by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2019

The Marriage of the Duke of Connaught by Sydney Pryor Hall – The bride is approaching the altar, escorted by her father Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia and Crown Prince Friedrich of Prussia. The bridegroom awaits her, accompanied by his two older brothers and Queen Victoria; Credit – Royal Collection Trust

Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia married on March 13, 1879, at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle in Windsor, England.

• Unofficial Royalty: St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, England

Arthur’s Early Life

The First of May 1851 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter commemorates the 1st birthday of Prince Arthur, and the 82nd birthday of Arthur’s godfather Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, and the opening day of the Great Exhibition, which was organized by Prince Albert. The painting shows Prince Arthur and his parents, the Duke of Wellington offering a gift to Prince Arthur, and The Crystal Palace, site of the Great Exhibition in the background; Credit – Wikipedia

Prince Arthur was born on May 1, 1850, at Buckingham Palace in London, England, the third son of the four sons and the seventh of the nine children of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Arthur was educated by private tutors. In 1866, at the age of 16, Arthur entered the Royal Military College, Woolwich. He graduated two years later and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Corps of Royal Engineers. During his forty-year military career in the British Army, Arthur participated in many missions in various parts of the British Empire. On his mother’s birthday, May 24, 1874, Arthur was created a royal peer, with the titles Duke of Connaught and Strathearn and Earl of Sussex.

To learn more about Arthur, see Unofficial Royalty: Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught

Louise Margaret’s Early Life

Princess Luise Margarete of Prussia; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Luise Margarete of Prussia was born on July 25, 1860, at the Marmorpalais (Marble Palace), a royal residence in Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia, now in Brandenburg, Germany. She was the fourth of the four daughters and the fourth of the five children of Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia and Princess Maria Anna of Anhalt-Dessau. Prince Friedrich Karl’s father, Prince Karl of Prussia, was a younger son of King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia and a brother of King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia and Wilhelm I, German Emperor and King of Prussia. Luise Margarete’s mother was also descended from Prussian kings as her great-grandfather was King Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia.

Luise Margarete’s parents had an unhappy marriage. After the birth of Luise Margarete, the fourth daughter, Prince Friedrich Karl reportedly beat his wife for not producing a son. Apparently, only the urgings of Friedrich Karl’s uncle King Wilhelm I of Prussia prevented a formal separation. Finally, five years after the birth of Luise Margarete, a son was born.

Upon her marriage, her name was anglicized to Louise Margaret.

To learn more about Louise Margaret, see Unofficial Royalty: Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia, Duchess of Connaught

The Engagement

Prince Arthur, 1st Duke of Connaught and Strathearn; Princess Louise, Duchess of Connaught (née Princess of Prussia) after Léon Abraham Marius Joliot, albumen carte-de-visite, 1870s, NPG Ax131371© National Portrait Gallery, London

In 1878, Arthur met Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia on a visit to his eldest sister Victoria, German Crown Princess and Crown Princess of Prussia. Louise Margaret was friendly with the Crown Princess and her eldest daughter Charlotte. Arthur wrote to his mother, “I must say I thought her rather pretty.” Queen Victoria considered Louise Margaret to be a less than satisfactory possible bride for her son. She was plain-looking and had bad teeth. Her parents were unpleasant, had an unhappy marriage, and lived apart from each other. Victoria wanted to avoid associating her family with a possible scandal.

Upon returning home, Arthur had a conversation with his mother and Queen Victoria wrote about that conversation in her diary: “Dear Arthur arrived and stopped with us while we were taking tea. Afterward remained talking with me a little while, and told me that he had taken a great liking to young Louise of Prussia, Fritz Carl’s youngest daughter, who was brought up by an English governess…He said he did not wish to marry yet, and no one had breathed a word about it, but he liked her better and better, and meant, if I had no objection, to ask to see her this summer again. I could not help saying that I dislike the Prussians and told him he should see others first, but he said it would make no difference. What could I then say, but that, of course, his happiness was the first thing? He assured me he liked her better than anyone he had seen, but that he would not do anything without my consent, and looked so sad and earnest, yet so dear and gentle, that, having heard nothing but good of the girl, I could not object.”

Arthur’s eldest sister wrote to her mother: “I could not choose for a sister-in-law anyone I like better than Louise. She will make Arthur a most delightful wife. Each is the complement of the other, and I foresee that each will make the other supremely happy.”

When Queen Victoria met Louise Margaret, she became more positive and the engagement was announced. The Queen admitted to her diary, “Had I seen Louischen before Arthur spoke to me about his feelings, I should not have grieved him by hesitating for a moment in giving my consent. She is a dear, sweet girl of the most amiable and charming character…I am sure dear Arthur could not have chosen more wisely.”

Wedding Site

Embed from Getty Images 

St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England was begun in 1475 by King Edward IV and completed by King Henry VIII in 1528.  It is a separate building and located in the Lower Ward of Windsor Castle. The chapel seats about 800 people and has been the location of many royal ceremonies, weddings, funerals, and burials. Members of the Order of the Garter meet at Windsor Castle every June for the annual Garter Service held at St. George’s Chapel.

There had been no royal weddings at St. George’s Chapel until 1863 when Queen Victoria’s eldest son, the future King Edward VII, married Princess Alexandra of Denmark. Four more of Queen Victoria’s children were married at St. George’s Chapel and it has become a popular site for royal weddings.

Wedding Guests

Royal Guests

• Queen Victoria, the groom’s mother
• The Prince of Wales, the groom’s brother, the future King Edward VII
• The Princess of Wales, the groom’s sister-in-law, born Princess Alexandra of Denmark
• Prince Albert Victor of Wales, the groom’s nephew
• Prince George of Wales, the groom’s nephew, the future King George V
• Princess Louise of Wales, the groom’s niece
• Princess Victoria of Wales, the groom’s niece
• Princess Maud of Wales, the groom’s niece
• Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the groom’s brother
• The Duchess of Edinburgh, the groom’s sister-in-law, born Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia
• Crown Princess Victoria of Germany and Prussia, the groom’s sister Victoria, Princess Royal
• Crown Prince Friedrich of Germany and Prussia, the groom’s brother-in-law and the bride’s second cousin, the future Friedrich III, German Emperor and King of Prussia
• Prince Wilhelm of Prussia, the groom’s nephew, the future Wilhelm II, German Emperor and King of Prussia
• Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, the groom’s sister Princess Helena
• Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, the groom’s brother-in-law
• Princess Helena Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein, the groom’s niece
• Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein, the groom’s niece
• Princess Beatrice, the groom’s sister
• Prince George, 2nd Duke of Cambridge, the groom’s first cousin once removed
• Duchess of Teck, born Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, the groom’s first cousin once removed
• Duke Francis of Teck, husband of the Duchess of Teck
• Princess Victoria Mary of Teck, the groom’s second cousin, the future Queen Mary, wife of King George V
• Prince Adolphus of Teck, the groom’s second cousin
• Prince Francis of Teck, the groom’s second cousin
• Prince Alexander of Teck, the groom’s second cousin
• Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia, the bride’s father
• Princess Friedrich Karl of Prussia, the bride’s mother, born Princess Maria Anna of Anhalt-Dessau
• Prince Friedrich Leopold of Prussia, the bride’s brother
• Leopold II, King of the Belgians, the groom’s first cousin once removed
• Marie Henriette, Queen of the Belgians, wife of King Leopold II, born Archduchess Marie Henriette of Austria
• Ernst, 4th Prince of Leiningen, first cousin of the groom
• Prince Philip of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the groom’s second cousin
• Princess Philip of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, wife of Prince Philip, born Princess Louise of Belgium, the groom’s second cousin
• Princess August of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the groom’s first cousin once removed
• Princess August of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, wife of Prince August, born Princess Clémentine of Orléans
• Maharajah Duleep Singh and his wife Maharani Bamba
• Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar

