Monthly Archives: June 2017

Wedding of King Albert II of Belgium and Donna Paola Ruffo di Calabria

by Scott Mehl    © Unofficial Royalty 2017

On July 2, 1959, King Albert II of Belgium, then the Prince of Liège, married Paola Ruffo di Calabria in Brussels, Belgium. The civil ceremony was held at the Town Hall, followed by the religious ceremony at the Cathedral of Saint Michael and Saint Gudula.

Albert’s Early Life

source: Belgian Monarchy

Prince Albert Félix Humbert Théodore Christian Eugène Marie was born on June 6, 1934, at Stuyvenberg Castle, the youngest of three children of King Leopold III and Princess Astrid of Sweden. He was given the title Prince of Liège at birth. His youth was spent during World War II when the family – his father, stepmother, older siblings and three younger step-siblings – were held under house arrest at the Castle of Laeken, where Albert and his siblings were educated privately. After the Allied landings in 1944, the family was moved to Germany, and then to Austria, before being freed by American forces in May 1945. Due to the uncertain political situation in Belgium – owed primarily to King Leopold’s actions during the war – the family settled in Switzerland where Albert continued his education in Geneva. Finally, in July 1950, the family returned to Belgium. Within a year of their return, King Leopold abdicated in favor of Albert’s older brother, Baudouin. Albert became the heir presumptive to the throne, as Baudouin was not married.

For more information about Albert see:

Paola’s Early Life

source: Belgian Monarchy

Donna Paola Ruffo di Calabria was born September 11, 1937, at Forte dei Marmi in Italy, the youngest of seven children of Fulco, Prince Ruffo di Calabria and Luisa Gazelli dei Conti di Rossana. Her father was a distinguished flying ace in World War I, and the family was very prominent in the Italian aristocracy. Through her mother’s family, she is a direct descendant of the Marquis de Lafayette.

Paola was raised in Rome, where she completed her secondary education in Latin and Greek and became fluent in several languages.

For more information about Paola see:

The Engagement

In November 1958, both Albert and Paola were in Rome to attend the coronation of Pope John XXIII. They first met at a reception held at the Belgian Embassy and were instantly smitten. Just a month later, On December 6, 1958, Albert proposed and Paola accepted. Two months later, he introduced Paola to his family, and finally, the engagement was announced on April 13, 1959. Following the announcement, the couple met with the press at the Palace of Laeken.

“The King, and King Leopold have the joy to share with the nation the engagement of HRH Prince Albert, Prince of Belgium, Prince of Liège, with Dona Paola Ruffo di Calabria, daughter of the late Prince Fulco Ruffo di Calabria, Duke of Guardia Lombarda and Princess Luisa Gazelli.”

Over the next several weeks, the couple visited several of the provinces of Belgium, where Albert introduced his future bride to the Belgian people.

VIDEO:
British Pathé: Prince Albert Engagement (no sound)

Plans for a Vatican Wedding

Several days after the engagement, it was announced that the couple planned to marry at the Vatican on July 1, 1959, with the ceremony being officiated by Pope John XXIII. However, this was quickly met with resistance in Belgium, from both the government and the Belgian people. First was the fact that many people felt that a royal wedding should take place in Belgium, to be a celebration for all the people. And there were also some legalities involved. The Vatican only recognizes religious marriage, while Belgium only recognizes civil marriage (and requires a civil marriage before a religious service can take place). There was also the issue of the groom’s aunt and uncle, the former King Umberto and Queen Marie-José of Italy who were banned from entering Italy. Due to the Vatican’s position within the city of Rome, it would require some almost clandestine efforts for them to be able to attend.

By the end of May, reports began to emerge that the plans were changing. The Pope – wanting to avoid any sort of diplomatic or political issue – decided that the wedding should take place at home. On June 2, it was announced by the Belgian government that the wedding – both civil and religious – would take place in Brussels on July 2, 1959:

“Anxious to see all the Belgians united around the throne on the occasion of the marriage of HRH Prince Albert with Donna Ruffo di Calabria, His Holiness, John the XXIII, in a gesture of especial solicitude toward Belgium, deemed it desirable that the wedding of the Prince take place in Brussels. In agreement with the Government, His Majesty The King and the two families have decided in unity that the marriage ceremonies be held in this country.”

The following week, on June 9, Paola arrived in Belgium, accompanied by her mother. A garden party was held at the Castle of Laeken, where Albert and Paola greeted hundreds of invited guests from around Belgium, as well as members of the government.

