Queen Victoria first met her German cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, in 1836, and Queen Victoria and Prince Albert became engaged during his second visit to England in 1839. Their wedding ceremony took place on 10 February 1840 at the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, and their wedding breakfast was held at Buckingham Palace. This was the first wedding of a reigning Queen in England since 1554.

In this extract from Queen Victoria’s journal, she describes getting ready for her wedding day and includes a small sketch she made of her wearing her veil and a headdress of orange blossom.

Queen Victoria’s journals from onwards were copied and edited, after her death, by Princess Beatrice, and the originals were destroyed. The handwriting here is, therefore, that of Princess Beatrice.



© Royal Archives, Windsor Castle

Click here to view a full-size version (JPG, 453KB)

Click here to view a transcript (PDF, 65.9KB)

Tasks
4a. What does this journal entry tell us about Queen Victoria’s wedding dress and jewellery?

4b. Why do you think Princess Beatrice edited her mother’s journal after her death?