Invited Guests

(Some spouses were in attendance and/or in the processions)

• Frances Gordon-Lennox, Duchess of Richmond
• Francis Russell, 9th Duke of Bedford and Elizabeth Russell, Duchess of Bedford
• Frances Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough
• Charles FitzGerald, 4th Duke of Leinster and Caroline FitzGerald, Duchess of Leinster
• Arthur Wellesley, 2nd Duke of Wellington
• George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 3rd Duke of Sutherland and Anne Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, Duchess of Sutherland
• Rear-Admiral Prince Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, Count Gleichen, first cousin of the groom
• Georgina Gascoyne-Cecil, Marchioness of Salisbury
• Emily Seymour, Marchioness of Hertford
• Henry Moore, 3rd Marquess of Drogheda and Mary Moore, Marchioness of Drogheda
• Thomas Taylour, 3rd Marquess of Headfort and Emily Taylour, Marchioness of Headfort
• Jane Loftus, Dowager Marchioness of Ely
• James Butler, 3rd Marquess of Ormonde
• Spencer Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington
• Constance Bruce, Countess of Elgin
• Mary Louise Bruce, Dowager Countess of Elgin
• William Edgcumbe, 4th Earl of Mount Edgcumbe
• John Scott, 4th Earl of Clonmell
• Selina Bridgeman, Countess of Bradford
• Mary Lygon, Countess Beauchamp
• William Hare, 3rd Earl of Listowell and Ernestine Hare, Countess of Listowel
• Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville and Castila Leveson-Gower, Countess Granville
• John Townshend, 3rd Viscount Sydney and Emily Townshend, Countess Sydney
• Mary Cairns, Countess Cairns
• General Alexander Hood, 1st Viscount Bridport
• Jane Gathorne-Hardy, Viscountess Cranbrook
• General Robert Napier, 1st Baron Napier of Magdala
• Lieutenant-General Lord Alexander Russell and Lady Russell
• Major C. T. Bunbury
• Major E. Harvey
• Captain E. J. Harvey
• Lieutenant and Adjutant Charles Norcott
• Lady Constance Stanley
• The Honorable Mrs. Gerald Wellesley
• The Honorable Mrs. Alfred Egerton
• The Honorable Lady Ponsonby
• Lady Northcote
• Lady Elphinstone
• Mademoiselle Norelle, French tutor to Queen Victoria’s children
• Sir William Jenner, 1st Baronet, Physician in Ordinary to Queen Victoria
• Sir Henry Keppel, Admiral of the Fleet
• General Sir Lintorn Simmonds, Inspector General of Fortifications
• Lieutenant-General Sir C. L. D’Aguilar
• Lieutenant-General William Parke
• Lieutenant-Colonel George Ashley Maude, Crown Equerry of the Royal Mews
• Mr. Frederick Gibbs, former tutor to The Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred
• Mr. Francis Knollys, Private Secretary to The Prince of Wales
• Mr. Montagu Corry, Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli’s private secretary
• Mr. Theodore Martin, Scottish poet, biographer, and translator.
• Major-General Radcliffe
• Colonel E. Butler
• Colonel Robert Hale
• Staff Captain Thomson
• Commander H. Pearson
• Lieutenant-Colonel James Ward
• Captain Isham Edwards
• Reverend Canon C. F. Tarver, former tutor to The Prince of Wales
• Reverend Canon Henry Mildred Birch, Chaplain to The Prince of Wales
• Reverend Canon Richard Gee, Vicar of New Windsor
• Reverend Canon Robinson Duckworth, tutor to Prince Leopold
• Reverend John Neale Dalton, tutor to Prince Albert Victor of Wales and Prince George of Wales
• Mr. Frederick Campbell
• Mr. R. R. Holmes, Librarian of Windsor Castle
• Mr. Holzmann, Private Secretary to the Princess of Wales
• Mr. A. B. Mitford, British diplomat, collector and writer
• Mr. Hermann Sahl, Librarian and German Secretary to Queen Victoria
• Dr. Douglas Argyll Robertson, Surgeon Oculist to Queen Victoria
• John Webb, Mayor of Windsor
• Mr. Doyne C. Bell
• Mr. Edward Corbould, instructor of historical painting to Queen Victoria and her family
• Mr. Du Pasquier, Apothecary to the Royal Household
• Mr. James Ellison
• Mr. Samuel Evans
• Dr. T. Fairbanks
• Miss Ferari
• Mr. Charles Hallé, pianist and conductor
• Dr. William Carter Hoffmeister – Surgeon to Queen Victoria
• Mr. Sydney Prior Hall, British portrait painter and illustrator, who was commanded by Queen Victoria to make sketches of the wedding for a future painting
• Dr. Alexander Profeit, Commissioner of Works at Balmoral Castle
• Mr. White

