Madame Guillotine
Kill them all if they won't eat cake.
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A portrait of Queen Victoria by Winterhalter. This painting has been rarely seen until now as its ornate frame required such extensive renovation work. It’s now been restored to its former glory and is on display in Kensington Palace.
(Source: madameguillotine.org.uk)
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Snippets from some of Queen Victoria’s ball gowns, Kensington Palace.
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Queen Victoria’s daughter, Princess Louise in her wedding dress, Kensington Palace.
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Queen Victoria with her favourite cousin, Princess Victoire of Saxe Coburg Gotha, Duchesse de Nemours in 1852.
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“I NEVER, NEVER spent such an evening!! MY DEAREST DEAREST DEAR Albert sat on a footstool by my side, and his excessive love and affection gave me feelings of heavenly love and happiness I never could have hoped to have felt before! He clasped me in his arms, and we kissed each other again and again! His beauty, his sweetness and gentleness – really how can I ever be thankful enough to have such a Husband!”
— Queen Victoria writing in her journal about her wedding day. -
Victoria wore white satin with a crown of orange blossoms and a veil of Honiton lace framing her face. She also sported an early present from her new husband in the form of a sapphire brooch set with diamonds. Both appeared nervous (the orange blossoms were described as quivering) but the ceremony went well. This must have been a huge relief after Victoria’s coronation which had been marred by repeated mistakes on the part of the clergy and problems with an ill-fitting ring. There were, however, some murmurings about the political partiality of the guest list which must be even more of a headache for a reigning monarch than for your average bride.
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Victoria and Albert were prolific correspondents and the Queen began her wedding day, 10 February 1840, by sending a note to her fiancé asking how he had slept and expressing a belief that the bad weather that morning would soon give way to sunshine. She later visited to check on him in person disregarding the tradition that brides should not see their groom until the wedding service began – just one of many defiant acts that this particular monarch would later become renowned for.
— Claire Marriott on Victoria and Albert’s wedding day. -
I’d always imagined Queen Victoria’s mourning clothes to be profoundly black and very plain indeed but this bodice is a gorgeously detailed piece of work – clearly the mourning Queen was still partial to a lovely piece of feminine lacework and flounce. There is exquisite detailing on the front of the bodice and observe the soft, floaty tulle of the sleeves…
