Facts About British Royal Brides

[windsorbrides1]

I found this article on Yahoo. Thought everyone would like to see it.

Facts About Royal Brides - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com

 

[melissaadrian]

I found this article on Yahoo. Thought everyone would like to see it.

Facts About Royal Brides - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com

Most of it was just basic known stuff. But it was cute, Elizabeth recieved 200 pairs of nylons for wedding gifts. I guess back then they were a luxury, since even the queen had to use ration coupons to buy her dress. She likely didn't have to, but it showed real integrity, that Elizabeth would follow the rules the people had to.

I didn't realize Princess Anne actually dated Andrew Parker-Bowles, Camilla's ex husband, but broke up because he was catholic and she'd have to give up her right to succession. And that Andrew met Camilla, while dating Charles' sister, and went after her when Charles left for the navy.

Or that while Diana, a virgin, was believed to have lived with the queen mother at Clarence house during the engagement so the woman could shield her innocence, she was actually at Buckingham palace. She was worried Charles would not give up Camilla. She almost backed out but her sister Sarah told her 'your face is already on tea towels, it's too late to chicken out now.'

Sarah's father was Andrew's polo manager so they knew each other as kids. But it was Diana who introduced them as adults. Diana invited Sarah to sit with them at Ascot. Andrew tried to force feed her chocolate cream puffs since she was on a diet. Her train because of his initial on it was dubbed the 'a train', how original.

Sophie and Edward are the most interesting, probably for me since they were the wedding I got to watch, old enough to remember. The sun had sold a picture of one of Sophie's friends lifting her bikini top. The palace went after them for premeditated cruelty, and the newspaper donated all the profits to Sophie's favorite charity as an apology. They were criticized for some very expensive gifts on their gift list including camera equipment. The wedding was mainly family and celebrity friends. Prince William taught line dancing, the Queen and York girls did YMCA dance, and the queen mother did the twist.

 

[PrincessKaimi]

Meilissandrian, you just made my whole day/week/month worthwhile. It's so wonderful that you share your memories. I remember only Diana and Charles's wedding ( I think perhaps I was without television during part of the rest), but even had I been paying more attention, I probably wouldn't remember all these details.

More please!

 

[Madame Royale]

Or that while Diana, a virgin, was believed to have lived with the queen mother at Clarence house during the engagement so the woman could shield her innocence, she was actually at Buckingham palace. She was worried Charles would not give up Camilla. She almost backed out but her sister Sarah told her 'your face is already on tea pots, it's too late to chicken out now.

It's amusing how everyone hears something different. I've only ever heard, or read, that her sister told her that her face was already on the tea towles, not tea pots.

It often becomes a sort of royal 'chinese whispers'.

 

[melissaadrian]

Meilissandrian, you just made my whole day/week/month worthwhile. It's so wonderful that you share your memories. I remember only Diana and Charles's wedding ( I think perhaps I was without television during part of the rest), but even had I been paying more attention, I probably wouldn't remember all these details.

More please!

Madam Royal, you're right the quote was tea towels, I fixed it.

Edward VII rejected his dad's wish for him to marry German, he thought they were all not attractive enough. Victoria and Alexander II both wanted Alexandra for their heirs. When Alexandra agreed to marry Edward, she cemented her sister becoming Maria Federovna of Russia (formerly Princess Dagmar of Denmark). Though their dad was heir to the throne, their parents were not rich, the sisters shared a bedroom, and even sewed their own dresses. They wed after Albert died, so other than the bride and her ladies, all the ladies of court had to wear gray or lilac, as the court was still in mourning.

George V was station in the navy in Malta with his Uncle the Duke of Edinburgh. He fell in love with his cousin, Lady Marie. His father and Uncle supported it, but both their mothers were opposed. Marie eventually became queen of Romania. His brother was set to marry Princess Mary 'May' a beloved goddaughter of Victoria, when he died of pnemonia before the wedding. May lay her wedding boquet of orange blossoms on the grave. Her and George bonded as they mourned, and though basically an arranged marriage, were extremely happy and had 6 kids.

Duke of York proposed for two years before the queen mum said yes. His mother went to her family castle, to meet this woman who stole his son's heart. She was said to approve, but would not step in. The newly founded BBC wanted to air the wedding live on the radio, but the archbishop said no. He worried it would be broadcast in Brothels and Pubs.