The Queen’s Household

• Elizabeth Wellesley, Duchess of Wellington, Mistress of the Robes
• Susanna Innes-Kerr, Duchess of Roxburghe, Lady of the Bedchamber in Waiting
• The Honorable Mary Pitt, Maid of Honor in Waiting
• The Honorable Amy Lambart, Maid of Honor in Waiting
• The Honorable Mrs. Ferguson of Pitfour, Bedchamber Woman in Waiting
• Frederick Lygon, 6th Earl Beauchamp, Lord Steward
• General Francis Seymour, 5th Marquess of Hertford, Lord Chamberlain
• Orlando Bridgeman, 3rd Earl of Bradford, Master of the Horse
• Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Ponsonby, Private Secretary and Keeper of the Privy Purse
• Lord Henry Thynne, Treasurer of the Household
• Hugh Seymour, Earl of Yarmouth, Comptroller of the Household
• George Barrington, 7th Viscount Barrington, Vice-Chamberlain
• General George Upton, 3rd Viscount Templetown, Gold Stick in Waiting
• Charles Yorke, 5th Earl of Hardwicke, Master of the Buckhounds
• Colonel Sir John Cowell, Master of the Household
• Cornwallis Maude, 4th Viscount Hawarden, Lord in Waiting
• Major C. E. Phipps, Groom in Waiting
• General Sir Francis Seymour, Baronet, Master of the Ceremonies
• Lieutenant-General Lord Alfred Paget, Clerk Marshal
• Major-General Lord Charles Fitzroy, Equerry in Waiting
• Colonel The Honorable H. W. J. Byng, Equerry in Waiting
• Mr. Henry Erskine of Cardross, Groom of the Robes
• Lieutenant-Colonel C. W. Duncombe, Silver Stick in Waiting
• Colonel R. H. White, Field Officer in Brigade Waiting
• The Honorable S. Ponsonby-Fane, Comptroller in the Lord Chamberlain’s Department
• Count Albert Edward Gleichen, Page of Honor
• The Honorable Victor Spencer, Page of Honor
• Mr. Conway Seymour, Gentleman Usher in Waiting
• Mr. Alpin Macgregor, Gentleman Usher in Waiting
• Mr. James Bontein, Gentleman Usher in Waiting
• Captain C. G. Nelson, Gentleman Usher in Waiting
• Captain A. J. Loftus, Gentleman Usher in Waiting
• Sir Albert Woods, Garter King of Arms
• Mr. George Cokayne, Lancaster Herald
• Mr. John de Havilland, York Herald

Attendants on the Bridegroom

• Colonel Sir Howard Elphinstone, Comptroller of the Household
• Captain Maurice FitzGerald, Equerry in Waiting
• Captain Alfred Egerton, Equerry in Waiting
• The Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VII), Supporter
• Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, Supporter

Attendants on the Bride

• Lady Adela Larking, Lady in Attendance
• George Byng, 7th Viscount Torrington, Lord in Waiting to the Queen, in attendance to the Bride
• Lady Georgiana Spencer-Churchill, Bridesmaid
• Lady Blanche Conyngham, Bridesmaid
• Lady Louisa Bruce, Bridesmaid
• Lady Mabel Bridgeman, Bridesmaid
• Lady Ela Russell, Bridesmaid
• Lady Adelaide Taylour, Bridesmaid
• Lady Cecilia Hay, Bridesmaid
• Lady Victoria Edgcumbe, Bridesmaid

Attendants on Other Royalty

• General Sir W. T. Knollys, Groom of the Stole to the Prince of Wales
• Charles Harbord, 5th Baron Suffield, Lord of the Bedchamber in Waiting to the Prince of Wales
• The Honorable A. Temple Fitz-Maurice, Groom of the Bedchamber in Waiting to the Prince of Wales
• Lieutenant-General Sir D. M. Probyn, Comptroller and Treasurer to the Prince of Wales
• Colonel Stanley Clarke, Equerry in Waiting to the Prince of Wales
• Charles Colville, Lord Colville of Culross, Chamberlain to the Princess of Wales
• Lady Emily Kingscote, Lady of the Bedchamber in Waiting to the Princess of Wales
• Miss Charlotte Knollys, Woman of the Bedchamber in Waiting to the Princess of Wales
• Colonel The Honorable W. J. Colville, Comptroller and Treasurer to the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh
• Captain A. B. Haig, Equerry in Waiting to the Duke of Edinburgh
• Captain John Clerk, Equerry in Waiting to the Duke of Edinburgh
• Lady Hariot Grimston, Lady in Waiting to the Duchess of Edinburgh
• Lieutenant-Colonel G. G. Gordon, Treasurer to Prince and Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein
• Lady Agneta Montagu, Lady in Waiting to Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein
• Lady Edward Cavendish, Bedchamber Woman to Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein
• Lady Jane Churchill, Lady of the Bedchamber to the Queen, in attendance on Princess Beatrice
• Colonel Charles Tyrwhitt, Equerry in Waiting to the Duke of Cambridge
• Lady Elizabeth Biddulph, Lady in Waiting to the Duchess of Teck
• Colonel H. L. Fulke Greville, in attendance on the Duchess of Teck
• Colonel Oliphant, in attendance on the Maharajah Duleep Singh and the Maharanee
• Baroness de Pach, in Waiting on Prince and Princess August of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
• Baron Nostitz, in Waiting on Prince and Princess August of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
• Colonel C. T. Du Platt, Equerry in Waiting to the Queen, in attendance on In Waiting on
• Prince and Princess August of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
• The Honorable Flora Macdonald, in attendance to Princess Philip of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
• Comtesse de Grünne, in attendance to the King and Queen of the Belgians
• Baronne d’Hooghvorst, in attendance to the King and Queen of the Belgians
• Jules De Vaux, in attendance to the King and Queen of the Belgians
• Comte d’Oultremot, in attendance to the King and Queen of the Belgians
• Major-General H. Lynedock Gardiner, Groom in Waiting to the Queen, in attendance on the King and Queen of the Belgians
• Countess Brühl, in attendance to the Crown Prince and Princess of Germany and Prussia
• Countess Marie Münster, in attendance to the Crown Prince and Princess of Germany and Prussia
• Count G. Seckendorff, in attendance to the Crown Prince and Princess of Germany and Prussia
• Captain von Pfuhlstein, in attendance to the Crown Prince and Princess of Germany and Prussia
• Captain Baron von Nyvhenheim, in attendance to the Crown Prince and Princess of Germany and Prussia
• Lieutenant-General The Honorable A. E. Hardinge. Equerry to the Queen in Attendance on the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Germany and Prussia
• Countess Schliefen, in waiting on Prince and Princess Friedrich Karl of Prussia
• Countess Pückler, in waiting on Prince and Princess Friedrich Karl of Prussia
• Frauelein von Woina, in waiting on Prince and Princess Friedrich Karl of Prussia
• Count Kanitz, in waiting on Prince and Princess Friedrich Karl of Prussia
• Count Schlippenbach, in waiting on Prince and Princess Friedrich Karl of Prussia
• Colonel von Borcke, in waiting on Prince and Princess Friedrich Karl of Prussia
• Major von Broesegke, in waiting on Prince and Princess Friedrich Karl of Prussia
• Colonel von Geissler, in waiting on Prince and Princess Friedrich Karl of Prussia
• Colonel J. C. McNeill, Equerry to the Queen, in waiting on Prince and Princess Friedrich Karl of Prussia
• Lieutenant von Jacobi, in waiting on Prince Wilhelm of Prussia

