July 22, 1896
Princess Maud of Wales and Prince Carl of Denmark were united in marriage today in the Chapel Royal, Buckingham Palace. The Princess is the youngest daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales, and a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Prince Carl is the second son of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Denmark, and a grandson of King Christian IX of Denmark. The Princess of Wales and the Danish Crown Prince are siblings.
A carriage procession from Marlborough House to Buckingham Palace included the Prince and Princess of Wales and all of the Queen's children, with the exception of her youngest daughter, Princess Beatrice, and her four children who are in mourning for Prince Henry of Battenberg, who died in January.
A "calvade of heralds and equerries escorted" Prince Carl, accompanied by his parents, the Crown Prince and Princess of Denmark, and his brothers, Christian and Harald. Queen Victoria slipped quietly into the chapel. The weather was described as "sunny and pleasant."
Prince Carl was supported by his brothers, and the bridesmaids were the bride's sister, Princess Victoria of Wales, Princesses Ingeborg nd Thyra, the groom's sisters, Princess Helena Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein, Princesses Margaret and Patricia of Connaught, Princess Alice of Albany, and Lady Alexandra Duff, the bride's niece and daughter of Princess Louise and the Duke of Fife.
The bridesmaids "in their white and silver embroidered dresses formed a charming group." Five-year-old Lady Alexandra "carried a basket of flowers," and was "escorted by her tall, slender cousin, Princess Alice of Albany." The bouquets featured the red and white, the Danish colors. They also wore a red flower in their hair.
This was the first royal wedding to take place at the Chapel Royal in Buckingham Palace since July 27, 1889, when Princess Maud's sister, Princess Louise, married the Duke of Fife. The chapel is much smaller than the Chapel Royal at St. James's Palace.
The wedding was officiated by Edward White Henson, Archbishop of Canterbury, and assisted by the Bishops of London and Winchester.
The guests included the Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Louise and Marquess of Lorne, the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, the Duchess of Albany, Prince and Princess of Schleswg-Holstein, Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig Holstein, Prince and Princess Friedrich of Schaumburg-Lippe, the Duke and Duchess of Teck, the Duchess of York, Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark, Prince Adolphus of Teck, the Duke and Duchess of Fife (Princess Louise), the Duchess of Albany, with her young son, Prince Charles Edward, Duke of Albany, Duke of Cambridge, Princess Elisabeth of Waldeck und Pyrmont, Prince and Princess Philipp of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Countess Gleichen, Count Gleichen, Baron von Pawel-Rammingen. The Princess of Wales walked with her brother, the Crown Prince of Denmark.
The Princess, born Princess Alexandra of Denmark, wore "a beautiful dress of grey silk, with diamond ornaments, and several orders, including the Danish Family Order."
After the procession of the Royal Family, Prince Carl, in the "dark grey uniform of colonel of the Danish infantry," walked to the altar accompanied by his two brothers. He walked to the right of the altar, with a "firm and martial step," and saluting the Queen.
The organist began playing Lady Arthur. Hill's "beautiful setting" of O Perfect Love, as the "most important procession" moved down the aisle. Princess Maud looked "quite charming in a dress of pure white silk, with a long train." The gown suited her to perfection.
Her veil, made from old lace, was a gift from her grandmother, the Queen. Her bouquet included the myrtle from a bush planted from several sprigs from Princess Victoria's bouquet when she married the future Emperor Friedrich in 1858.
The bride was escorted by her father, the Prince of Wales, and on her other side was her older brother, the Duke of York. Maud looked "very collected and self-possessed", appearing "unmistakenly dignified and royal" as she approached the altar.
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| @Royal Collection |
| Seated: Lady Alexandra Duff, Maud, Princess Charles of Denmark, Princess Alice of Albany, Princess Patricia of Connaught. |
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| Princess Victoria of Wales, Princess Carl of Denmark, the Princess of Wales, Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife and Lady Alexandra Duff @Marlene A Eilers Koenig Collection |
As Mendelssohn's Wedding March was played, Prince and Princess Carl of Denmark stopped to greet the Queen, "who kissed them both," the Prince and Princess of Wales, who was "evidently affected" by her daughter's wedding, and the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Denmark.
The registry was signed by the bride and groom, the Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales, in the Bow Library. The Queen retired to her apartments, and the rest of the party headed to the state dining room. Other guests were served in the palace's ballroom.
A wedding breakfast at Buckingham Palace was held after the wedding, which was followed by the bride and groom and the bridal party getting into carriages for the short ride to Marlborough House. The route was via Piccadilly and St. James's Street. The streets and houses were "beautifully decorated" with flags and bunting.
The Prince and Princess of Wales left the luncheon early as they were hosting a reception at Marlborough House. The guests included a number of their friends who had not received an invitation to the wedding. Many guests took time to look at the display of wedding gifts before everyone headed out to the garden to cheer the newlyweds. Princess Maud had changed into a "light pink silk" dress, with a matching toque. She and her new husband left by carriage for St. Pancras Station to catch the train to Wolferton. Their honeymoon would be spent at Appleton House on the Sandringham estate.
Prince Carl's grandparents, King Christian IX and Queen Louise, were unable to attend the wedding. The King hosted a state banquet in honor of his grandson's marriage. He raised a toast to Queen Victoria's health, and also thanked her for the "cordial reception accorded to his grandson."
He also wished the bride and groom "every happiness from the bottom of his heart," adding "I hope the bride may be as greatly loved in the land of her adoption as is her mother in England."
https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2009/12/appleton-house-sandringham.html
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