Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's Wedding

The First White Wedding

Mar 21, 2010
Karl Leon Ciccone

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's Wedding - Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Until the nineteenth century people generally married in their Sunday clothes, but when Queen Victoria wore white at her wedding - she was said to have started a trend.

The wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert was arranged for the 10th February, 1840, at the Chapel Royal in St. James’ Palace, London. Until then, it was customary for royals to marry late at night - thus avoiding public crowds - but the young couple broke with tradition by setting the time for 1pm. The public came from every corner of London to see the royal wedding procession - in spite of the weather. The morning was wet and windy, but luckily the sun broke through just as they were about to leave Buckingham Palace.

Queen Victoria's White Wedding Dress

The queen was dressed in a white satin gown - trimmed with orange blossoms. The white veil which she wore down to cover her face, was made with lace from Honiton, Devon - Victoria was a particular fan of their products, and she wore the veil beneath a wreath of orange flower blossoms which had been designed for her headdress.

She wore an amulet bearing the motto of the Order of the Garter: ‘Honi soit mal y pense’ - with the Star of the Order. Her jewellery included a diamond necklace, diamond earrings, and a beautiful sapphire brooch which Albert had given to her as a wedding gift the previous evening.

Twenty-one guns fired the royal salute to announce Victoria’s departure from the palace. Albert’s carriage departed first - accompanied with his father the Duke of Coburg and his elder brother, Ernst. The bride's carriage followed. Victoria was accompanied by her mother – the Duchess of Kent, and by the Duchess of Sutherland - her Mistress of the Robes. The royal carriages were escorted by the queen’s guardsmen, various ministers, other members of the royal family, and Lord Melbourne - her Whig Prime Minister, who all followed on after behind the procession.

Florence Nightingale was in the Crowds

As they left Buckingham Palace, the procession was greeted by a multitude of cheering crowds, including a young Florence Nightingale. The public - who had waited in anticipation for the entire morning, despite the weather, filled the adjacent St. James’ Park and spectators lined the short distance along The Mall - between Buckingham Palace and the Chapel Royal, shouting encouragement to the young Victoria amidst the sound of the bands. Over 21,000 tickets had been sold for the best views and most of the well-to-do folk and upper-class members of society occupied the balconies of the magnificent Georgian buildings along The Mall.

The Duke of Sussex walks Victoria down the Aisle

Trumpeters heralded the queen’s arrival as she dismounted the carriage to enter the church. Due to the fact that her father - the Duke of Kent had died when she was a baby, her uncle - the Duke of Sussex (who was present at her birth) escorted her down the aisle to give her away, and twelve bridesmaids wearing white with red roses walked on behind carrying her train.

Inside the church were all of the ambassadors, ministers, and aristocracy - including Queen Adelaide - the Queen Dowager, who was the widow of Victoria’s predecessor and uncle, King William IV. Albert was already waiting by the gilt altar, where the Duke of Sussex gave her away.

Albert wore a red Field Marshall’s uniform with the Order of the Garter - the military and honorary ranks the queen had bestowed on him the previous evening. The Archbishop of Canterbury conducted the ceremony, and it was said that Victoria never took her eyes away from Albert. Their vows were well rehearsed and there were no comical mistakes in exchanging them. The bride and bridegroom left the chapel together, and returned to Buckingham Palace in the same carriage.

Political Opposition to the Royal Marriage

Three hundred people filled the Chapel Royal, but political gossip centred around the fact that Victoria had only invited certain political figures, and among the guests the queen had only invited five Whigs. Lord Melbourne had requested that she invite more, but Victoria was adamant that she would only have those with whom she felt comfortable.

After Victoria and Albert's wedding ceremony they returned to Buckingham through the hoards of crowds and he led her into the palace - where her ministers and the entire royal household were there to receive them. The wedding meal was delightful and Victoria sat between her husband and the Duke of Sussex to enjoy the magnificent wedding cake that followed. After the meal, Victoria was congratulated by Lord Melbourne, and she prepared to leave Buckingham with Albert for their honeymoon at Windsor Castle.