Representatives of Foreign Governments

• Turkish Ambassador and Mademoiselle Musurus
• Georg Münster, Count of Münster, German Ambassador and Countess Olga Münster
• Luigi Menabrea, 1st Count Menabrea Italian Ambassador and Countess Menabrea
• Count Alajos Károlyi, Austro-Hungarian Ambassador and Countess Károlyi
• Danish Minister
• Belgian Minister
• French Minister
• Portuguese Chargé d’Affaires
• Russian Chargé d’Affaires
• Baron von den Brincken, member of the German Embassy
• Count L. Arco, member of the German Embassy
• Major von Vietinghoff, member of the German Embassy

Members of the Government

• Hugh Cairns, 1st Earl Cairns, Lord Chancellor
• Charles Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond, Lord President of the Council
• Algernon Percy, 6th Duke of Northumberland, Lord Privy Seal
• Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury
• Richard Assheton Cross, Secretary of State for the Home Department
• Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
• Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, Baronet, Secretary of State for the Colonies
• Colonel Frederick Stanley, Secretary of State for War
• Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy, 1st Viscount Cranbrook, Secretary of State for India
• Sir Stafford Northcote, Baronet, Chancellor of the Exchequer
• W. H. Smith, First Lord of the Admiralty
• Lord John Manners, Postmaster-General
• John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough, Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland
• G. Noel, First Commissioner of the Works
• Stephen Cave, Paymaster-General
• T. E. Taylor, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
• George Sclater-Booth, President of the Local Government Board
• G. A. F. Cavendish-Bentinck, Judge Advocate-General
• James Lowther, Chief Secretary for Ireland
• Lord George Hamilton, Vice-President of the Board of Education
• General Sir Charles Ellice, Adjutant-General
• Lieutenant-General Sir Daniel Lysins, Quartermaster-General
• General Sir Alfred Horsford, Military Secretary
• Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal
• Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 2nd Baron Aveland, Deputy Lord Great Chamberlain

Bridesmaids and Supporters

The eight bridesmaids were unmarried daughters of Dukes, Marquesses, and Earls.

• Lady Georgiana Spencer-Churchill, daughter of John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough, married Richard Curzon, 4th Earl Howe
• Lady Blanche Conyngham, daughter of General George Conyngham, 3rd Marquess Conyngham, unmarried
• Lady Louisa Bruce, daughter of James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin, unmarried
• Lady Mabel Bridgeman, daughter of Orlando Bridgeman, 3rd Earl of Bradford, married Colonel William Kenyon-Slaney
• Lady Ela Russell, daughter of Francis Russell, 9th Duke of Bedford, unmarried
• Lady Adelaide Taylour, daughter of Thomas Taylour, 3rd Marquess of Headfort, unmarried
• Lady Cecilia Hay, daughter of Major William Hay, 19th Earl of Erroll, married Captain George Webbe
• Lady Victoria Edgcumbe, daughter of William Edgcumbe, 4th Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, married Lord Algernon Percy

Princess Louise Margaret was supported by her father Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia and Friedrich, German Crown Prince and Crown Prince of Prussia (the future Friedrich III, German Emperor and King of Prussia), her father’s paternal first cousin and Arthur’s brother-in-law.

Prince Arthur’s supporters were his two elder brothers, the Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VII) and Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh (the future Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha). Prince Arthur’s youngest brother Prince Leopold was to have been a Supporter but was prevented from attending the wedding due to illness.

Wedding Attire

Louise Margaret in her wedding dress; Credit – Wikipedia

Louise Margaret’s dress reflected her continental European origin. Although it was made of the usual white satin, the lace was not Honiton lace from Devon, England, the traditional lace used in wedding dresses of British royal brides. The lace was a combination of point d’Alençon lace from France and lace made in Silesia, then part of the Kingdom of Prussia, now located mostly in Poland, with small parts in the Czech Republic and Germany. The usual orange blossom and myrtle were still woven into the lace. In Germany, myrtle is considered the flower of love, marriage, and lasting fertility.

Louise Margaret in her wedding dress; Credit – Royal Collection Trust

The white satin dress had a band of lace encircling the waist and the skirt was decorated with myrtle leaves. The train was thirteen feet/four meters long with a lace flounce in which a sprig of myrtle was fixed. The bridal veil was made of lace with orange blossoms, roses, and myrtle leaves intertwined. The veil was fastened to her hair with five diamond stars, a gift from Arthur.

Louise Margaret jewelry Credit – Gogmsite- Grand Ladies

Louise Margaret wore the diamond fringe necklace which had belonged to the Duchess of Kent, Queen Victoria’s mother. The diamond fringe necklace along with the diamond brooch on her right shoulder were gifts from Queen Victoria. Louise Margaret’s father gave her a diamond and pearl brooch with a diamond and pearl pendant which she wore in the center of her dress’ neckline. She also wore two bracelets. One was a gold and diamond bracelet, a gift from the groom’s brothers and sisters. The other was a diamond bracelet with a rosette center from the town of Windsor.

The bridesmaids from The Marriage of the Duke of Connaught by Sydney Pryor Hall; Credit – Royal Collection Trust

The eight bridesmaids wore dresses of white satin duchesse faille, a somewhat shiny closely woven silk, and mousseline de soie, a thin stiff silk, embroidered with wild rosebuds and flowers representing England, Scotland, Ireland and Germany.­

Arthur, on the left, and his brothers from The Marriage of the Duke of Connaught by Sydney Pryor Hall; Credit – Royal Collection Trust

Prince Arthur wore the uniform of a Colonel of the Rifle Brigade. The Prince of Wales wore the uniform of a Field Marshal and Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh wore the uniform of an Admiral.

The Wedding

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The officiating clergy:

• Campbell Tait, Archbishop of Canterbury
• John Jackson, Bishop of London, Dean of the Chapels Royal
• John Mackarness, Bishop of Oxford, Chancellor of the Order of the Garter
• Henry Philpott, Bishop of Worcester, Clerk of the Closet
• The Honorable Gerald Wellesley, Dean of Windsor

The wedding guests arrived at the Windsor train station via a special train from London. They were taken by carriage to the South Entrance of St. George’s Chapel and shown to their seats. The Lord Steward and the other members of the Queen’s Household who did not take part in the carriage procession from Windsor Castle assembled at the South Entrance to St. George’s Chapel at 11:30 AM. The clergy officiating at the wedding assembled at the Deanery and then took their places at the altar at 11:45 AM.

At 11:45 AM, the Princess of Wales, the Royal Family along with the other royal guests and their attendants proceeded to the West Entrance of St. George’s Chapel via carriages. Upon arrival at St. George’s Chapel, they were received by the Lord Steward and the Vice-Chamberlain. Her Majesty’s State Trumpeters announced with a flourish as each royal procession made its way down the aisle and were conducted to their seats. Georg Friedrich Handel’s March from “Hercules” was played as the royal processions made their way into the church.

At 12 noon, Queen Victoria accompanied by her daughter Princess Beatrice and her grandson Prince Albert Victor of Wales, along with their attendants, left Windsor Castle via carriage. As the Queen’s procession proceeded up the aisle Felix Mendelssohn’s March from “Athalie” was played.

