospects are in favour of the earlier date, so that when an official announcement is forthcoming it may be expected that a date fairly early in the coming year will be decided upon, and that the ceremony will not wait for the Prince’s return. “A spring wedding,” the same agency added late last night, “is highly probable.”

Though the attachment between Princess Mary and Viscount Lascelles, with the probability of a formal engagement, has not been generally known, it has not been by any means a secret in Court circles. Lord Lascelles and his future bride have been seeing a great deal of each other for some time past. Both have been invited to parties at various country houses, and Lord Lascelles has been staying with the Royal family at Sandringham. To those more closely connected with the Royal family the only surprise is that an announcement was not decided upon at an earlier date.