A pair of commemorative souvenir silks on The Marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, 10 February 1840

“OH! TO FEEL I WAS, AND AM, LOVED BY SUCH AN ANGEL AS ALBERT, WAS TOO GREAT [A] DELIGHT TO DESCRIBE!”

Two commemorative silks, each measuring 17.5 x 23cm approximately; printed on one side with text in blue; both frayed at edges, causing a little loss of text; some light brown spots; one with a small hole to the upper right hand corner; remarkable survivals. 

Queen Victoria married Prince Albert on the 10th February 1840, in a lavish and busy celebration befitting of a great royal wedding which was held at the Chapel Royal in St James’s Palace . The cousins had met at Victoria’s 17th birthday in 1836, and though it was apparently love at first sight, it was 1939 before they decided to wed. These two delicate silks commemorate the day, as well as providing insight into the proceedings. The first silk lists invited guests, and provides details into Victoria’s state dress and who carried her train. The second contains a lengthy paragraph describing proceedings, including when the drums and trumpets were sounded, who sat where, and who presided over the ceremony. “Where the Archbishop of Canterbury read the words ‘I pronounce that they be man and wife together’, the Park and Tower guns fired”, it states. 

When Albert died in 1861, Victoria declared “My life as a happy one is ended.” She wore black for the rest of her life, and never truly recovered. These silks predate that event, however, and memorialise what was undoubtedly the happiest day of her life.

Lovely items commemorating one of the Royal family’s best-known love stories. Exceedingly scarce. 

“In the evening there were very splendid illuminations, and other public demonstrations of joy, in celebration of this most auspicious event, throughout the metropolis”.  

SKU: 1800189