Queen Victoria married her true love, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in 1840.
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| Queen Victoria in her wedding dress. |
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| The wedding ceremony. |
Initial Prospects of Marriage
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| Prince Alexander of Orange, a prospective groom for the future queen. |
As early as 1836, the duchess of Kent, and her brothers King Leopold
and the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, was keen to wed off Victoria with
Prince Albert, the duke’s second son. Thus, in May 1836, a
carefully arranged meeting took place between the cousins when the
Duke and his two sons paid a visit to the duchess and her daughter in
Kensington Palace.
King William IV, however, detested the match and the visit since he
wanted Victoria to marry Prince Alexander of Orange.
Lord Melbourne Urges Queen Victoria to Marry Prince Albert
Not too long after she ascended, Lord Melbourne advised the young
queen to marry to set herself free from her mother, the Duchess of
Kent. As a matter of fact, her letters that time were filled with
interest in Albert’s education and role it would play should he
take him as her husband. But marriage plans did not push through
until 1839.
Baron Stockmar Comes to Prince Albert’s Aid
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| The Baron Stockmar, one of the finest statesmen of Europe during his time and Prince Albert's mentor and confidante. |
Queen Victoria proposes for marriage to Prince Albert
On Oct. 10, 1839, Prince Albert traveled to London with his brother
Ernest to visit the Queen Victoria, with the plan of finally settling
the marriage. On Oct. 15, Queen Victoria proposed to him after their
first meeting; as queen, Victoria could not receive a proposal.
The Queen was delightful to know that Prince Albert felt the same for
her as she had for him. Prince Albert later sent her a letter, saying
that “even in my dreams I never imagined that I should find so much
love on Earth.”
Queen Victoria marries Prince Albert
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha were married at
the Chapel Royal in St. James’s Palace on Feb. 10, 1840, the queen
being entirely dressed of British manufacture.
In contrast with the rich display of verging on ostentation shown by
her predecessors, Queen Victoria’s wedding gown was a note of
simplicity. Her dress of white Spitalfields satin with a low
neckline, fitted bodice, and full-pleated skirt was indeed a
highlight of any Victorian wedding theme.
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| The newly wed couple walk hand in hand after their wedding ceremony. |
She popularized the notion of wearing orange blossom on the wedding
and her wedding dress was a display of originality – her gown was
trimmed by bobbin Honiton lace and her face was concealed by a
wedding veil, the popularity of which designers credited to her.
But Victoria chose to be married at midday so the public could enjoy
the spectacle. Her wedding cake was a sight to behold; it stood 9
feet tall and measured 16 inches wide.
After the wedding, the Queen and Prince Albert embarked on a short
honeymoon, which, as she described to Lord Melbourne, “was the most
gratifying and bewildering night,” with Albert. Nine months later,
Queen Victoria bore their first child and they went on to have nine
children.
Read more about Queen Victoria's wedding on the following resources:
Family feuds, an ardent love affair and a 9ft wedding cake: the real story of Queen Victoria by Claire Bates (Publish in The Daily Mail)
Queen Victoria, by Lytton Strachey, Chapter IV: Marriage
Queen Victoria's Marriage to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
Victorian Wedding: Queen Victoria Wedding
Queen Victoria's Wedding Dress: The One that Started it All
Wedding Dresses, and What They Meant (National Geographic)
Queen Victoria's Wedding, or Why Women Wear White
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