Princess Marie Louise weds Prince Aribert of Anahlt

July 6, 1891

Crowds from London and other parts of the country flocked into "Windsor early this morning, hoping to see something of the great event of the day," the marriage of Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein to Prince Aribert of Anhalt.  Fifteen hundred policeman were sent from London to Windsor, to provide support to Windsor's local constabulary force. 

The small town of Windsor is reveling in the wedding of Queen Victoria's granddaughter, as "flags, flowers, and bunting" are on display everywhere.

The marriage between Princess Marie Louise, second daughter of Prince and Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein and Prince Aribert, took place at 4 p.m., in St. George's Chapel.  This is the first grand marriage to take place at the Chapel since the late Duke of Albany's marriage in 1882, and the castle is "crowded with so many distinguished people," and the Chapel "so crowded with members of royal families."
The stalls for the Knights of the Garter were "set aside for the most important guests."  The processional route was the same as taken at the Duke of Albany's wedding to Princess Helen of Waldeck und Pyrmont.  The route, down Castle Hill, was lined with troops, and the Castle, the Guards of Honor included the Life Guards and the Scots Guards.

The "first portion of the procession" was formed by carriages containing members of Prince Aribert's family.  The second second  "consisted of twelve state carriages," which carried  Kaiser Wilhelmm II and Kaiserin Auguste Viktoria, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, Prince and Princess Henry of Battenberg, Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife.  

The bridegroom, who wore a German uniform, and his attendants, "formed the third section of the procession."

Queen Victoria, in the most "elaborate of the carriages," was next in the procession.  She was "greeted everywhere with acclamations of loyalty."    The bride and her father, Prince Christian, and her brother, had already driven over from their home, Cumberland Lodge, to Windsor, and when Victoria started for St. George's Chapel, the bride and her "two male relatives followed."

Each member of the imperial or royal families was greeted with a trumpet fanfare when they arrived at the Chapel door.  The Prince of Wales entered St. George's with the Empress of Germany.  They were followed by the German Emperor and the Princess of Wales, "whose bodice was sparkling with German and English Orders."  Princess Alexandra also wore a "most splendid parure of diamonds."

Queen Victoria, wearing a "simple black dress," entered next.  Apart from a "beautiful diamond coronet" on her head, she had "little or no ornamentation about her attire."   After the Queen was escorted to her seat by the Lord Chamberlain, the bridegroom, supported by his two brothers, were led to the altar, also by the Lord Chamberlain.

The bride arrived ten minutes later, supported by "her father and brother."  She wore a "cream and white satin" gown of the "most exquisite texture."  The border feature orange blossoms, and the "skirt was draped with Honiton duchesse lace, which was designed by the late Prince Consort for the Queen." It was also worn by the bride's mother, Princess Helena,  when she married Prince Christian.  They will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary next Wednesday at Cumberland Lodge.

The gown's train "hung gracefully, and the border of "white buds and green giving it a very effective appearance."  The bodice was "equally handsome," and was made of white satin, with sleeves of Honiton lace.  A "girdle of orange blossoms and myrtle blossoms, having down in two long ends, hit the juncture of the bodice."  The gown's skirt "fell gracefully over the satin train."   Princess Marie Louise wore a diamond and pearl necklace, a gift from her parents.  Her wedding veil was the one by her mother when she married Prince Christian.

The attendants were the Ladies Emily Cadogan, Edith Ward, Mabel Egerton, Elizabeth Meade, Esther Gore and the Hon. Beatrice Bridgeman.  All were dressed in "handsome white satin dressed, draped with delicate white crepe de chine and caught with bows of frosted silver."

The marriage ceremony was performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury.   Prince Aribert's responses were given in a "clear, firm voice," while the bride's responses were "indistinct."    Mendelssohn's Wedding March was played, and the marriage ceremony was completed.   Following the benediction, Queen Victoria approached her granddaughter to kiss her.  Kaiser Wilhelm II did the same, and then "the bride was kissed by all the Princesses."   

Everyone got into their carriages, and procession was reformed and returned to Windsor Castle, for a grand reception.    The register was signed in the Green Drawing Room. 

The couple will spend their honeymoon at Cliveden, the home of the Duke of Westminster. 

The imperial and royal guests at the wedding included the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke and Duchess of Teck, Princess Victoria Mary of Teck, Princes Adolphus and Francis of Teck, the Hereditary Prince of Waldeck und Pyrmont, Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar, Prince Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, Princess Amelie of Schleswig-Holstein, Prince Albert of Saxe-Altenburg, Duke Ernst Gunther of Schleswig-Holstein,  the Hereditary Princess of Anhalt,  the Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the Duke and Duchess of Anhalt, Princess Alexandra of Anhalt, Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife and the Duke of Fife, the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, and Prince Arthur of Connaught,  the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and their children, Prince Alfred, Princess Marie, Princess Victoria Melita, and Princess Alexandra,  the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, the Duke of Clarence and Avondale, and Princess Victoria and Maud, and the German Emperor and Empress. The bride's sister, Princess Helena Victoria and two brothers, Prince Christian Victor and Prince Albert, also attended.