At 12:15 PM, the bridegroom, along with his supporters and all their attendants, made their way via carriages to the West Entrance of St. George’s Chapel. As the bridegroom’s procession made its way to the altar, “Edward Albert,” a march by St. George’s Chapel organist Sir George Elvey, was played.

Finally, the bride with her supporters, bridesmaids, and attendants left Windsor Castle at 12:30 PM and proceeded to the West Entrance of St. George’s Chapel. The bride’s procession made its way down the aisle to Georg Friedrich Handel’s “Occasional Overture.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury performed the Church of England wedding service and the bride was given away by her father. During the service, the choir sang Psalm 128 and Psalm 67, set to music by Sir George Elvey. At the conclusion of the service, the choir sang Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” from “The Messiah.” The bride and groom, the royalty and their attendants left the chapel as Felix Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March” was played.

After the Wedding

Arthur and Louise Margaret’s wedding cake; Credit – https://www.royal.uk/royal-wedding-cakes-history

A royal salute was fired upon the conclusion of the wedding service by a battery of the Royal Horse Artillery stationed in the Long Walk. Upon returning to Windsor Castle, the marriage registry was signed by the bride and groom and attested by Queen Victoria, members of the British royal family, other royalty, and representatives of the British government. Queen Victoria, the British royal family, and the royal guests were served a private luncheon in the Dining Room. The other guests were served a buffet luncheon in St. George’s Hall. Sir George Elvey played the organ and conducted the orchestra and choir.

At 4:00 PM, the bride and groom, accompanied by Lady Adela Larking and Captain Alfred Egerton left for Claremont House in Esher, Surrey, England where they would spend part of their honeymoon. After several days at Claremont House and then Windsor Castle, the newlyweds departed for a cruise in the Mediterranean. After their return to England, they took up residence in Bagshot Park, now the home of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.

Children

Arthur, Louise Margaret, and their children; Credit – Wikipedia

Arthur and Louise Margaret had three children:

• Princess Margaret of Connaught (1882-1920), married (1905) Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden (1882-1973), had five children, Margaret died before her husband became King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden, Danish and Swedish Royal Families descend from this marriage
• Prince Arthur of Connaught (1883-1938), married Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Fife (1891-1959), a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria, one child
• Princess Patricia of Connaught (1886-1974), married (1919) The Honorable Alexander Ramsay (1881-1972), had one child, upon her marriage Patricia voluntarily relinquished her title of Princess and her style Royal Highness and was known as Lady Patricia Ramsay

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Works Cited

• En.wikipedia.org. (2019). Wedding dress of Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedding_dress_of_Princess_Louise_Margaret_of_Prussia [Accessed 13 Sep. 2019].
• Flantzer, Susan. (2015). Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/prince-arthur-duke-of-connaught/ [Accessed 13 Sep. 2019].
• Flantzer, Susan. (2015). Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia, Duchess of Connaught. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/princess-louise-margaret-of-prussia-duchess-of-connaught-and-strathearn/ [Accessed 13 Sep. 2019].
• Google Books. (1879). Bulletins and Other State Intelligence – Ceremonial observed at the marriage of His Royal Highness The Prince Arthur and Her Royal Highness Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia.
• Google Books. (1891). Wedding Etiquette and Usages of Polite Society. [online] Available at: https://books.google.com/books?id=4FcEAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA24&lpg=PA24&dq=Lady+Louisa+Bruce+wedding&source=bl&ots=QCrqFd2YMT&sig=ACfU3U3ncGPp8UXHJRM-7JQW06xJCSpKyw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj3ke3qm8XkAhVqh-AKHSmvAfMQ6AEwDXoECB0QAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false [Accessed 13 Sep. 2019].
• Hibbert, Christopher. (2000). Queen Victoria – A Personal History. Cambridge: De Capo Press.
• History of Royal Women. (2019). The Year of Queen Victoria – Louise Margaret of Prussia (Part one) – History of Royal Women. [online] Available at: https://www.historyofroyalwomen.com/louise-margaret-of-prussia/the-year-of-queen-victoria-louise-margaret-of-prussia-part-one/ [Accessed 13 Sep. 2019].
• Royal-magazin.de. (2019). Royal Wedding Jewelry | Duchess of Connaught | Jewels Princess of Prussia. [online] Available at: https://royal-magazin.de/england/connaught/connaught-wedding-bracelet.htm [Accessed 13 Sep. 2019].
• Timesmachine.nytimes.com. (1879). Royal Marriage Bells. [online] Available at: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1879/03/14/81750261.pdf [Accessed 13 Sep. 2019].
• Van der Kiste, J. (2011). Queen Victoria’s Children. Stroud: The History Press.

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2019

The Marriage of Victoria, Princess Royal, 25 January 1858 by John Phillip; Credit – Royal Collection Trust/ © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Victoria, Princess Royal married Prince Friedrich of Prussia, the future Friedrich III, German Emperor and King of Prussia, at the Chapel Royal of St. James’s Palace in London, England on January 25, 1858. The couple had eight children and the Greek, Prussian, Romanian, Serbian, and Spanish royal families descended from this marriage.

Victoria’s Early Life

Queen Victoria with her eldest child Victoria, Princess Royal circa 1845; Credit – Wikipedia

The eldest of the nine children and the eldest of the five daughters of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was born on November 21, 1840, at Buckingham Palace, nine months after her parents’ marriage. Named Victoria after her mother and called Vicky in the family, she was created Princess Royal shortly before her first birthday.

Vicky started learning French with a French tutor when she was eighteen months old and then began learning German at age three. Later, Vicky studied science, literature, Latin, and history. All Vicky’s governesses and tutors were impressed with her intelligence.

Once Vicky was engaged to be married to her Prussian prince, her father Prince Albert personally taught her politics and modern European history and had her write essays about events in Prussia. Both Prince Albert and Queen Victoria ardently hoped that Vicky’s marriage would make the ties between London and Berlin closer and lead to a unified and liberal Germany. However, once married and in Prussia, Vicky and her husband were politically isolated and their liberal and Anglophile views clashed with the authoritarian ideas of the Minister-President of Prussia, Otto von Bismarck.

For more about Vicky, see Unofficial Royalty: Victoria, Princess Royal, German Empress, Queen of Prussia

Friedrich’s Early Life

Friedrich, circa 1841; Credit – Wikipedia

The future Friedrich III, German Emperor, King of Prussia was born at the Neues Palais in Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia, now in Brandenburg, Germany on October 18, 1831. The elder of the two children of the future Wilhelm I, German Emperor, King of Prussia and his wife Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, he was given the names Friedrich Wilhelm Nikolaus Karl but was known in the family as Fritz. His younger sister Louise married Friedrich I, Grand Duke of Baden.

