The wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

Royal wedding fever has taken over the country with the up coming nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton on 29th April. With this in mind, Big Day Discounts have decided to take a look back at past royal weddings to see how trends have changed.

This weeks wedding is that of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

The wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert took place on 10th Febuary 1840 at the chapel Royal St James palace.

As thousands of people took to the streets to have a glimpse of the Bride as she travelled to the wedding, Queen Victoria was getting ready to leave Buckingham Palace. As she entered her carriage that would take her the short distance to St James Palace, a Royal Salute of 21 guns was sounded.

The Queen had 12 bridesmaids that wore white. The Queen herself wore a rich white satin dress trimmed with orange flower blossoms, her headdress was a wreath of orange flower blossoms covered with a veil of honiton lace.
The Prince wore a Field Marshals uniform.

Guests at the chapel included the American Minister and Mrs Stevenson, the Turkish Ambassador, the Princess Esterhazy, the Swedish Ambassador and the Russian Ambassador.

As the bride entered the chapel her procession included Heralds and Trumpeters, various Officers of the household, memebers of the Royal family each with an attendant from their household, Chamberlans and Lord Melbourne bearing the Sword of the State.

The Queens train was held by her 12 bridesmaids, they were then followed by Ladies of the Bedchamber, Maids of honor, the Gold Stick and six Gentleman of Arms.

The service was conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

After the service the wedding breakfast was held at Buckingham Palace and attended by the Royal family, maids of honor, the Ministry and the other personal attendants of the Queen and Prince. The wedding cake was designed by Queen Victoria. It weighed 300Ib and on top was the Royal couple in Roman togas with cupids and bouquets of white flowers arranged at their feet.

After the wedding breakfast the newly wed couple left in the Royal Chariot and were escorted by lifeguards as it made its way to Windsor where they were greeted by the whole town cheering their path. They spent their honeymoon at Windsor castle.

Next week we will be looking at the wedding of King George V and Mary of Teck