Tuesday 28 November 2017

Ten royal brides of St. George's, Windsor


It's already got a mighty royal wedding pedigree and a whole new exciting chapter called 2018 is about to be added on. St. George's Chapel, Windsor will be the setting for not one but two royal weddings this year. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle marry there on May 19th while in the autumn, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank will wed within its ancient walls. Harry and Meghan say Windsor is very special to them and the two weddings there this year will mean three of the Queen's grandchildren will have chosen it for their marriages. But St. George's already has a stand out place in the history of royal weddings. For Windsor has seen many regal marriages over the years. As Meghan  and Eugenie prepare to join their ranks, here's a look at ten royal brides whose special day started at St. George's Windsor...

Princess Alexandra of Denmark
March 10th 1863


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Bride Alexandra Caroline Marie Charlotte Louise Julia, Princess of Denmark; daughter of the future King Christian IX and Queen Louise of Denmark

Groom Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert; later King Edward VII

What happened next...the groom, a known lothario, continued to philander while his wife became a hugely popular royal. In 1901, on the death of Queen Victoria, they became King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.


Princess Helena of Great Britain
July 5th 1866


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Bride Helena Augusta Victoria, third daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

Groom Christian of Schleswig-Holsten (born Frederick Christian Charles Augustus), son of Christian, Duke of Augustenborg and Countess Louise Sophie of Danneskiold-Samsoe

What happened next They set up home near Queen Victoria and Helena became an unofficial secretary. Christian clearly didn't mind his mother-in-law....the couple were notoriously happy together.



Princess Louise of Great Britain

March 21st 1871




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Bride Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, fourth daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

Groom John George Edward Henry Douglas Sutherland Campbell, Marquess of Lorne; son of George, 8th Duke of Argyll and Lady Elizabeth Sutherland-Leveson-Gower

What happened next Louise's husband wasn't considered nearly royal enough for her by some but Queen Victoria wanted some fresh blood in the house. The couple, however, never had children. They became Duke and Duchess of Argyll in 1900. Despite rumours of several affairs on Louise's part, she was devastated when her husband died in 1914. She died in 1939. 


Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia
March 13th 1879




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Bride Louise Margaret Alexandra Victoria Agnes, daughter of Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia and Princess Maria Anna of Anhalt-Dessau

Groom Arthur William Patrick Albert, third son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

What happened next The couple packed St George's out with royals for their wedding. After their marriage, they were known as the Duke and Duchess of Connaught. They spent a lot of time overseas, including a stint for Arthur as Governor General of Canada. They had three children, one of whom would also wed at St. George's Chapel.....keep reading....


Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont
April 27th 1882



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Bride Helene Frederike August, daughter of George Victor, Prince of Waldeck and Princess Helena of Nassau

Groom Leopold George Duncan Albert, fourth son and eighth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

What happened next Known as the Duke and Duchess of Albany, Helena and Leopold lived with the pressure of his fragile health. The groom died in 1884, four months before his wife gave birth to their second child and only son.



Princess Margaret of Connaught
June 15th 1905



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Bride Margaret Victoria Charlotte Augusta Norah, daughter of Arthur and Margaret, Duke and Duchess of Connaught and a granddaughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

Groom Oscar Frederik Wilhelm Olaf Gustaf Adolf of Sweden, Duke of Scania; son of the future King Gustav V and Queen Victoria of Sweden 

What happened next  This was a true royal fairytale which ended in tragedy. Margaret and Gustaf Adolf were blissfully happy with one another and had five children. But in 1920, eight months into her sixth pregnancy. Margaret died and her baby was stillborn. Gustaf Adolf became King of Sweden in 1950. Their grandchildren include King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.



Lady Helen Windsor
July 18th 1992


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Bride Lady Helen Marina Lucy Windsor, only daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Kent and a great granddaughter of King George V and Queen Mary
Groom Timothy Verner Taylor, son of Michael and Susan Taylor
What happened next This royal wedding was a high point in a year that the Queen would later describe as her 'Annus Horribilis. While other royal marriages crumbled around them, Lady Helen and Tim were totally loved up at their summer wedding. The couple went on to have four children together. 


Sophie Rhys-Jones
June 19th 1999



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Bride Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones, daughter of Christopher and Mary Rhys-Jones

Groom Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis, third son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

What happened next Edward and Sophie's wedding was deliberately low key following the ending of three royal marriages and the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. The couple, who became Earl and Countess of Wessex on their marriage, are now cornerstones of the House of Windsor and very, very happy, too. They live in Surrey with their daughter and son.



  Camilla Parker Bowles 
April 5th 2005 

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Bride Camilla Rosemary Parker Bowles, born Camilla Rosemary Shand, daughter of Bruce and Rosalind Shand
Groom Prince Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales, heir to the throne and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
What happened next Camilla's ceremony at St George's was a blessing rather than a marriage but it sealed her relationship with the Prince of Wales after years of controversy. Before the wedding day, it was announced that Camilla would be known as Duchess of Cornwall rather than Princess of Wales. Now a high profile member of the Royal Family, she will be in the front row when Harry marries Meghan.
  Autumn Kelly
May 17th 2008

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Bride Autumn Patricia Kelly, daughter of Brian and Kathleen Kelly

Groom Peter Mark Andrew Phillips, only son of Princess Anne, Princess Royal and her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips, and the eldest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

What happened next Mild controversy surrounded the marriage of Peter and Autumn Phillips after it emerged they had sold some of their wedding photos to Hello magazine. In the end it was all rather discreet and the couple went on to provide the Queen with her first great grandchild, Savannah, born in 2010. They had a second daughter, Isla, in 2012.

The next chapter in this royal wedding story belongs to Meghan Markle. On a day in May she will walk down the aisle of St. George's to marry Prince Harry and take her part in royal history.

Photo credit: Wiki Commons

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