THE BRIDESMAIDS
OF THE QUEEN

By The Hon. Mrs. Armytage

When all the preliminaries of the marriage ceremonial of Queen Victoria’s nuptials were under consideration, the choice of twelve bridesmaids was necessarily one of the important details connected with the fitting accessories of the interesting occasion.  The choice of these young ladies from among England’s fairest daughters must in some measure be guided by the dignity of the families from which they are chosen; and in the list of those who were appointed we find that the choice fell upon the daughters of the Dukes of Norfolk and of Richmond, and of the Marquess of Anglesey, the Earls of Cowper, Jersey, De La Warr, Radnor, Errol, Stanhope, Carlisle and Verulam.  And among this group were some of the loveliest faces in the English aristocracy.

Lady Mary Howard was the daughter of the Duke of Norfolk, the premier peer of the realm, and also holding the hereditary office of Earl Marshal, which conveys certain important rights by its tenure.  At the coronation of the English Sovereign, the Duke of Norfolk exercises the entire jurisdiction over the Abbey, and every arrangement of its detailed ceremonial emanates from his as Earl Marshal.  Equally as Chief Butler of England, a cup of pure gold is his perquisite, and among the treasures in the plate-room at Arundel Castle some of these ancient cups are found.  In right of holding the Manor of Worksop, the Duke, had also the privilege of finding a right-hand glove for the Sovereign’s use when holding the sceptre at the coronation, with the additional honour of supporting the Royal hand.  These offices fulfilled by the Duke of Norfolk at Queen Victoria’s coronation, but the Manor of Worksop having since been sold to the Duke of Newcastle, these ‘honours by tenure’ have passed from the family of the Howards.


Lady Mary Howard married Thomas, 4th Earl of Foley, in 1849, and was one of the latest survivors of the Queen’s twelve bridesmaids, but, dying in the present year, Lady Jane Ellice (née Bouverie) is now one of the two, alone left of the group which attended Queen Victoria on her wedding-day as Her Majesty passed along to the Chapel Royal, St. James.

Lady Caroline Gordon Lennox was one of the most beautiful débutantes of the London season in 1837, and inherited the famed beauty of the Paget family through her mother, the Duchess of Richmond.  The Duke, then Lord March, had been among the gallant officers who were wounded in the Great War with Napoleon.  He had served on the staff of the Duke of Wellington, and also been appointed Aide-de-Camp to the Prince of Orange during the Waterloo Campaign. He had also been one of the gay dancers at the famous ball in Brussels given by his mother, the Duchess of Richmond.  In 1817 he married Lady Caroline Paget, by whom he had a large family, of which Lady Caroline was the eldest daughter.  Lady Caroline married the fifth Earl of Bessborough, and, spending most of her married life and widowhood in Ireland, devoted much of her time to the care of husband’s Irish tenants.

Lady Adelaide Paget was one of the handsome daughters of the first Marquess of Anglesey, one of the most distinguished cavalry officers in the Peninsular War, who, at the head of the united British, Hanoverian, and Belgian Horse, rendered exceptionally substantial aid at the Battle of Waterloo, where he lost a leg; but notwithstanding his loss, Lord Anglesey remained one of the most accomplished horsemen of his day.  Lady Adelaide was married to the Hon. Frederick Cadogan in 1851, and one of her daughters holds the post of maid-of-honour to the Queen.

It is somewhat remarkable that another member of the same family, Lady Eleanor Paget, was a near relative of Lady Adelaide Paget, being the daughter of the second Marquess of Anglesey, so that aunt and niece were associated upon this occasion as bridesmaids.  Lady Eleanor and her aunt were born the same year.  In 1847, Lady Eleanor married Sir Sandford Graham, but died a year afterwards, in the height of her beauty, deeply regretted by all who knew her.

Lady Elizabeth Howard, daughter of the Earl of Carlisle, was one of a family of great social and political importance.  Her father, the sixth Earl, had married a daughter of the Duke of Devonshire, and while Lady Elizabeth officiated as one of the Queen’s bridesmaids, her elder sister, the Duchess of Sutherland, filled the still more important position of Mistress of the Robes.  Lady Elizabeth married the Hon. and Rev. Francis Grey, Rector of Morpeth, in the latter part of the same year as Her Majesty had been united to the Prince Consort.