Elizabeth met Philip, when he was assigned to escort her, when his Uncle was giving her and her parents a tour of Dartmouth naval college. She was smitten and they wrote many letters. Her mother disapproved at first, and was known to call Philip 'The Hun'. His sisters were unable to attend the wedding as they were German princesses, and it was after the war. The Princess Royal refused to attend, officially due to illness, but it was known because her brother Duke of Windsor was not invited.

Or Prince Edward and Andrew put the customary 'just married' sign on the back of the carriage for Diana and Charles, raising huge smiles. They took the carriage to the train station, as they took a train to start their honeymoon.

 

[PrincessKaimi]

Wow - so many great details.

I didn't realize the Princess Royale refused to attend on account of her brother - that's touching. What a difficult time that was for the family. I think it changed them forever. It was almost as if the Duke of Windsor insisted on modernizing the family, in his own way - and now we actually have the future heir married to a divorced woman (although not an American and not twice-divorced, but still).

And then there was Queen Victoria, who seemed to try and make time stand still for almost a century...

 

[melissaadrian]

Wow - so many great details.

I didn't realize the Princess Royale refused to attend on account of her brother - that's touching. What a difficult time that was for the family. I think it changed them forever. It was almost as if the Duke of Windsor insisted on modernizing the family, in his own way - and now we actually have the future heir married to a divorced woman (although not an American and not twice-divorced, but still).

And then there was Queen Victoria, who seemed to try and make time stand still for almost a century...

I love even queens have to listen to their mother. Queen Victoria was single when she took the throne. Because she was a single woman in those times, she had to live with her mother. Her and mother didn't get along though so she shoved her mother in the furthest wing of Buckingham palace, and often refused to meet her. Lord Melbourne suggested her only out was marriage, and she eventually proposed (pretty modern of her to propose) and married Albert. Her mother was kicked out on her royal bum to Ingestre house finally. After the death of Princess Augusta, Victoria's Aunt, she was given Clarence and Frogmore houses. Albert seemed a peace maker between the two.

 

[Esmerelda]

Didn't Victoria have to propose because she was Queen? She probably resented her mother because of all that had happened before she came to the throne.

 

[wymanda]

George V was station in the navy in Malta with his Uncle the Duke of Edinburgh. He fell in love with his cousin, Lady Marie.

She was not "Lady Marie", she was correctly titled "HRH Princess Marie of Edinburgh"

 

[CyrilVladisla]

Didn't Victoria have to propose because she was Queen? She probably resented her mother because of all that had happened before she came to the throne.

Esmeralda, You are correct.
Because Albert was only a Prince and she was the Queen Regnant of England, Victoria proposed to Albert.
​

 

[COUNTESS]

Madam Royal, you're right the quote was tea towels, I fixed it.

Edward VII rejected his dad's wish for him to marry German, he thought they were all not attractive enough. Victoria and Alexander II both wanted Alexandra for their heirs. When Alexandra agreed to marry Edward, she cemented her sister becoming Maria Federovna of Russia (formerly Princess Dagmar of Denmark). Though their dad was heir to the throne, their parents were not rich, the sisters shared a bedroom, and even sewed their own dresses. They wed after Albert died, so other than the bride and her ladies, all the ladies of court had to wear gray or lilac, as the court was still in mourning.

George V was station in the navy in Malta with his Uncle the Duke of Edinburgh. He fell in love with his cousin, Lady Marie. His father and Uncle supported it, but both their mothers were opposed. Marie eventually became queen of Romania. His brother was set to marry Princess Mary 'May' a beloved goddaughter of Victoria, when he died of pnemonia before the wedding. May lay her wedding boquet of orange blossoms on the grave. Her and George bonded as they mourned, and though basically an arranged marriage, were extremely happy and had 6 kids.

Duke of York proposed for two years before the queen mum said yes. His mother went to her family castle, to meet this woman who stole his son's heart. She was said to approve, but would not step in. The newly founded BBC wanted to air the wedding live on the radio, but the archbishop said no. He worried it would be broadcast in Brothels and Pubs.

