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A ROYAL WEDDING
George, Duke of York, married Princess Mary of Teck at the Chapel Royal at St. James’s Palace on Thursday, 6 July 1893.
A ROYAL ENGAGEMENT
The engagement of Mary of Teck to George, Duke of York, was announced in May 1893 after the couple had become close while mourning the death of George’s brother, Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence. A favourite of Queen Victoria, May had been set to marry Albert Victor on 27 February 1892, however he contracted influenza and died on 14 January 1892.
Saddened by Albert Victor’s death, George and May supported each other through their grief and Queen Victoria urged her grandson to consider making May his wife. George, aware of his duty to the succession, had already proposed to his cousin, Marie of Edinburgh, the year before, however his proposal had been rejected. Wary of being refused again, George was reluctant to propose to May, however with further urging from his family, he plucked up the courage and was duly accepted.
THE WEDDING
The wedding took place on 6 July 1893 at the Chapel Royal at St. James’s Palace and was performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury with the help of the Bishop of London, the Bishop of Rochester, and five others.
The reception was held in the State Dining Room and the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace which was attended by 300 guests, with the young couple sitting on either side of the Queen who retired to her own rooms after the luncheon was served. Later in the afternoon, the newlyweds appeared on the balcony alongside the Queen and the rest of the royal family.
WEDDING DRESS
May’s gown was ivory silk satin, embroidered with roses, shamrocks and thistles in silver thread, and trimmed with garlands of orange blossoms. The front of the dress had three small flounces of old Honiton lace which had been used on the wedding dress of May’s mother.
The bodice was long and pointed, and made of white and silver brocade. It also featured a small amount of her mother’s Honiton lace near the top and on the upper part of the sleeve. Orange blossoms were also placed on the bodice and in the hair to match those on the dress. The train had a design of roses, shamrocks and thistles in silver on a white background.
THE BRIDESMAIDS
May was attended by ten bridesmaids who were all cousins of Prince George’s and therefore granddaughters of Queen Victoria.
The bridesmaids wore simple white satin dresses with corsages and corselets of silver guipure lace with rosebuds in pink. The bridesmaids were gifted a bracelet featuring a Rose of York brooch in gold, enamel and diamonds.
THE HONEYMOON
After the reception, the newlyweds left for Sandringham where they would spend their honeymoon at York Cottage.
George and Mary went on to have six children and lived in York Cottage for much of their married life until George ascended the throne on 6 May 1910. Since both were extremely shy, they were never very demonstrative to each other, however they remained devoted and often wrote heartfelt letters.