Lady Catherine Lucy Wilhelmina Stanhope is one of the last two survivors of that beautiful group we are now recalling, and at a recent Drawing-room the Queen expressed much pleasure at seeing the Duchess of Cleveland at Court. Always known as Lady Wilhelmina Stanhope, she stood pre-eminent among the beauties of her days, inheriting also the brilliant talents of her father’s race.  She was married in 1843 to Lord Dalmeny, eldest son of the Earl of Rosebery, who predeceased his father.  Lady Dalmeny, in 1854, married Lord H. George Powlett, who, in 1864, succeeded his brother as Duke of Cleveland.  By her first marriage the Duchess had several children, her son, the Earl of Rosebery, being late Prime Minister, and the distinguished leader of the Liberal Party.


Lady Sarah Villiers was one of the three daughters of the Earl and Countess of Jersey, whose beauty was the theme of the poet and the subject for many an artist’s sketch.  Lady Sarah, Lady Clementina, and Lady Adela, were all lovely in their childhood, early girlhood, and womanhood.  Lord and Lady Jersey were the great leaders of fashion in the early years of Queen Victoria’s reigh, and Lady Jersey was considered and called the Queen of Society.  The entrée to her salon in Berkeley Square gave cachet to any débutante’s success, and its portals were rigorously guarded by the strictest laws of etiquette and position.  Lord Jersey had been for many years in the Household of King William IV, twice holding office as Lord Chamberlain to the King; and when Queen Victoria ascended the throne we find that under two administrations Lord Jersey was appointed Master of the Horse.  In 1840 Lady Sarah Villiers had barely completed her eighteenth year, and was the youngest of the group of bridesmaids; and her almost childish beauty was most attractive.  After a short experience of all the gaiety of a London season, Lady Sarah became engaged to Prince Nicholas Esterhazy, a Hungarian nobleman, whose father had long held the post of Ambassador to Great Britain.  The Princess spent most of her time abroad in her husband’s fine estates, but died in 1857.  In recalling the salon and Society which gathered round Lady Jersey at Middleton, in Oxfordshire, at Osterley, or in Berkeley Square, one is reminded of the romance connected with the marriage of her father and mother, the Earl and Countess of Westmorland, the latter being the only child of the great millionaire, Mr. Child.  The rich banker refused his consent to the marriage, but the lovers were too devoted to brook separation; consequently, an elopement took place.  The angry parent was determined to punish the fortune hunter, as he considered Lord Westmorland, and therefore left nothing to his bride, but settled his immense fortune on her daughter, who married the Earl of Jersey, and became the mother of three beautiful girls and four sons.

Lady Elizabeth Sackville-West was the eldest daughter of the Earl De La Warr, and in 1844 she married Mr. Hastings Russell, who eventually succeeded to the title and estates of the Duke of Bedford, his cousin, in 1872.  The Duchess held the office of Mistress of the Robes to Her Majesty more than once, and had also been one of the Ladies-of-the-Bedchamber (extra) to the Queen.  The Duchess only passed away a few months ago, having survived her husband a few years.

Lady Ida Hay represented one of the old Scotch peer’s families, the Earl of Errol, being one of the oldest creations (1453).  Born in 1821, Lady Ida married, in 1841, Charles, second Earl of Gainsborough.  Lady Ida Hay’s mother was one of the children born to King William IV, by Mrs. Jordan, to whom were given the rank and precedence of the sons and daughters of a Marquess by the King’s warrant in 1831, the Earldom of Munster being at the same time conferred on the eldest son.

Lady Frances Elizabeth Cowper was daughter of Peter Leopold, fifth Earl Cowper, and a niece of Lord Melbourne, Queen Victoria’s first Prime Minister, and in 1841 was married to Viscount Jocelyn, eldest son of the Earl of Roden.  For many years Lady Jocelyn held the post of a Lady-of-the-Queen’s-Bedchamber, and is often mentioned with much affection by Her Majesty in many published memorials of the life at Court.  In 1854 the outbreak of cholera in England was fatal to many well-known members of Society, and Lord Jocelyn was one of the victims to this terrible disease.

Lady Mary Grimston, daughter of the Earl of Verulam, was one of the bridesmaids, who in a very few months after the Royal nuptials, was herself led to the altar, having, in October, 1840, been united to the late Earl of Radnor, then Viscount Folkestone.

There remains still one of the twelve bridesmaids to speak of, and she, and the Duchess of Cleveland, are the sole survivors of the distinguished group.

Lady Jane Bouverie, daughter of the late Earl of Radnor, was born in the same year as Queen Victoria, but married some years later – 1847 – to Mr. Ellice.  Lady Jane, though living much in London, does not often enter into Society, living a quiet, retired life.

