OTD 10 March 1863 Royal Wedding of England and Denmark
On 10 March 1863, a Royal Wedding took place at the St. George's
Chapel in Windsor Castle. Then Prince Albert Edward (who later
became King Edward VII) married to Princess Alexandra of Denmark.
Source pictures: Wikipedia
Chapel in Windsor Castle. Then Prince Albert Edward (who later
became King Edward VII) married to Princess Alexandra of Denmark.
What preceded
Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, were already concerned with
finding a bride for their son and heir, Albert Edward, the Prince of Wales.
They enlisted the aid of their daughter, Crown Princess Victoria of Prussia,
in seeking a suitable candidate. Alexandra was not their first choice because
the Danes were at loggerheads with the Prussians over the Schleswig-Holstein
Question, and most of the British royal family's relations were German.
Eventually, after rejecting other possibilities, they settled on her as
"the only one to be chosen"
finding a bride for their son and heir, Albert Edward, the Prince of Wales.
They enlisted the aid of their daughter, Crown Princess Victoria of Prussia,
in seeking a suitable candidate. Alexandra was not their first choice because
the Danes were at loggerheads with the Prussians over the Schleswig-Holstein
Question, and most of the British royal family's relations were German.
Eventually, after rejecting other possibilities, they settled on her as
"the only one to be chosen"
On 24 September 1861, Crown Princess Victoria introduced her brother
Albert Edward to Alexandra at Speyer. Almost a year later on
9 September 1862 (after his affair with Nellie Clifden and the death of his father)
Albert Edward proposed to Alexandra at the Royal Castle of Laeken in Belgium,
the home of his great-uncle, King Leopold I of Belgium.
Albert Edward to Alexandra at Speyer. Almost a year later on
9 September 1862 (after his affair with Nellie Clifden and the death of his father)
Albert Edward proposed to Alexandra at the Royal Castle of Laeken in Belgium,
the home of his great-uncle, King Leopold I of Belgium.
A few months later, Alexandra travelled from Denmark to Britain
aboard the royal yacht Victoria and Albert and arrived in Gravesend,
Kent, on 7 March 1863.
aboard the royal yacht Victoria and Albert and arrived in Gravesend,
Kent, on 7 March 1863.
Sir Arthur Sullivan composed music for her arrival and
Poet Laureate Alfred, Lord Tennyson, wrote an ode in Alexandra's honour:
Poet Laureate Alfred, Lord Tennyson, wrote an ode in Alexandra's honour:
Sea King's daughter from over the sea,
Alexandra!
Saxon and Norman and Dane are we,
But all of us Danes in our welcome of thee,
Alexandra!
The Wedding
Thomas Longley, the Archbishop of Canterbury, married the couple on
10 March 1863 at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. The choice of venue
was criticised widely. As the ceremony took place outside London,
the press complained that large public crowds would not be able to
view the spectacle. Prospective guests thought it awkward to get to and,
as the venue was small, some people who had expected invitations
were disappointed.
10 March 1863 at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. The choice of venue
was criticised widely. As the ceremony took place outside London,
the press complained that large public crowds would not be able to
view the spectacle. Prospective guests thought it awkward to get to and,
as the venue was small, some people who had expected invitations
were disappointed.
The Danes were dismayed because only Alexandra's closest relations were
invited. The British court was still in mourning for Prince Albert, so ladies
were restricted to wearing grey, lilac or mauve.
invited. The British court was still in mourning for Prince Albert, so ladies
were restricted to wearing grey, lilac or mauve.
As the couple left Windsor for their honeymoon at Osborne House
on the Isle of Wight, they were cheered by the schoolboys of neighbouring
Eton College, including Lord Randolph Churchill.
on the Isle of Wight, they were cheered by the schoolboys of neighbouring
Eton College, including Lord Randolph Churchill.
Royal guests
Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom
Princess Victoria of the United Kingdom and her husband Prince
Friedrich of Prussia.
Wilhelm (later Wilhelm II of Germany) who wore an highland tenue.
Big changes during the first years of marriage
By the end of the following year, Alexandra's father had ascended the
throne of Denmark, her brother George had become King of the Hellenes,
her sister Dagmar was engaged to the Tsesarevich of Russia, and Alexandra had
given birth to her first child. Her father's accession gave rise to further
conflict over the fate of Schleswig-Holstein.
throne of Denmark, her brother George had become King of the Hellenes,
her sister Dagmar was engaged to the Tsesarevich of Russia, and Alexandra had
given birth to her first child. Her father's accession gave rise to further
conflict over the fate of Schleswig-Holstein.
The German Confederation successfully invaded Denmark, reducing the
area of Denmark by two-fifths. To the great irritation of Queen Victoria and
the Crown Princess of Prussia, Alexandra and Albert Edward supported the
Danish side in the war. The Prussian conquest of former Danish lands
heightened Alexandra's profound dislike of the Germans, a feeling which
stayed with her for the rest of her life.
area of Denmark by two-fifths. To the great irritation of Queen Victoria and
the Crown Princess of Prussia, Alexandra and Albert Edward supported the
Danish side in the war. The Prussian conquest of former Danish lands
heightened Alexandra's profound dislike of the Germans, a feeling which
stayed with her for the rest of her life.
A royal family
Alexandra's first child, Albert Victor, was born two months premature in early
1864. Alexandra showed devotion to her children:
"She was in her glory when she could run up to the nursery, put on a flannel apron,
wash the children herself and see them asleep in their little beds."
1864. Alexandra showed devotion to her children:
"She was in her glory when she could run up to the nursery, put on a flannel apron,
wash the children herself and see them asleep in their little beds."
Albert Edward and Alexandra had six children in total:
Albert Victor, George, Louise, Victoria, Maud, and Alexander.
Albert Victor, George, Louise, Victoria, Maud, and Alexander.
In public, Alexandra was dignified and charming; in private,
affectionate and jolly. She enjoyed many social activities, including dancing
and ice-skating, and was an expert horsewoman and tandem driver.
affectionate and jolly. She enjoyed many social activities, including dancing
and ice-skating, and was an expert horsewoman and tandem driver.
She also enjoyed hunting, to the dismay of Queen Victoria, who asked her to stop,
but without success.
but without success.
Even after the birth of her first child, she continued to socialise much as before,
which led to some friction between the queen and the young couple,
exacerbated by Alexandra's loathing of Prussians and the queen's partiality
towards them.
which led to some friction between the queen and the young couple,
exacerbated by Alexandra's loathing of Prussians and the queen's partiality
towards them.
Check also the pages Descendants of Queen Victoria
on this link 1
Source pictures: Wikipedia
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