Alexandra of Denmark waited thirty-eight years as Princess of Wales before reaching the pinnacle of her royal and imperial career as queen and empress consort to Edward VII. The victim of her husband's fairly flagrant infidelity and her own ever worsening hearing loss, she had sought solace with her children and extended family, as well as with frequent travel, social engagements, and through her popularity with the public. Known for her beauty and elegant figure, she was also a much-copied influence on fashion in the second half of the nineteenth century. There was certainly nothing timid, though, about her evening and gala toilettes. Her beautifully detailed gowns - usually the work of Parisian fashion houses - were typically burdened by copious jewels, both real and, when she considered the array insufficient, imitation; it was said that she was able, as no other woman, to carry off such excessive display, somehow never appearing overdone or vulgar. She was queen for a very brief nine years, Edward VII dying in May of 1910. Queen Alexandra's gowns shown here are from her time as consort, and show her preference for rich ornamentation, particularly, at that time, intricate beading and a lavish display of sequins and paillettes.
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| Gown by Henriette Favre, circa 1906. |
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| Gown by Henriette Favre (?), 1902. |
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| Gown by Henriette Favre, 1902. |
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| 1907. |
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| Circa 1908. |
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| Gown by Maison Morin-Blossier, circa 1903. |
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| Gown by Barolet, circa 1908. |
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| Gown by Maison Doeuillet, 1910. |
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| From an exhibition held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2014-15. (Two images.) |
And yet more spangles....
Both photographs were taken at the wedding of Princess Margaret of Connaught to Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden, 15 June 1905.
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| Queen Alexandra with her daughters Louise, Princess Royal and Duchess of Fife, and Princess Victoria. |
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| Queen Alexandra with Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden and Norway - two years later Queen of Sweden - the mother of the groom. |
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