Thus ends the brief notice of the Queen’s bridesmaids, of whom but two survived to witness, the Diamond Jubilee of their Queen.  The Duchess of Cleveland had the double honour of assisting as train-bearer at the Coronation as well as at the Royal marriage, and of this she is the only one left who officiated on both occasions, though Lady Caroline Lennox was another of her companions at both these impressive ceremonies.


On February, 10th, 1840, London was astir early, for high and low, rich and poor, were filled with interest in the marriage of the young Queen, who had only completed her twentieth year in the summer of 1839.  While attention was chiefly concentrated upon Buckingham Palace, where the Queen was in residence, there was much to be noticed in and about the neighborhood of St. James Palace, where the marriage was to be solemnised, and where the distinguished guests arrived in quick succession some time before the Royal bride was expected.  The bridesmaids had been summoned at half-past eleven, and were at once shown to Her Majesty’s closet, while others taking part in the Royal procession were marshaled in the throne room.  It is needless to say that all the ladies were more than punctual.  Her Majesty had arranged the costumes which they were to wear, and many of us can remember the exact style which was then most fashionable for full dress.  Their dresses (or slips, as then called) were of rich white glacé, over which a double skirt of full white tulle hung to the hem, the upper skirt of tulle being looped up at one side by a large spray of white roses and green leaves.  Six of the bridesmaids had these bouquets on the right side and six on the left, so that the flowers were seen as they took their places on each side holding by a loop the Royal bride’s long white satin train.  The loops at intervals down each side secured the bridesmaid’s walking at correct distances.  The coiffures in 1840 were great contrasts to those of 1897, and were very much ‘au natural.’ Those who had long, curling hair wore ringlets on either side, just kept in place by ‘jeweled side combs,’ while others had theirs dressed en bandeau, with plaits or coils at the back.  On each side, just falling to the ear, a large white rose was fastened; and though to modern taste this no doubt sounds a most unbecoming arrangement, the tout ensemble of the group was much admired.  Of course six of the bridesmaids had been told to place their head flowers on the same side as the sprays on the dress, but mistakes were made, and the necessary alterations had to be effected before the Queen arrived.  When the moment came for the procession to be formed Her Majesty stood for a few minutes in the centre of this bevy of English maidens, while they arranged themselves in order and lifted the Royal train, following their Queen through the State apartments of St. James’ Palace and so on to the Chapel Royal, by the same route as was chosen when the Duke and Duchess of York were married in the same Royal Chapel of St. James.

Contrary to the present custom of giving the bridesmaids their presents before the ceremony, we hear that when the marriage was over the twelve bridesmaids accompanied the Queen and Prince Albert to their private apartment, where apparently one of the Queen’s ‘jeweller’s bag’ from which the Queen received twelve blue velvet cases, one of which she presented to each of her bridesmaids.  The gift was a turquoise brooch in the form of a spread eagle, with ruby eyes, and diamond beak, holding a pearl in each claw.  These brooches were afterwards worn on a white bow fastened on the shoulder, and became distinctive marks of those who had been honoured on the occasion of the Queen’s marriage by attending as train-bearers.


The guests all proceeded to Buckingham Palace, where the wedding breakfast was served, and were also included in the number who attended the grand banquet given in the evening at Buckingham Palace.

To some who are still alive these slight sketches will recall the days of balls given at Almack’s, where these Court beauties often made their début.  Society was very different then and now, and the entrée to Almack’s was a coveted honour, for its sacred portals were not open to everyone, and to obtain a voucher was the aim and object of every débutante who wished to reach the inner circle of the ultra-fashionable clique of London Society.  They were established in 1814, and kept up their exclusiveness to the last.  Lady Jersey was the chief of the Lady Patronesses, in whose hands the decision as to the guests was confined; and Lady Sarah Villiers and her sister, Lady Clementina, were generally present, as well as most of their companions at the marriage.

We cannot but think of the brief years of married bliss enjoyed by the central figure of the whole ceremonial, and the long years of widowhood so bravely borne in bitter loneliness, alike bereft of the nearest and dearest as well as of the companions, friends, and acquaintances of early years, so few of whom are living still.

So much has been written of all the events in Her Majesty’s life that it seems well to avoid the recapitulation of the details of the Royal Marriage; and yet a few words should be added.

Of course the line of route from Buckingham Palace to St. James’ was crowded with spectators, but their numbers were small in comparison with those who, in later years, assemble upon every occasion when Her Majesty takes her place in any public ceremonial.  Cheap and easy means of locomotion have made it so simple to get up to London from all parts of England, far and near.  A wet morning seemed to presage a bad day; but happily the ran ceased before the time fixed for the ceremony.

The Prince Consort’s procession preceded that of Her Majesty, and the Royal Bridegroom’s personal appearance favourably impressed all who saw him.

