Washington, D.C. – The great tapestried ballroom in the home of Mrs. William F. Draper
    of Hopedale, Mass, and Washington has been turned into a Catholic chapel for the
    wedding of Miss Margaret Preston Draper, her daughter, and Prince Andrea
    Boncompagni of Rome at noon tomorrow.
    American Beauty roses, white chrysanthemums, and quantities of the rarest ferns carry
    out the colors of Italy in the ballroom and drawing rooms, but the altar- which has been
    brought in from St. Patrick’s Church- before which the bride will stand, will show between
    a drapery or blanket of white roses 15 feet long.

    A throne has been erected and draped with cardinal red, from which Cardinal Gibbons
    will perform the marriage ceremony, while a special altar will serve for the Rev. Fr.
    Russell, who will celebrate a low nuptial mass. Especial arrangements have also been
    made for the large group of prominent Catholic clergymen who will lend dignity to the
    event.

    An organ has also been placed behind a lattice work of flowers in one corner of the
    ballroom, and will furnish the only music for the occasion. Thousands of American
    Beauty roses and white chrysanthemums have been used with green ferns to form the
    Italian colors, and there will also be hundreds of the rarest orchids placed to good
    advantage in the drawing rooms and dining room.
    The wedding breakfast will be served tomorrow with the cardinal and other churchmen,
    the Italian Ambassador and Countess Macchi de Cellere, the Russian Ambassador and
    Mme. Bakhmeteff, and members of the bridal party at the bride’s table, for which Mrs.
    Draper’s chef will provide the dainties.
    The guests will be served from the famous gold service presented to Miss Draper’s
    maternal grandmother, while her grandfather, Gen. William Preston of Kentucky was
    minister to Spain, and which was later used in Rome while the late Gen. Draper, the
    bride’s father, was ambassador to Italy, and from which many of the royalty of Europe
    and notable folk of this and the old world have dined.

    Miss Draper wore tonight at the prenuptial dinner given by her mother, the diamond
    coronet which was presented by Prince Boncompagni as a wedding present. It arrived
    from Italy by special carrier a few days ago, quite unexpected by the bride. With it she
    wore a rich gown of velvet from the Lyons looms of 50 years ago, and the pearl
    necklace of a single short strand, presented to her by her father the year she was
    presented at court in London.

    Mrs. Draper’s guests at dinner tonight, besides her daughter and Prince Boncompagni,
    were the Italian Ambassador and his wife, the Russian ambassador and his wife, the
    chief justice of the Supreme Court and Mrs. Edward Douglas White, who on Sunday
    served as proxy god-parents for the parents of the bridegroom at the baptism of Miss
    Draper at St. Patrick’s Church; Fr. Russell, who officiated on that occasion; Mr. and Mrs.
    Louis Curtis of Boston; Mr. and Mrs. Dana Osgood of Hopedale, Mass.; Miss Clover,
    who is to serve as maid of honor; the Misses Blair, who will be maids; Mr. Brambilla, the
    best man for the prince, and others to the number of 30. The Boston Herald, October
    25, 1916.

    Prince Andrea, Patrician of Rome Coscritto (recog 11 Jan 1934), Kt Hon & Dev
    of Sov Mil Order of Malta, b at Rome, 3 Feb. 1884; d at Montreaux, 10 Dec.
    1948, m 1stly at Washington, 25 Oct. 1916 (m anulled 8 Jan. and 25 Jan.
    1924), Margaret Preston Draper, b at Boston, 18 March 1891; m 2ndly at
    Abbazia, 4 Dec. 1924 Blancheflor de Bildt, of the Barons of Bildt, b at Siena, 1
    Sept. 1891 d at Rome, 9 June 1972

    Thanks to Peter Metzke of Melbourne, Australia for sending the paragraph
    above.. Peter also sent an interesting page from the New York Times on the
    current prince and princess.

    News articles on this page were copied from clippings at the Bancroft Memorial
    Library, Hopedale.

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Set Up Chapel for Wedding of Miss Draper

Great Ballroom of Washington Residence Transformed for

Marriage of Massachusetts Girl to Italian Prince

Cardinal Gibbons Will Perform Ceremony

Mrs. Draper Gives Pre-nuptial Dinner