Wedding Guests

The wedding was small by royal standards, with just 500 invited guests. Many of these were members of the government and diplomatic corps, along with Albert’s and Paola’s families, and several members of foreign royal and noble families. The guest list included:

The Groom’s Extended Family
King Baudouin of the Belgian – Albert’s brother
Dowager Queen Elisabeth of Belgium – Albert’s grandmother
King Leopold III of Belgium and Princess Lilian – Albert’s father and stepmother
Prince Alexandre of Belgium – Albert’s half-brother
Princess Marie Christine of Belgium – Albert’s half-sister
Princess Joséphine-Charlotte and Prince Jean of Luxembourg – Albert’s sister and brother-in-law
Queen Marie José and King Umberto II of Italy – Albert’s paternal aunt and uncle
Princess Maria Pia and Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia – Albert’s paternal first cousin and her husband
Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy, Prince of Naples – Albert’s paternal first cousin
Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy – Albert’s paternal first cousin
Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy – Albert’s paternal first cousin

The Bride’s Immediate Family
Luisa Gazelli, Dowager Princess Ruffo di Calabria – Paola’s mother
Fabrizio, Prince Ruffo di Calabria and Maria, Princess Ruffo di Calabria – Paola’s brother and sister-in-law
The Marquess and Marchioness of San Germano – Paola’s sister and brother-in-law
Baron and Baroness Ricasoli Firidolfi – Paola’s sister and brother-in-law
Antonello Ruffo di Calabria – Paola’s brother

Royal Guests
Royal guests included several members of the Danish, Norwegian and Swedish royal families, all closely related through Albert’s mother, the late Queen Astrid (born a Princess of Sweden).

The Witnesses and Wedding Attendants

For their witnesses, Albert chose his brother Alexandre, and his brother-in-law, Hereditary Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg. Paola chose her two brothers, Fabrizio and Antonello.

The bride’s attendants were two of her nieces (daughters of her elder sister, the Marchioness of San Germano), and Albert’s sister, Princess Marie Christine of Belgium.

The Wedding Attire

The bride wore a dress of heavy white satin with a 5-meter train and a bow at the waist. Her veil of Brussels lace was a family heirloom. It was first worn in 1877 at the wedding of her Belgian paternal grandmother, Laure Mosselman du Chenoy, and then later by her mother. It has since been used by Paola’s daughter and two daughters-in-law at their weddings. Instead of a tiara, Paola wore a cluster of orange blossoms which held the veil in place.

The groom wore his Naval uniform with the sash and star of the Order of Leopold, Belgium’s most senior order of chivalry. He also wore the collar of the Order of Malta.

The Civil Ceremony

The civil ceremony was held on July 2, 1959, in the Empire Salon of the Royal Palace of Brussels. The bride and groom led the procession, which included their immediate families and several invited guests. The brief service was conducted by the Mayor of Brussels, Lucien Cooremans. The bride was notable nervous, and at one point, the Dowager Queen Elisabeth stepped forward to comfort her with a kiss and some brief words. After the marriage register was signed, the couple emerged from the Palace to begin the procession through the streets of Brussels to the Cathedral of Saint Michael and Saint Gudula for the religious ceremony. Albert and Paola traveled in an open car adorned with pink and white roses and were preceded by several regiments of hussars and other military guards. The bride and groom waved to the thousands who had lined the route to cheer them on.

The Religious Ceremony

The couple arrived at the Cathedral of Saint Michael and Saint Gudula where the majority of their guests were already seated. The bride and groom processed down the aisle, followed by their families and royal guests, for the traditional Catholic service which was conducted by Cardinal Jozef-Ernest van Rooey, Primate of Belgium. As had happened at Albert’s sister’s wedding several years earlier, there was reportedly an argument within the family about who would take precedence in the procession. Albert’s step-mother, the Princess de Rethy, insisted that she should come first, but it was decided that his grandmother, the Dowager Queen, would take pride of place at the head of the procession, accompanying the reigning King Baudouin. The Princess de Rethy was instead escorted by King Umberto II of Italy.

Again the bride was notably nervous, and at times seemed overcome with emotion, but she was quickly reassured by her new husband. After exchanging their vows and rings, the Cardinal gave an address in which he referred to Paola as “a lovely princess”, and told her that “Italy sends you to Belgium as a ray of its beautiful sun and a reflection of its ardent soul.” The couple was read a message from the Pope before the final blessing. The couple then processed out of the cathedral and were met with tremendous cheers from the crowds gathered outside.

Following a large banquet held that evening at the Castle of Laeken, the couple jetted off to Majorca, Spain for their honeymoon. Upon their return, they took up residence at the Château de Bélvèdere, on the grounds at Laeken.

Children

Embed from Getty Images 
Albert and Paola with their three children

Albert and Paola had two sons and one daughter:

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Wedding of King George VI of The United Kingdom and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Prince George, Duke of York (the future King George VI of the United Kingdom) and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon were married on April 26, 1923, at Westminster Abbey in London, England.