Fritz received both a military and a classical education. He studied history, geography, physics, music, and religion. He had a talent for foreign languages, becoming fluent in English and French, and also studying Latin. Naturally, Fritz studied the traditional Hohenzollern areas of fencing, riding, gymnastics, and practical craft skills such as carpentry, book printing, and bookbinding. In addition, he also received a military education. Fritz interrupted his military training at the age of 18 to study history, politics, law, and public policy at the University of Bonn. His time at the University of Bonn helped solidify his liberal, reforming beliefs.

For more about Fritz, see Friedrich III, German Emperor, King of Prussia

The Engagement

Photograph taken at Balmoral to mark the Princess Royal’s engagement to Prince Friedrich of Prussia on September 29, 1855; From left to right: Prince Friedrich of Prussia, The Princess Royal, Prince Alfred (seated on the grass), Princess Alice, Princess Helena, Queen Victoria, Princess Louise, Prince Albert and The Prince of Wales; Credit – Photograph by George Washington Wilson, The Royal Collection Trust

In 1851, Prince Wilhelm of Prussia (the future Wilhelm I, King of Prussia and German Emperor) and his wife Augusta were invited to London by Queen Victoria to visit the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park, which her husband Prince Albert was instrumental in organizing. Wilhelm and Augusta brought their two children, 20-year-old Friedrich and 13-year-old Louise. On a visit to the Great Exhibition, nine-year-old Vicky was allowed to accompany the group as a companion to Louise. Despite being so young, Vicky made an impression on Friedrich (Fritz), who was eleven years older.

Four years later, in 1855, Fritz was invited back to England by Victoria and Albert for a visit to their Scottish home Balmoral. Both the British and Prussian royal families expected that Fritz and Vicky should come to a decision about their future together. Fritz was second in line to the Prussian throne after his father, who was expected to succeed his childless brother. Despite the fact that a marriage would not be universally popular in either country, Vicky and Fritz agreed to marry each other. They became engaged on September 29, 1855, but the engagement was not publicly announced until May 17, 1856. Because Vicky was so young, her parents decreed that the wedding would have to wait until Vicky was 17-years-old.

The Wedding Site

Embed from Getty Images 
The Chapel Royal at St. James’ Palace

• Unofficial Royalty: Chapel Royal, St. James’s Palace in London, England

It was and still is, customary for the wedding to be in the bride’s home territory, but Vicky was marrying a future monarch and the wedding was therefore expected to be in Berlin in the Kingdom of Prussia. However, Queen Victoria had other ideas: “The assumption of it being too much for a Prince Royal of Prussia to come over to marry the Princess Royal of Great Britain in England is too absurd, to say the least…Whatever may be the usual practice of Prussian Princes, it is not every day that one marries the eldest daughter of the Queen of England. The question must therefore be considered as settled and closed…” Queen Victoria got her way and the wedding was scheduled for Monday, January 25, 1858, in the Chapel Royal of St. James’ Palace in London, England, where the bride’s parents had been married.

Located in St. James’ Palace, a Tudor palace in London next to Clarence House and nearby Buckingham Palace, the Chapel Royal was built around 1540 and has had alterations over the years. Although St. James’ Palace is no longer used as one of the monarch’s residences, it is used for offices and receptions, and several minor members of the British Royal Family have apartments there. The Chapel Royal in St. James’ Palace was the venue for several earlier Hanover weddings and it was also the venue for the wedding of Vicky’s parents. The Chapel Royal seats about 100 people so Vicky and Fritz’s wedding was nowhere near the size of today’s royal weddings. Accordingly, the guest list had to be limited.

Partial List of Wedding Guests

Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and Victoria, Princess Royal; Credit – Wikipedia

The above photograph is a daguerreotype taken just before the wedding. The figure of Queen Victoria is blurred due to her movement. Of the event, Queen Victoria wrote in her journal, “Vicky was daguerreotyped in my room, & she & her dear father & I, together, but I trembled so that it has come out indistinct. Then, it was time to go.”

The guest list below was gleaned from the New York Times re-publication on February 12, 1858 of the London Times’ article “The Royal Wedding – The Marriage of The Princess Royal – Graphic and Detailed Description of the Ceremonies”, published on January 26, 1858. It is most likely an incomplete guest list.

Royal Guests – The Bride’s Family

• Queen Victoria, mother of the bride
• The Prince Consort, father of the bride
• Duchess of Kent, grandmother of the bride
• Prince of Wales, brother of the bride
• Prince Alfred, brother of the bride
• Prince Arthur, brother of the bride
• Prince Leopold, brother of the bride
• Princess Alice, sister of the bride
• Princess Helena, sister of the bride
• Princess Louise, sister of the bride
• Prince George, 2nd Duke of Cambridge, first cousin once removed of the bride
• Duchess of Cambridge, great-aunt of the bride
• Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, first cousin once removed of the bride
• Leopold I, King of the Belgians, great-uncle of the bride
• Prince Leopold of Belgium, Duke of Brabant, first cousin once removed of the bride
• Prince Philippe of Belgium, Count of Flanders, first cousin once removed of the bride
• Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, uncle of the bride
• Ernst, 4th Prince of Leiningen, half first cousin of the bride
• Prince Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, half first cousin of the bride

Royal Guests – The Groom’s Family

• Prince and Princess Wilhelm of Prussia, parents of the groom
• Prince Adalbert of Prussia, first cousin once removed of the groom
• Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia, first cousin of the groom
• Prince Albrecht of Prussia, uncle of the groom
• Friedrich I, Grand Duke of Baden, brother-in-law of the groom
• Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, first cousin once removed of the groom

Other Royal Guests

• Henri d’Orléans, Duke of Aumale and Maria, Carolina, Duchess d’Aumale
• Robert, Duke of Chartres
• Karl Anton, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
• Helen, Duchess of Orléans
• Philippe, Count of Paris
• Clementina, Princess of Salerno
• Prince Julius of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg

