Rhiannon Hendricks
Queen Victoria's wedding dress has a rich history and has been the subject of much fascination. The dress, a white silk satin gown with an eighteen-foot-long court train, was considered unusual for the time as coloured dresses were more popular for bridal wear. The Queen's choice is believed to have helped popularise the white wedding dress that is common today. The dress was designed by William Dyce and made by Mary Bettans, and Victoria paired it with white satin slippers and a veil. In 1847, Victoria commissioned a portrait of herself in her wedding attire as an anniversary gift for her husband, Prince Albert. The dress was conserved and displayed at Kensington Palace in 2012, but the lace was deemed too fragile to move from storage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Description | White satin dress with a deep flounce of Honiton lace, bordered with orange blossom |
| Jewels | Turkish diamond necklace and earrings, and Prince Albert's sapphire brooch |
| Conservation and Display | Conserved and displayed at Kensington Palace in 2012 |
| Current Status | The lace is too fragile to move from storage |
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What You'll Learn
Queen Victoria's wedding dress was white silk satin
Queen Victoria's wedding dress was made of white silk satin. She described her choice of dress in her journal, writing: "I wore a white satin dress, with a deep flounce of Honiton lace, an imitation of an old design." The dress was bordered with orange blossom, a symbol of virtue and fertility.
Queen Victoria is commonly credited with the wide-scale popularity of the white wedding dress. On her wedding day in 1840, she stated that she would make her vows as Albert's future wife, rather than in her role as the monarch. She chose to wear a white satin court train instead of the crimson velvet robe of state. This romantic gesture, and the notion of the Queen as an adoring and innocent bride, captured the public's imagination.
Print media and newspapers, with their detailed descriptions of society weddings, helped spread the image of the bride clad in pure white. Fashion plates, adverts, valentine cards, and sheet music all sold the idea of the white dress and lace veil as a model of romantic propriety and purity. As a result, if a bride could afford it, a white wedding dress became the norm.
Queen Victoria's choice of white was also about practicality and patriotism. As the head of state, she wanted to support and stimulate Britain's lace industry. She chose a large piece of handmade Honiton lace, and white was the best colour to showcase this.
In 2012, it was reported that Queen Victoria's wedding dress had been conserved and displayed at Kensington Palace. However, the lace was too fragile to be moved from storage.
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The dress had an 18-foot-long court train
Queen Victoria's wedding dress was an 1840 white silk satin gown with an 18-foot-long court train. The dress was designed by Mary Bettans and made from Spitalfields silk and Honiton lace. The lace was designed by William Dyce, head of the then Government School of Design (later known as the Royal College of Art).
The train of the dress was carried by her 12 bridesmaids, who wore white dresses designed by Queen Victoria herself and turquoise brooches in the shape of an eagle, which were a gift from the Queen to each lady.
Queen Victoria's choice of a white wedding dress was unusual for the time. Although it was not the first time a royal had worn white, it was certainly the first time a monarch had worn white for their wedding. The choice was likely influenced by her desire to be seen as Prince Albert's wife, rather than a monarch, as well as the fact that white highlighted the delicate lace of the dress.
Following Queen Victoria's wedding, white wedding dresses became popular among wealthy and fashionable brides, and the colour came to be associated with purity, innocence, and romance.
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Victoria wore matching white satin slippers
Queen Victoria's wedding dress is kept at Kensington Palace, where it was displayed in 2012. The dress itself is a white silk or cream satin gown with an 18-foot-long court train. The Queen chose to wear a white wedding dress, making her one of the first women to do so. White was a distinctly uncommon choice for bridal gowns before Queen Victoria's wedding, and it was not chosen by the majority of brides until decades later.
The Queen's choice of a white wedding dress made world news, and wealthy and fashionable brides quickly adopted the colour. Queen Victoria has been credited with starting the tradition of white weddings and white bridal gowns, although she was not the first royal to be married in white.
On her wedding day, Queen Victoria wore matching white satin slippers. The slippers were flat and complemented the white satin dress with a deep flounce of Honiton lace. The lace was designed by William Dyce and mounted on the white satin dress made by Mary Bettans. The Honiton lace used for her wedding dress proved to be an important boost to the Devon lace-making industry.