Elizabeth met Philip, when he was assigned to escort her, when his Uncle was giving her and her parents a tour of Dartmouth naval college. She was smitten and they wrote many letters. Her mother disapproved at first, and was known to call Philip 'The Hun'. His sisters were unable to attend the wedding as they were German princesses, and it was after the war. The Princess Royal refused to attend, officially due to illness, but it was known because her brother Duke of Windsor was not invited.

Or Prince Edward and Andrew put the customary 'just married' sign on the back of the carriage for Diana and Charles, raising huge smiles. They took the carriage to the train station, as they took a train to start their honeymoon.

Phillip's sister were not invited because they were married to German Princes, several of whom were Nazis.

 

[Iluvbertie]

Why are people answering questions or commenting on posts from 2011 - that is three years ago???

 

[Noble Consort Ming]

Why are people answering questions or commenting on posts from 2011 - that is three years ago???

The particular poster who did that is very fond of pulling up very old posts with inane comments or questions. I read this forum a lot less since he's started posting.

 

[Denville]

I don't see what Is wrong with a new member looking at old posts and trying to get a discussion going again..

 

[Osipi]

I really don't either and think its kind of nice when someone "bumps up" an old, dusty thread. It puts it back out there to the attention of people that may not have known such a topic or thread even existed and perhaps spark a continuing conversation.

Some threads here started waaaaay back when. TRF is really like a huge archive that has to be the best over the years. Iluvbertie's continuing the thread on the British Royal Engagements is a godsend that even years from now, we can go back and find out exactly what someone was doing on what day and where if we wanted to.

Knowledge is power.

 

[CyrilVladisla]

Isabella of Valois was six when she wed Richard II.

 

[Osipi]

Isabella of Valois was six when she wed Richard II.

Now there is a clear example of a dynastic, arrainged marriage eh?

 

[Curryong]

What's the alternative? That some of these more esoteric threads slumber in the mists for three, five, seven years? Of course they should be take a look at and be posted in!

Isabella was widowed by the time she was nine or ten, wasn't she? I think Richard grew fond of her in a big-brotherish sort of way. He tried to protect her while the dynastic fighting was going on. She returned to France and later married again, dying very young giving birth to her only child.

At least most of these child brides were not forced to consummate the marriage until they'd reached puberty. In this regard I always think of the difficult birth of Henry VII when his mother Margaret Beaufort was only 14. She was widowed soon afterwards as well. That birth must have damaged Margaret gynaecologically as, although she married twice more, there were no more children.

 

[Denville]

What's the alternative? That some of these more esoteric threads slumber in the mists for three, five, seven years? Of course they should be take a look at and be posted in!

the marriage until they'd reached puberty. In this regard I always think of the difficult birth of Henry VII when his mother Margaret Beaufort was only 14. She was widowed soon afterwards as well. That birth must have damaged Margaret gynaecologically as, although she married twice more, there were no more children.

we don't know that though. she might have jus been unlucky (or maybe lucky) and did not conceive again.
I think that generally royals were carful with young people, they didn't want them to not produce at least a couple of children and so, tended to try and ensure that they were guarded from consummaton and child bearing too soon. I believe that Richard was fond of Isabelle and looked after her..and he didn't want to consummate the marriage too soon.

 

[Pranter]

Historians (from what I have read) indicate that M. Beaufort was so damaged from the birth of Henry she was unable to have more children.

Perhaps there are some old documents they've seen discussing it.


LaRae

 

[Denville]

Historians (from what I have read) indicate that M. Beaufort was so damaged from the birth of Henry she was unable to have more children.

Perhaps there are some old documents they've seen discussing it.


LaRae

Possibly. However I believe that Mary de Bohun, wife of Henry IV got pregnant when she was only 14.. She and Henry were married but his father did not want the marriage consummated till she was older.... but she got pregnant and then later she produced several children. I think she did lose the first one though

 

[An Ard Ri]

Given that Margaret was on 12 when she was married off to the Earl and 13 when she gave birth to Henry it must have been a terrible experience for her.