Other Guests

• George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll
• George Murray, 6th Duke of Atholl
• Walter Montagu Douglas Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch
• William Montagu, 7th Duke of Manchester
• Henry Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle
• Charles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of Richmond and Caroline Gordon-Lennox, Duchess of Richmond
• Elizabeth Wellesley, Duchess of Wellington
• Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne
• Louisa Hamilton, Marchioness of Abercorn
• Elizabeth Campbell, Marchioness of Breadlebane
• Harriet de Burgh, Marchioness of Clanricarde
• Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby and Emma Smith-Stanley, Countess of Derby
• Charles Yorke, 4th Earl of Hardwicke and Susan Yorke, Countess of Hardwicke
• Caroline Ponsonby, Countess of Bessborough
• Marie Louise Leveson-Gower, Countess Granville
• Sophie Child Villiers, Countess of Jersey
• Caroline Edgcumbe, Countess of Mount Edgcumbe
• Laura Phipps, Countess of Mulgrave
• Susan Stapleton-Cotton, Viscountess Cumbermere
• Emily Townshend, Viscountess Sydney
• Edward Stanley, 2nd Baron Stanley of Alderley and Henrietta Stanley, Baroness Stanley of Alderley
• John Campbell, 1st Baron Campbell and his wife Mary Elizabeth Campbell, 1st Baroness Stratheden
• Robert Grosvenor, 1st Baron Ebury and Charlotte Grosvenor, Baroness Ebury
• Fox Maule-Ramsay,2nd Baron Panmure and Montague Maule-Ramsay, Baroness Panmure
• Henry Labouchere, 1st Baron Taunton
• Sir George Cornewell Lewis, 2nd Baronet and Lady Cornewell Lewis
• Lord Alfred Paget, Queen Victoria’s Chief Equerry and Clerk Marshal, and Lady Paget
• Sir George Grey and Lady Grey
• Sir Charles and Lady Mary Wood
• Lord and Lady Ernest Bruce
• Mr. Vernon Smith
• Matthew Talbot Baines, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Mrs. Baines

Procession Participants

Among the procession participants in The Queen’s Procession, The Bridegroom’s Procession and The Bride’s Procession at the Chapel Royal were:

• The Earl Marshal: Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 14th Duke of Norfolk
• Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury: Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston
• Treasurer of the Household: George Phipps, Earl of Mulgrave
• Comptroller of the Household: Valentine Browne, 4th Earl of Kenmare
• Lord Chamberlain of the Household: John Campbell, 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane
• Keeper of the Privy Purse: Colonel The Honourable Sir Charles Beaumont Phipps
• The Lord Steward: Edward Granville Eliot, 3rd Earl of St Germans
• Lord Privy Seal: Dudley Ryder, 2nd Earl of Harrowby
• Lord President of the Council: Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville
• Lord High Chancellor: Robert Rolfe, 1st Baron Cranworth
• Mistress of the Robes: Harriet Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, Duchess of Sutherland
• Lady of the Bedchamber: Frances Jocelyn, Viscountess Jocelyn
• Groom of the Stole to The Prince Consort: James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Abercorn
• Chief Equerry and Comptroller of the Household of The Duchess of Kent: Sir George Couper, 2nd Baronet
• Train Bearer for The Duchess of Kent: Lady Anna Maria Dawson, daughter of John Dawson, 1st Earl of Portarlington
• Lady-in-Waiting to Princess Augusta, Duchess of Cambridge: Lady Geraldine Somerset, daughter of Henry Somerset, 7th Duke of Beaufort
• Train Bearer for The Duchess of Cambridge: Lady Arabella Sackville-West, daughter of
• George Sackville-West, 5th Earl De La Warr
• Baron Otto Theodor von Manteuffel, Minister-President of the Kingdom of Prussia

Supporters and Bridesmaids

Victoria, Princess Royal’s, bridesmaids 1887 copy after an original of 25 Jan 1858 Hughes & Mullins: Ryde, Isle of Wight (photographer); Credit – Royal Collection Trust From left to right, Lady Cecilia Gordon-Lennox, Lady Susan Pelham-Clinton, Lady Katherine Hamilton, Lady Emma Stanley, Lady Constance Villiers, Lady Susan Murray, Lady Cecilia Molyneux, and Lady Victoria Noel

Fritz was supported by his father Prince Wilhelm of Prussia (the future Wilhelm I, German Emperor and King of Prussia) and his uncle Prince Albrecht of Prussia.

Vicky had had eight bridesmaids, all of whom were unmarried daughters of British Dukes and Earls:

• Lady Cecilia Gordon-Lennox (1838-1910), daughter of Charles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of Richmond, married Charles Bingham, 4th Earl of Lucan
• Lady Susan Pelham-Clinton (1839-1875), daughter of Henry Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle, married Lord Adolphus Vane-Tempest
• Lady Katherine Hamilton (1840-1874), daughter of James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn, married William Edgcumbe, 4th Earl of Mount Edgcumbe
• Lady Emma Stanley (1835-1928), daughter of Edward Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby, married Sir Wellington Patrick Chetwynd-Talbot
• Lady Constance Villiers (1840-1922), daughter of George Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon, married Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby
• Lady Susan Murray (1837-1915), daughter of Alexander Murray, 6th Earl of Dunmore, married James Carnegie, 9th Earl of Southesk
• Lady Cecilia Molyneux (1838-1910), daughter of Charles Molyneux, 3rd Earl of Sefton, married Hugh Dawnay, 8th Viscount Downe
• Lady Victoria Noel (1839-1916), daughter of Charles Noel, 1st Earl of Gainsborough, married Sir Thomas Buxton, 3rd Baronet

The Wedding Attire

Victoria, Princess Royal in her wedding dress; Credit – https://www.royal.uk/wedding-dresses

Vicky’s wedding dress was made of white moire antique (a textile with a wavy appearance), trimmed with Honiton lace and orange flowers and myrtle. The train, which was carried by the eight bridesmaids, was also made of white moire antique lined with satin bordered with white satin ribands, Honiton lace, orange flowers, and myrtle. On her head, Vicky wore a wreath of orange flowers and myrtle and a veil of Honiton lace. The Honiton lace in the dress, train, and veil consisted of bouquets in openwork of the rose, shamrock, and thistle in three medallions. The rose, the shamrock, and the thistle are the national flowers of England, Ireland, and Scotland. Vicky wore a diamond necklace, diamond earrings, and a diamond brooch. On her left sleeve, Vicky wore the Order of Louise, a Prussian order of chivalry created by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia in honor of his late wife, born Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert.

Close-up detail of The Marriage of Victoria, Princess Royal, 25 January 1858 by John Phillip; Credit – Royal Collection Trust/ © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Fritz wore the General’s uniform of the Prussian First Infantry Regiment of the Guard – a dark blue tunic with gold embroidery on the collar and cuffs, a gold aiguillette (ornamental tagged cord or braid) on the right shoulder, a silver sash, and white kerseymere (a fine woolen cloth with a fancy twill weave) trousers.

The Wedding Ceremony

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Queen Victoria and her family at the wedding, engraved from the painting by John Philip

Eighteen carriages and 300 soldiers were in the procession for the short ride from Buckingham Palace to St. James’ Palace. Queen Victoria and Vicky were in the very last carriage. They were met at St. James’ Palace by Prince Albert and King Leopold I of the Belgians, the uncle of both Victoria and Albert. Vicky’s four brothers were in Highland dress and the elder two (Bertie and Alfred) preceded the Queen down the aisle. Vicky’s two younger brothers (Arthur and Leopold) accompanied their mother down the aisle followed by three of Vicky’s four sisters (Alice, Helena, and Louise) who were dressed in white lace over pink satin. Beatrice, Vicky’s youngest sibling, was left back at Buckingham Palace as she was not even a year old. Next came Fritz, accompanied by his father and his uncle Prince Albrecht of Prussia. Finally, Vicky came down the aisle escorted by her father Prince Albert and her great-uncle Leopold I, King of the Belgians.

