Wedding dress of Queen Victoria
Encyclopedia
The Wedding dress of Queen Victoria was worn by Victoria of the United Kingdom
in her wedding to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha on February 10, 1840. She selected a simple white dress with a full-pleated skirt, then considered a very conservative choice at a time when colours had been the norm, fabricated from heavy silk satin. The Honiton lace used for her wedding dress proved an important boost to the Devon lacemaking and to future royal wedding attire. Indeed, Queen Victoria has been credited as starting the western tradition of white bridal gowns
by wearing one at her 1840 wedding, although she was not the first royal to do so. At the time, Victoria's choice was criticized for being too conservative, since she did not wear jewels, velvet, ermine furs, or a crown, and the color was unusual.
The dress was designed by William Dyce
, head of the then Government School of Design (later known as the Royal College of Art
), and made by Mary Bettans.
Wearing white was quickly adopted by wealthy, fashionable brides. The Godey's Lady's Book
, commenting about a decade after Victoria's wedding, wrote: "Custom has decided, from the earliest ages, that white is the most fitting hue, whatever may be the material. It is an emblem of the purity and innocence of girlhood, and the unsullied heart she now yields to the chosen one", even though white had been a distinctly uncommon choice for bridal gowns before Victoria's wedding and was not chosen by a majority of brides until decades later.
and silk woven in Spitalfields
in east London; these were chosen as a mark of support to English cottage industry, particularly promote the arts and crafts and lace industry. The gown made with Honiton Lace was "appliquéd to a machine-made cotton net." The silk satin gown was embellished with orange blossoms and along with the bridal veil made of as a Honiton lace, she wore diamond earrings and a diamond necklace. However, a wreath of fragrant orange flower blossoms adorned her head dress as the symbol of fertility instead of a diamond-studded tiara, over her beautiful lace veil. The lace veil itself that formed the flounce of the dress was four yards in length and 0.75 yards wide. The slippers she wore were also of white colour. The dressing gown had a trail which was carried by the bridal-train bearers, which extended over a length of 18 feet (5.5 m), also became a fashion statement in subsequent royal weddings, as was evidenced by 25 feet (7.6 m) train in the wedding dress
of Lady Diana Spencer
.
Queen Victoria, the woman who started it all, herself gave expression to the choice of the dress in her journal as: "I wore a white satin dress, with a deep flounce of Honiton lace, an imitation of an old design. My jewels were my Turkish diamond necklace & earrings & dear Albert's beautiful sapphire brooch." Soon enough, the white dress become a fashionable statement among the royal women of the society.
The tradition of white wedding
is now credited to Queen Victoria. The demand created, following Queen Victoria’s “White Wedding Gown with abundance of lace trims”, has continued to this day.
The lace used in the wedding gown impressed Victoria so much, as it was a labour-intensive cottage industry which required skill and perfection, that the same people were commissioned by her again to make the "christening robe" for her eldest son (who later became King Edward VII). It is also mentioned that Victoria used the lace of her wedding gown even years later for special events which included the black dress she wore with lace for her husband's funeral, as a mark of her love for him.
The gown is now stated to be very fragile so much so that it needs to be handled by experts wearing gloves. It will undergo conservation treatment soon before it is put up for public display at Kensington Palace
, in 2012.
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
in her wedding to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha on February 10, 1840. She selected a simple white dress with a full-pleated skirt, then considered a very conservative choice at a time when colours had been the norm, fabricated from heavy silk satin. The Honiton lace used for her wedding dress proved an important boost to the Devon lacemaking and to future royal wedding attire. Indeed, Queen Victoria has been credited as starting the western tradition of white bridal gowns
White wedding
A white wedding is a traditional formal or semi-formal wedding originating in Europe.The term originates from the white color of the wedding dress, which first became popular with Victorian era elites, after Queen Victoria wore a white lace dress at her wedding; however, the term now also...
by wearing one at her 1840 wedding, although she was not the first royal to do so. At the time, Victoria's choice was criticized for being too conservative, since she did not wear jewels, velvet, ermine furs, or a crown, and the color was unusual.
The dress was designed by William Dyce
William Dyce
William Dyce was a distinguished Scottish artist, who played a significant part in the formation of public art education in the UK, as perhaps the true parent of the South Kensington Schools system.Dyce began his career at the Royal Academy schools, and then traveled to Rome for the first time in...