The Queen left the Palace escorted by the Life Guards, and attended by a brilliant suite.  The Duchess of Kent accompanied her daughter, who looked pale and nervous. 

The Royal wedding dress was of rich white satin satin, profusely trimmed with exquisite Honiton lace, and wreaths of orange-blossom.  A veil of the same costly lace fell from a wreath of orange-blossoms, leaving the fair young face uncovered.  Her Majesty wore few jewels, and the whole costume was remarkable for its simplicity.  The long train of what satin was trimmed with lace and orange-blossom.

The Duke of Sussex, Her Majesty’s uncle, awaited the bride’s arrival, as it was his duty to give her away, and support the Queen in the procession.

The invited guests assembled in the Chapel, with the exception of those who were in attendance on Her Majesty or the Prince; and these proceeded to the State Apartments, to wait till the procession was formed.  With the exception of the King of the Belgians and the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, with his son, there were no representatives of other Foreign Sovereigns.  The close relationship with other nations which now allies the English Royal Family with so many nations, did not then exist, neither was it such an easy matter to visit England for a short time.  The decorations of the Chapel and the Palace were carried out according to the State and fashion of the day, and along the line leading through the State apartments privileged spectators were seated.

The Mistress of the Robes, the Ladies-in-Waiting, and the twelve bridesmaids, were in the Queen’s closet, and after the Prince Consort had passed to the Chapel, the head of the Queen’s procession advanced.  Her Majesty, walking with that dignity and grace for which she was ever celebrated, scarcely raised her eyes from the ground, says one who watched her, but remarks how different was Her Majesty’s expression as she returned with the Prince her husband, when her face was lit up with a bright smile and look of perfect happiness.

The Queen Dowager, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, with their daughtes, Princess Augusta and Princess Mary were among the members of the Royal Family at the marriage, and on the conclusion of the service all proceeded to Buckingham Palace to the déjeuner.  Later in the day the Royal bride and bridegroom departed to Windsor, posting by road in an open carriage with four horses, and with the travelling escort of Household Cavalry.  Her Majesty was dressed in white satin, and was greeted by enthusiastic cheers along the whole route.

At Slough, Eton, and Windsor, the reception was equally vociferous, especially when the young scholars joined their voices in the loud and hearty cheers which then, as now, greet the Queen whenever Her Majesty appears.

While we thus recall the incidents of our beloved Queen’s marriage in 1840 and tell of those who filled the office of bridesmaids at the Royal wedding, we are reminded of other like ceremonials, when the children and grandchildren of Queen Victoria have in their turn been the bride and bridegroom of the distinguished individuals upon whom their choice had fallen.  The marriage of the Prince of Wales at Windsor was a scene of great magnificence and stately pageantry, and among the bridesmaids chosen to attend Princess Alexandra of Denmark on this occasion, another daughter of the Duke of Richmond appeared, Lady Cecilia Gordon Lennox, now Countess of Lucan.

There is an old tradition connected with the marriage of George III, when the beautiful Lady Sarah Lennox, one of the daughters of Charles, 2nd Duke of Richmond, attended the Royal bride, and the censorious gossips of the day watched her behaviour with some curiosity, knowing that rumour said she herself might have stood in the bride’s place, so deeply enamoured was the King in his young days of Lady Sarah Lennox, who was often to be seen in the fields adjoining Holland House (where she spent much time with her sister, Lady Georgina Fox), busily engaged in making hay and attracting the notice of all who passed by, among them the King himself.

It would be interesting to notice the lives of these ladies whose portraits are given, when they themselves were married, some very soon after Her Majesty’s marriage, but unfortunately space does not permit.  Alas! that some of them passed away in the prime of their life; while many others may live to see their own descendants in a future generation, taking part in any ceremonials which may attend the marriages of the younger members of the Royal Family. The costumes and the coiffures of the twelve bridesmaids may cause a smile on the face of our readers today, but there was very little possibility of building up a fabric of false hair in the early Victorian fashion, and the grace and beauty of the portraits mostly taken from the annuals of the day, are undeniable. 

Lady Jane Ellice, and the Duchess of Cleveland are the only survivors.  They can still tell of the February morning in 1840 when they lifted the train of their Queen’s wedding dress, and, passing through the state apartments of St. James’ Palace, stood round the bride and bridegroom as they plighted their troth either to either in the Chapel Royal. Perhaps these ladies may sometimes enter the chapel and recall the scene, with the faces of their companions whom they now represent as the only survivors of the Queen’s bridesmaids.


NR

© 2011 The Esoteric Curiosa
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