John Sumner, Archbishop of Canterbury, conducted the service and he was so nervous that he left out several parts of the service. However, Queen Victoria was pleased that both “Vicky and Fritz spoke plainly,” as she wrote in her journal. The service was concluded with George Friedrich Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus and then Vicky and Fritz led the recessional to The Wedding March by Felix Mendelssohn (click to listen). Thereafter, it became a popular wedding recessional. The music is from a suite of incidental music to Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Queen Victoria loved Mendelssohn’s music and Mendelssohn often played for her while on his visits to the United Kingdom.  The bride and groom along with Queen Victoria and the princes and princesses then proceeded to the Throne Room of St. James’ Palace where the marriage certificate was signed in the presence to the clergy who participated in the ceremony.

The Wedding Luncheon

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‘A National Toast’, 1858. ‘Health and Happiness to the Bride and Bridegroom! (Hoorah!)’. Mr. Punch, as the People’s representative, raises a foaming glass of champagne to celebrate the marriage of Victoria, Princess Royal, to Prince Friedrich of Prussia. From Punch, or the London Charivari, January 30, 1858. (Photo by The Cartoon Collector/Print Collector/Getty Images)

Vicky and Fritz led the carriage procession back to Buckingham Palace. Back at the palace, Queen Victoria, The Prince Consort, the newlyweds, the British royal family, and the foreign princes and princesses walked from the Picture Gallery to the State Dining Room where a luncheon was served.

Vicky and Fritz’s wedding cake; Credit – Royal Collection Trust

The wedding cake, which was quite elaborate, was placed in the middle of the table. It was seven or eight feet high and was divided from top to bottom into three parts. The upper part had two cupids holding a medallion with a portrait of Vicky on one and Fritz on the other side. The middle part consisted of niches that contained statutes including ones of Innocence and Wisdom. The bottom part had medallions of vases and baskets of flowers.

Other guests including the Officers of State, the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Households of The Queen and The Prince Consort, and other important guests had luncheon in the Lower Dining Room at Buckingham Palace.

After luncheon, Vicky and Fritz appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony with and without their parents.

The Honeymoon and Leaving England

Vicky and Fritz on January 29, 1858; Credit – Wikipedia

After the wedding luncheon, the newly married couple left by train for a two-day honeymoon at Windsor Castle. Upon arrival at Windsor, Vicky and Fritz were met by fireworks, cannons, an honor guard, and cheering crowds. Schoolboys from nearby Eton pulled their carriage from the train station up the hill to Windsor Castle.

The next day, Vicky and Fritz took a walk and went ice skating. Two days after the wedding, family members and members of the wedding party arrived at Windsor Castle. Queen Victoria wrote in her diary that it was quite strange to see Vicky walking off with Fritz at bedtime.

On January 29, 1858, everyone returned to London for more festivities before Vicky and Fritz left for Prussia. On her last day at home, February 1, 1858, Vicky spent a quiet day with her mother and then spent the early evening playing with her nine-month-old sister Beatrice. Vicky confided to her mother, “I think it will kill me to take leave of dear Papa.”

On the day of Vicky’s departure, Queen Victoria described the scene in her diary: “We went into the Audience Room where Mama & all the Children were assembled & here poor Vicky and Alice’s, as well as the other’s tears began to flow fast…The Hall was filled with all our people and theirs [the Prussians]…amongst the many servants there. Poor dear child…I clasped her in my arms…kissed good Fritz…Against the door of the carriage, I embraced them both…What a dreadful moment, what a real heartache to think of our dearest child being gone & not knowing how long it may be before we see her again!”

Vicky and Fritz, accompanied by her father, her two oldest brothers Bertie and Affie and her mother’s uncle, The Duke of Cambridge, drove to Gravesend where they were to board the royal yacht for the voyage to the European continent. As they reached the yacht, Bertie and Affie cried and Vicky sobbed as she said goodbye to her father, who somehow maintained his composure. The next day, Prince Albert wrote his daughter a letter: “My heart was very full when yesterday you leaned your forehead on my breast to give free vent to your tears. I am not of a demonstrative nature and therefore you can hardly know how dear you have always been to me, and what a great void you have left behind in my heart.”

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The departure of The Princess Royal to Germany, circa January 1858. (Photo by Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)

Children

Vicky, Fritz and their children; Credit – Wikipedia

Vicky and Fritz had eight children:

• Wilhelm II, German Emperor and King of Prussia (1859-1941) married (1) (1881) Princess Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg (1858-1921), had seven children, Greek and Spanish Royal Families descend from this marriage;  married (2) (1922) Princess Hermine of Reuss (1887-1947), no children
• Princess Charlotte of Prussia (1860-1919) married (1878) Bernhard III, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (1851-1928), had one child
• Prince Heinrich of Prussia (1862-1929) married (1888) Princess Irene of Hesse and by Rhine (1866-1953), a grandchild of Queen Victoria, had three children
• Prince Sigismund of Prussia (1864-1866), died young from meningitis
• Princess Viktoria of Prussia (1866-1929), married (1) (1890) Prince Adolf of Schaumburg-Lippe (1859-1917), no children; married (2) (1927) Alexander Zoubkoff (1901-1936), no children
• Prince Waldemar of Prussia (1868-1879), died young from diphtheria
• Princess Sophie of Prussia (1870-1932), married (1889) King Constantine I of Greece (1868-1923), had six children, Greek, Romanian, Serbian, and Spanish Royal Families descend from this marriage
• Princess Margarete of Prussia (1872-1954), (1893) married Prince Friedrich Karl of Hesse (1868-1940), had six children

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

• Flantzer, Susan. (2015). Friedrich III, German Emperor, King of Prussia. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/friedrich-iii-german-emperor-king-of-prussia/ [Accessed 15 Aug. 2019].
• Flantzer, Susan. (2015). Victoria, Princess Royal, German Empress, Queen of Prussia. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/victoria-princess-royal-german-empress-queen-of-prussia/ [Accessed 15 Aug. 2019].
• Pakula, Hannah. (1995). An Uncommon Woman. New York: Simon & Shuster.
• Timesmachine.nytimes.com. (1858). The Royal Wedding – The Marriage of The Princess Royal – Graphic and Detailed Description of the Ceremonies,. [online] Available at: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1858/02/12/78528860.pdf [Accessed 15 Aug. 2019].
• Van der Kiste, John. (2013). Dearest Vicky, Darling Fritz. Stroud: The History Press.
• Victoria and Ramm, Agnes. (1998). Beloved & Darling Child. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Sutton Pub.