, head of the then Government School of Design (later known as the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
), and made by Mary Bettans.
Wearing white was quickly adopted by wealthy, fashionable brides. The Godey's Lady's Book
Godey's Lady's Book
Godey's Lady's Book, alternatively known as Godey's Magazine and Lady's Book, was a United States magazine which was published in Philadelphia. It was the most widely circulated magazine in the period before the Civil War. Its circulation rose from 70,000 in the 1840s to 150,000 in 1860...
, commenting about a decade after Victoria's wedding, wrote: "Custom has decided, from the earliest ages, that white is the most fitting hue, whatever may be the material. It is an emblem of the purity and innocence of girlhood, and the unsullied heart she now yields to the chosen one", even though white had been a distinctly uncommon choice for bridal gowns before Victoria's wedding and was not chosen by a majority of brides until decades later.
Design
The white colour used for the dress is used in the sense as “wedding white” or “white” including shades of cream colours like the eggshell, ecru and ivory. For the cream-coloured gown, an austere dress, termed the white gown, the hand-made lace used was made from the West Country village of HonitonHoniton
Honiton is a town and civil parish in East Devon, situated close to the River Otter, north east of Exeter in the county of Devon. The town's name is pronounced in two ways, and , each pronunciation having its adherents...
and silk woven in Spitalfields
Spitalfields
Spitalfields is a former parish in the borough of Tower Hamlets, in the East End of London, near to Liverpool Street station and Brick Lane. The area straddles Commercial Street and is home to many markets, including the historic Old Spitalfields Market, founded in the 17th century, Sunday...
in east London; these were chosen as a mark of support to English cottage industry, particularly promote the arts and crafts and lace industry. The gown made with Honiton Lace was "appliquéd to a machine-made cotton net." The silk satin gown was embellished with orange blossoms and along with the bridal veil made of as a Honiton lace, she wore diamond earrings and a diamond necklace. However, a wreath of fragrant orange flower blossoms adorned her head dress as the symbol of fertility instead of a diamond-studded tiara, over her beautiful lace veil. The lace veil itself that formed the flounce of the dress was four yards in length and 0.75 yards wide. The slippers she wore were also of white colour. The dressing gown had a trail which was carried by the bridal-train bearers, which extended over a length of 18 feet (5.5 m), also became a fashion statement in subsequent royal weddings, as was evidenced by 25 feet (7.6 m) train in the wedding dress
Wedding dress of Lady Diana Spencer
The wedding dress of Lady Diana Spencer was worn by Lady Diana Spencer at her wedding to Charles, Prince of Wales on 29 July 1981 at St Paul's Cathedral. Diana wore a ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown, with a 25-foot train, valued then at £9000...
of Lady Diana Spencer
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
.
Queen Victoria, the woman who started it all, herself gave expression to the choice of the dress in her journal as: "I wore a white satin dress, with a deep flounce of Honiton lace, an imitation of an old design. My jewels were my Turkish diamond necklace & earrings & dear Albert's beautiful sapphire brooch." Soon enough, the white dress become a fashionable statement among the royal women of the society.
The tradition of white wedding
White wedding
A white wedding is a traditional formal or semi-formal wedding originating in Europe.The term originates from the white color of the wedding dress, which first became popular with Victorian era elites, after Queen Victoria wore a white lace dress at her wedding; however, the term now also...
is now credited to Queen Victoria. The demand created, following Queen Victoria’s “White Wedding Gown with abundance of lace trims”, has continued to this day.
The lace used in the wedding gown impressed Victoria so much, as it was a labour-intensive cottage industry which required skill and perfection, that the same people were commissioned by her again to make the "christening robe" for her eldest son (who later became King Edward VII). It is also mentioned that Victoria used the lace of her wedding gown even years later for special events which included the black dress she wore with lace for her husband's funeral, as a mark of her love for him.
The gown is now stated to be very fragile so much so that it needs to be handled by experts wearing gloves. It will undergo conservation treatment soon before it is put up for public display at Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace is a royal residence set in Kensington Gardens in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, England. It has been a residence of the British Royal Family since the 17th century and is the official London residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke and...
, in 2012.