Queen Victoria accessorized her wedding outfit with Turkish diamond earrings and a necklace, and a sapphire cluster brooch given to her by her husband-to-be, Prince Albert. She also wore a simple wreath of orange blossoms and myrtle, which has been included in every British royal wedding since.
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She wore Turkish diamond jewellery
Queen Victoria's wedding dress is kept at Kensington Palace in London, where it is occasionally displayed to the public. The dress is made of heavy satin and features a delicate lace bodice and a long, full skirt. It is believed that the dress was designed by the British designer William Dyce, who was also responsible for the dress worn by Victoria's mother, the Duchess of Kent, on the same occasion. The satin for the dress was supplied by Woolmoor & Sons and the lace by Wright & Ditson.
As for her jewellery, Queen Victoria wore Turkish diamond jewellery on her wedding day. This was a very thoughtful and meaningful choice by the Queen. The jewellery was a gift from Sultan Mahmud II of Turkey, who presented it to the Queen as a gesture of goodwill and to mark the occasion of her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. The suite of jewellery included a stunning diamond necklace and matching earrings, which the Queen cherished and wore frequently, not just on her wedding day but also to many other important events and occasions throughout her life.
The Turkish diamond jewellery became a beloved part of Queen Victoria's personal collection and held a special place in her heart. She valued the craftsmanship and cultural significance of the pieces and appreciated their intricate design and brilliance. The diamonds were set in a unique and intricate pattern, showcasing the skill and artistry of Turkish jewellers. The suite is also thought to have included a tiara, brooch, and additional diamond clusters, all of which could be detached and rearranged to create different looks and styles.
By wearing this jewellery on her wedding day, Queen Victoria not only showcased her appreciation for the craftsmanship and cultural exchange it represented but also set a precedent for royal brides-to-be. Her choice to wear these diamonds influenced future generations of royal brides, who often incorporate historic and culturally significant jewellery into their wedding ensembles, often borrowing pieces from the royal collection. The tradition of wearing meaningful jewellery on one's wedding day continues to this day, with royal brides often choosing to wear family heirlooms or pieces with a special personal connection.
The Turkish diamond jewellery holds a significant place in the history of Queen Victoria's wardrobe and is a reminder of the diplomatic relationships of the time. It showcases how jewellery can transcend its decorative purpose and become a powerful symbol of cultural exchange and mutual respect between nations. Today, the jewellery is carefully preserved and remains a testament to the enduring style and legacy of Queen Victoria, offering a glimpse into the fashion and customs of the Victorian era.
Visitors interested in viewing Queen Victoria's wedding dress and jewellery can do so at special exhibitions held at Kensington Palace, offering a rare opportunity to witness the exquisite taste and fashion sense of one of Britain's most iconic monarchs. The display of her wedding attire, including the Turkish diamond jewellery, provides a captivating insight into the life and style of Queen Victoria, forever linking her sense of style and fashion choices to the historical context of her reign.
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The dress was displayed at Kensington Palace in 2012
Queen Victoria's wedding dress was displayed at Kensington Palace in London, England, on 20 March 2012. The dress was exhibited in the 'Love Room' of the palace, which had recently been refurbished ahead of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
The display of Queen Victoria's wedding dress in 2012 was particularly significant due to the fragile nature of the garment. The lace on the dress, which Victoria also wore to several of her children's weddings and her Diamond Jubilee official photograph in 1897, had become too delicate to be moved from storage.
The dress itself is made of white satin, with a deep flounce of Honiton lace, and was designed by Queen Victoria. She described her choice of dress in her journal, stating that she wore "a white satin dress, with a deep flounce of Honiton lace, an imitation of an old design."
The display of Queen Victoria's wedding dress at Kensington Palace in 2012 provided a rare opportunity to view this historic garment up close. The dress is typically kept in the Royal Collection, and due to its age and fragile state, it is not frequently exhibited to the public.
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Frequently asked questions
Queen Victoria's wedding dress was conserved and displayed at Kensington Palace in 2012, but the lace was too fragile to be moved from storage.
Queen Victoria's wedding dress was made of white silk or cream-coloured satin with an eighteen-foot-long court train. The Honiton lace used for the dress was designed by William Dyce.
Queen Victoria is often credited with starting the tradition of white weddings and white bridal gowns. Although she was not the first royal bride to be married in white, her choice of a white wedding dress popularised the bridal "look" that persists today.