 

[Denville]

Hardly unusual for a young royal, or noble female

 

[Curryong]

Having a baby at the age of thirteen wasn't that usual among the nobility, even by the standards of the fifteenth century. Couples often married early but husband and wife would be kept from sleeping together until the onset of puberty which was later in most cases than it is now. If you look at the sisters of Elizabeth, (Henry VII's wife,) who married and had issue none had babies at thirteen.

 

[Denville]

yes true that they were often kept from consummating the marriage.. though not in all cases....but Henry IV and Mary D Bohun jumped the gun.. and she produced several children...

 

[Curryong]

The fact that other girls were lucky and went on to have other children doesn't mean that Margaret Beaufort possibly, indeed probably, didn't suffer gynaecological damage from giving birth to her sole offspring when SHE was thirteen, though.

 

[LauraS3514]

yes true that they were often kept from consummating the marriage.. though not in all cases....but Henry IV and Mary D Bohun jumped the gun.. and she produced several children...

They had seven children together and Mary died in childbirth with that seventh child. She was 26.

 

[Gawin]

When King Edward I arranged a marriage between his 13-year old daughter Eleanor and the future King Alfonso III of Aragon, he refused to send her to Aragon right away because his wife and mother both believed she was too young and wanted to wait another two years.

Edward's wife Eleanor of Castile and his mother Eleanor of Provence were speaking from experience as they both married when they were 13. Apparently they wanted to save young Eleanor from the same fate. As it turned out, the marriage negotiations fell through and Eleanor married the Duke of Bar when she was 24.

 

[Countessmeout]

When King Edward I arranged a marriage between his 13-year old daughter Eleanor and the future King Alfonso III of Aragon, he refused to send her to Aragon right away because his wife and mother both believed she was too young and wanted to wait another two years.

Edward's wife Eleanor of Castile and his mother Eleanor of Provence were speaking from experience as they both married when they were 13. Apparently they wanted to save young Eleanor from the same fate. As it turned out, the marriage negotiations fell through and Eleanor married the Duke of Bar when she was 24.

Her age was partly an excuse. She was technically betrothed to him until his death in 1291, nine years later. The issue was that Alfonso's parents were under Papal interdict, over the issue of the Sicilian throne. Until the interdict was lifted, Edward didn't wish to send his daughter to marriage. She was 22 when Alfonso died, certainly much older then most brides, and still single. While his father died in 1285, Alfonso and his brothers kept up the fight for Sicily, Alfonso supporting the claim of his brother James. He did try and make peace with the Papal state before his death, withdrawing support from his brother. Their mother Constance was the eldest child of Manfred of Sicily. Her and her husband Peter were meant to succeed him, Peter was made King of Sicily. But backed by the Papal state, Charles I of Anjou seized the throne from the family.

It was eventually settled after Alfonso's death. Frederick, younger brother of James and Alfonso, was named king by the Sicilians. A peace agreement let him keep the title, but as a vassel king to Charles who was King of Naples. He was later married to Charles' daughter Eleanor, who was the mother of his son, the eventual Peter II of Sicily.


The idea though of waiting made sense. Many of the royal brides forced into marriage that young (consummated) often died in childbirth or miscarried that young. It is said Henry VII's mother was left barren from complications giving birth to him, as she was so young (14).

Eleanor's mother had lost her first child at 14. Eleanor of Bar was her first child to reach adulthood (sixth child she bore). The first five ranged from still born to six years old when they died.

Edward's mother was luckier. Of her five confirmed children, only the youngest didn't reach adulthood.


Eleanor of bar unfortunately only lived for five years after her marriage, dying in 1298. Her husband died four years later.

 

[Gawin]

Her age was partly an excuse.She was technically betrothed to him until his death in 1291, nine years later. The issue was that Alfonso's parents were under Papal interdict, over the issue of the Sicilian throne. Until the interdict was lifted, Edward didn't wish to send his daughter to marriage.

No, her age wasn't partly an excuse. The account in Eleanor's Wikipedia entry is brief and misleading. The Aragonese wanted her to go to Aragon once the marriage by proxy had taken place in August 1282. But because she was only 13 her mother and grandmother protested, presumably because they'd gone through that experience themselves and wanted to protect her from the same fate.

The papal interdict wasn't placed on Aragon until later that same year. But yes, eventually it was the reason why the marriage was never finalized, even after the initial two year delay requested by her mother and grandmother had expired.