Lyla Dejesus
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's marriage on 10 February 1840 was a real-life love story. Unlike many royal marriages, the couple were genuinely in love. They spent their honeymoon at Windsor Castle, where Queen Victoria's parents also honeymooned. The Queen's attitude towards Windsor was complex, and she had a love-hate relationship with the castle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Windsor Castle |
| Duration | 3 days |
| Date | 1840 |
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What You'll Learn
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert honeymooned at Windsor Castle
Queen Victoria and her new husband, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, spent their honeymoon at Windsor Castle in 1840. The couple married on 10 February 1840 at the Chapel Royal of St James's Palace, before travelling to Windsor Castle to spend three days there.
Queen Victoria's attitude to Windsor was a complex one. The castle had mixed associations for the Queen, as it was the place where her uncle, King William IV, and her mother, the Duchess of Kent, had a famous falling out. It was also where her father, Edward, Duke of Kent, was buried. However, during her marriage to Prince Albert, she became fond of the place.
The couple's honeymoon was brief, and the newlywed Queen complained of a headache on her wedding night! However, her diary entries indicate that she was a very happy woman. The couple was also happy to be able to enjoy some time alone, as it would be a while before they acquired their private residences of Balmoral and Osborne.
The painting 'Windsor Castle in Modern Times' by Sir Edwin Landseer depicted this marital idyll of the Queen and Prince Albert against a backdrop of Windsor Castle’s East Terrace, with the infant Princess Royal and a variety of freshly killed game birds at the feet of the Prince, who strokes his beloved German greyhound, Eos.
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The couple's honeymoon lasted three days
Queen Victoria and her new husband, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, spent their honeymoon at Windsor Castle in 1840. The couple's honeymoon lasted three days, and it was a happy time, with Victoria writing in her diary that she was a "very happy woman". However, the newlyweds had little time to themselves, with a dinner party and an immense party occupying their second and third evenings.
The choice of location for the honeymoon had mixed associations for Queen Victoria. It was the place where her father, who had died when she was young, was buried. It was also the site of a famous argument between her uncle, King William IV, and her mother, the Duchess of Kent. Despite this, during her marriage to Prince Albert, she grew fond of the place.
The couple's honeymoon was followed by a happy marriage, with Queen Victoria writing, "Oh! To feel I was, and am, loved by such an Angel as Albert, was too great [a] delight to describe!". They were married for 21 years and had nine children together. They were known for their extreme love and their fiery arguments. They also presented a powerful and popular image of family life, with Victoria as the obedient wife.
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They spent their wedding night at St James's Palace
Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, spent their wedding night at St James's Palace, before departing for their honeymoon at Windsor Castle. The couple were married on 10 February 1840 at the Chapel Royal of St James's Palace.
Queen Victoria wore a white satin and lace dress, which was an unusual choice at the time, as most women opted for rich colours like red, blue, or brown. In fact, Queen Victoria's choice of a white wedding dress popularised the tradition. The wedding was also the first royal wedding in over a century to be held in the afternoon, at around 1 pm, rather than late at night.
After the ceremony, the newlyweds travelled to Windsor Castle for their honeymoon. The choice of location had mixed associations for Queen Victoria. It was the site of a famous dispute between her uncle, King William IV, and her mother, the Duchess of Kent. It was also the burial place of her father, Edward, Duke of Kent, who had died when Victoria was an infant. Despite these associations, the Queen's attitude towards Windsor became more favourable during her marriage to Prince Albert, and the couple later acquired their own private residences, Balmoral and Osborne, where they could enjoy family life.
The three-day honeymoon at Windsor Castle was a happy one, although the second and third evenings were occupied by a dinner party and a large party. In her diary, Queen Victoria described herself as a very happy woman, and she delighted in the simple pleasures of married life, such as watching her husband shave or helping him put on his stockings.
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The Queen's parents honeymooned at Claremont
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert spent their honeymoon at Windsor Castle. The couple married on 10 February 1840 at the Chapel Royal of St James's Palace, before travelling to Windsor Castle for their honeymoon. The honeymoon lasted three days, with the second and third evenings being occupied by a 'dinner party' and an 'immense party'.
Queen Victoria's parents, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, spent their honeymoon at Claremont, the great house of Lord Clive of Plassey and the home of Prince Leopold, who later became King of the Belgians. Claremont was lent to the couple by Prince Leopold following their second wedding ceremony in England. Queen Victoria's fourth daughter, Princess Louise, also spent her honeymoon at Claremont following her marriage to the Marquess of Lorne in 1871.
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Victoria and Albert's marriage lasted 21 years
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's marriage lasted 21 years, from 1840 until Albert's untimely death in 1861. The couple, who were first cousins, met at Victoria's 17th birthday in 1836 and, according to their journals, it was love at first sight. They married on 10 February 1840 at the Chapel Royal of St James's Palace, with Victoria wearing a white dress—a choice that would set a new standard for bridal attire. After the wedding, the couple travelled to Windsor Castle for a brief, three-day honeymoon.
The early years of their marriage were a time of adjustment and learning for the couple, as they figured out how to live together and navigate their power dynamic. Victoria and Albert went on to have nine children together, all born between 1840 and 1857. They presented a harmonious family image to the public, with Victoria taking on the role of an obedient wife, and Albert having authority on family matters. The couple also embraced traditional gender roles in their home life, with Victoria delighting in the simple pleasures of married life, such as watching Albert shave or helping him with his stockings.
Victoria and Albert were known for their extreme love and their fiery arguments. They were also influential in popularising religious family traditions, such as decorating Christmas trees and gift-giving, thanks to Albert's German heritage. They were early adopters of new technologies, with their royal home featuring electric telegraphs and electric light bulbs. Albert, with his keen interest in science, also played a significant role in championing cutting-edge 19th-century inventions.
In addition to their family and public lives, Victoria and Albert also faced challenges and triumphs in their royal duties. They made many public appearances together, including grand openings like the Crystal Palace in 1854. Albert took on many of Victoria's commitments as queen, earning himself the powerful role of prince consort. In 1858, they attended the opening of a new basin at the French military port of Cherbourg, where they were guests of Napoleon III.
However, their marriage was not without difficulties. Victoria had a close relationship with her childhood governess, Baroness Louise Lehzen, which caused friction with Albert, who believed Lehzen was incompetent. This led to a furious row between the couple, resulting in Lehzen's departure in 1842. Victoria also faced assassination attempts, such as the pistol incident in 1842, where John Francis shot at her during a carriage ride in London. Despite these challenges, Victoria and Albert's marriage left a lasting legacy, with their devotion to each other and their family making them one of history's most iconic couples.
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Frequently asked questions
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert honeymooned at Windsor Castle.
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert honeymooned for three days.
They honeymooned in 1840, the same year they got married.
Queen Victoria's attitude towards Windsor was complex. While she initially disliked it, she reputedly grew fond of the place during her marriage to Prince Albert. The three days they spent there on their honeymoon were described as "blissfully happy".
