Chapter 419: Earl Hardy

October 16.

Princess Margaret and Viscount Hardy held a charmingly simple yet grand engagement ceremony. They began at Westminster Abbey for the bishop's blessing, then traveled by float to Buckingham Palace, greeted by enthusiastic crowds.

The engagement was attended by British royalty, nobility, cabinet members, and numerous reporters. As only an engagement, no distant friends were invited—those would be included at the wedding, which is expected to be a grand affair.

King George VI, though frail, attended and offered his blessings. His passing just five days later intensified the urgency of the engagement. With his death, Princess Elizabeth ascended to the throne as Queen Elizabeth II, officially titled "Trust God Hun, the queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and other territories and territories, the head of the Commonwealth, and the protector of Christianity."

During this transitional period, the royal family was occupied with George VI's funeral and Elizabeth's coronation. The royal ceremonial team also prepared for Hardy's knighthood, which led to his elevation from Viscount to Earl. Hardy was granted a 3,000-acre estate in Berkshire, not far from Windsor Castle. Though modest, it suited the occasion, given Hardy's upcoming marriage to Princess Margaret.

In early November 1952, Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected President of the United States. Hardy attended the celebration reception, where Eisenhower, recognizing Hardy's support during his campaign, expressed his wish to attend the wedding despite the distance.

Returning to Los Angeles, Hardy reassured his partners, including Ava Gardner, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Elena, and Elizabeth Taylor, each of whom had their own reactions to his marriage plans.

On December 18, 1952, the grand wedding took place. Margaret, radiant in a wedding dress designed by Norman and a Cartier crown, walked down the aisle at Westminster Abbey. The ceremony, attended by dignitaries from around the world, was even more spectacular than Queen Elizabeth's wedding.

Following the ceremony, Hardy and Margaret enjoyed a carriage ride through cheering crowds before returning to Buckingham Palace for a lavish cocktail party that mingled British aristocracy with Hollywood stars.

The newlyweds settled into a castle Margaret had inherited from her father, which had been renovated for their new life together. Their honeymoon in the Cayman Islands provided a relaxed escape from royal duties. Margaret, though pregnant, enjoyed shopping with Elizabeth Taylor, reflecting a blend of their personal lives and public personas.

As Hardy and Margaret navigated their new roles, they balanced the grandeur of their public lives with their private desires, facing the complexities of royal traditions and personal affection.