Thursday, February 10, 2022

The marriage of the Queen

February 10, 1840


Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were married today at noon at the Chapel Royal, St. James's Palace reports The Times, which also notes that this wedding is a "most important and national event."

The Times correspondent also notes that "since the marriage of Her Royal Highness the late Princess Charlotte of Wales, there has been no occurrence connected with the Royal Family of England which excited so great an interest.

Every "public approach" to Buckingham Palace was crowded with well-wishers, loyal subjects, "anxious to obtain, if possible, a view of the bridal procession."

His Royal Highness Prince Albert emerged from the Palace to cheers. He was escorted to St. James's by a "small escort of Horse Guards," and he was accompanied by his father, the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and his older brother, Prince Ernst.  Sadly for the crowd, the "windows of the carriages" were closed, and the royal party "were only partially  recognized."

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 At a quarter past twelve, the band in front of Buckingham Palace struck up "God save the Queen," and there were "tremendous shouts" from the crowd.  Queen Victoria was entering her carriage, ready to leave for St. James's "to plight her troth" to His Royal Highness Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

She was "most enthusiastically cheered" as the carriage traveled the short distance to the Chapel Royal. Members of the Royal family gathered at the front of the chapel to witness the event.  The Queen's mother, the Duchess of Kent, sat on her left, and on Prince Albert's right, the Dowager Queen Adelaide sat. The Dukes of Sussex and Cambridge were on the Queen's "extreme left," and to Prince Albert's extreme right, the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the Hereditary Duke, and Their Royal Highnesses, the Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge,  Princess Augusta and Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge.

The floor of the chapel was covered with "rich purple and gold carpeting."




At half-past 11, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and the Bishop of London took their places behind the altar.  Several minutes before noon, the Dowager Queen entered the Chapel and was escorted to her seat. She wore a "robe of rich silk purple velvet trimmed with ermine."


Prince Albert's procession entered the church at 12:25 p.m., following a trumpet fanfare.  Another fanfare announced Queen Victoria's procession, which included pages of honor, the Lord High Chamberlain, the Garter at Arms, the Earl Marshal and members of the Royal Family, Her Highness, Princess Sophia Mathilda of Gloucester, Her Royal Highness Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, Her Royal Highness Princess Augusta of Cambridge, His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge,  Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge, Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester, Her Royal Highness the Princess Augusta, His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge and His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex.

The Queen's train was carried by 12 unmarried Ladies: Lady Adelaide Paget, Lady Sarah Villiers, Lady Frances Cowper, Lady Elizabeth West, Lady Mary Grimston, Lady Eleanora Paget,  Lady Caroline Lennox, Lady Elizabeth Howard, Lady Ida Hay, Lady Catherine Stanhope, Lady Jane Bouverie, and Lady Mary Howard.

Princess Sophia Mathilda was cheered.  Princess Augusta of Cambridge "excited general admiration by her affability and beauty."  Her Aunt, Princess Augusta was cheered.  Although the Duchess of Gloucester's name appeared in the official details of the ceremony, she was "confined by a severe cold to her house" for the last two weeks.

The Duchess of Cambridge led her young daughter, Princess Mary, by the hand, and "the mother of so beautiful a child was certainly not to be without interest."

There was also "every sympathy" for the bride's mother, the Duchess of Kent, who appeared "somewhat disconsolate and distressed."  The Duke of Sussex, who gave the bride away, was in "excellent spirits."

Lord Melbourne carried the sword of state, but The Times noted that "little attention was paid to him.  Queen Victoria was next to come down the aisle, "looking anxious and excited,"  She also looked "paler than usual."

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 Victoria wore a dress of "rich white satin, trimmed with orange-flowers blossoms."  On her head, was a wreath of orange blossoms, over which, "but not to conceal her face, a beautiful veil of Honiton lace was thrown."  Her bridesmaids and train bears were "similarly attired but without veils.



The Queen wore no jewels, apart from the collar of the Garter.

The couple exchanged their vows, according to the rites of the Church of England. When the Archbishop of Canterbury asked "Who giveth this woman to this man?" the Duke of Sussex, one of the Queen's surviving uncles, stood up, walked to the altar, and took the Queen's hand, and responded: "I do."

The service continued with the exchange of rings.  Prince Albert said: "With this ring, I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow; in name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."

After the ceremony, members of the Royal Family gathered at the altar to offer their congratulations to the newlyweds.  The Duke of Sussex shook his niece's hand, "which appeared to have a little ceremony, but with cordiality in it. He also kissed her cheek.


Queen Victoria quickly walked over to the other side of the altar where Queen Adelaide was standing and kissed her.

Prince Albert joined her and took Victoria's hand. The newlyweds left the chapel to return to Buckingham Palace for the wedding breakfast, which was attended by the Royal family, Albert's father, and brother.

After breakfast, preparations were made for the newlyweds' departure for Windsor.  Queen Victoria and Prince Albert left the palace at 3:45 p.m., for the journey to Windsor.

The Queen's wedding dress was "of white satin, with a very deep trimming of Honiton lace, in a design similar to that of the veil.  The body and sleeves were richly trimmed with the same material to correspond. The train was of white sating, and was also lined with white satin trimmed with orange blossoms."   The satin was made in Spitalfields.


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2 comments:

Merlin said...

Victoria's Half-siblings and their children were present?

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

No .. travel would have been too difficult