Prince Albert’s Family

HRH Prince Albert Frederick Arthur George was born on December 14, 1895, the anniversary of the death in 1861 of his great-grandfather Prince Albert. The baby’s father was George, Duke of York (later George V) and his mother was Princess Victoria Mary of Teck (later Queen Mary). In his family, the new baby was always known as Bertie, but he was formally known as Prince Albert.

Queen Victoria received the news with mixed feelings. Her son, the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) wrote to his son, the new baby’s father: “Grandmama was rather distressed that this happy event should have taken place on a darkly sad anniversary for us, but I think – as well as most of us in the family here – that it will break the spell of this unlucky date.”

Bertie had four brothers and one sister: Edward (1894) succeeded his father as Edward VIII, abdicated and was then styled HRH The Duke of Windsor; Mary (1897), later Princess Royal, married the 6th Earl of Harewood; Henry (1900), the Duke of Gloucester, married Lady Alice Montagu-Douglas-Scott; George (1902), the Duke of Kent, married Princess Marina of Greece; John (1905) died of epilepsy complications in 1919.

In 1901, Bertie’s great-grandmother Queen Victoria died and his grandfather succeeded her as Edward VII. Bertie’s father George was created Prince of Wales in 1901. When his grandfather died in 1910, Bertie’s father ascended the throne as George V. Bertie’s elder brother Edward (known in the family as David) was created Prince of Wales in 1911.

Bertie, as a second son, grew up without any specific training for the throne. Following the tradition for second sons in the Royal Family, he entered the Royal Navy in 1913 and saw action during World War I. In 1916 Bertie was created a Knight of the Garter and in 1920 he was created Baron Killarney, Earl of Inverness and Duke of York, the same titles his father had received in 1892. In 1936, Bertie ascended the throne as King George VI upon the abdication of his brother.

Source:
“Brewer’s British Royalty” by David Williamson

Lady Elizabeth’s Family

Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, on right, and her brother David, at St. Paul’s Waldenbury in 1905

Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was born on August 4, 1900, in London. She was the fourth daughter and the ninth of ten children of Claude Bowes-Lyon, Lord Glamis (who succeeded his father as 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne in 1904) and Cecilia Cavendish-Bentinck, a descendant of a number of noble families including the Dukes of Portland, the Dukes of Devonshire, the Earls of Oxford and the Kings of Ireland. Little Elizabeth bore the courtesy title of “Honorable” until her father became Earl when she exchanged it for “Lady.”

Elizabeth had three sisters and six brothers: Violet (1882) died in childhood; Mary (1883) married Baron Elphinstone; Patrick (1884), the future Earl of Strathmore, married Lady Dorothy Osborne, the daughter of the Duke of Leeds; John Herbert (1886) married Fenella Hepburn-Stuart-Forbes-Trefuss; Alexander (1887) died unmarried; Fergus (1889) was killed in World War I; Rose (1890) married the Earl of Granville; Michael (1893) married Elizabeth Cator; David (1902) married Rachel Spender-Clay.

Elizabeth was brought up at Glamis Castle and educated privately. She was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Bertie’s sister Princess Mary to Viscount Lascelles in 1922.

The Bowes-Lyon family is an old Scottish family. Robert II of Scotland granted Sir John Lyon the Thaneage of Glamis in 1372 as a reward for service. In 1376, Sir John married Joanna, a daughter of Robert II of Scotland. Their grandson Patrick was created Lord Glamis in 1445. The 9th Lord Glamis, also a Patrick, was created Earl of Kinghorne in 1606. His grandson, the 3rd Earl, obtained a charter in 1677 stating that he and his heirs “should in all future ages be styled Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne, Viscounts Lyon, Barons Glamis, Tannadyce, Sidlaw and Strathdichtie.” The 9th Earl married a Durham heiress, Mary Eleanor Bowes, and, as a condition of the marriage settlement, assumed the surname Bowes. Their sons, the 10th and 11th Earls and their grandson the 12th Earl adopted the surname Lyon-Bowes, but the 13th Earl reversed the order to the current Bowes-Lyon.

Sources:
Glamis Castle, http://www.great-houses-scotland.co.uk/glamis
Bowes Family of Brompton, Northallerton Yorkshire, http://www.bowe.demon.co.uk/Ancientbowes.html
“The Queen” by Elizabeth Longford
“Thirty Years A Queen” by Geoffrey Wakeford

The Engagement

Engagement Portrait

Although they had met at a tea party in 1916, Bertie and Elizabeth had their first significant meeting on July 8, 1920, at the Royal Air Force Ball at the Ritz in London. Bertie had come to the ball with his equerry James Stuart, the youngest son of the Earl of Moray. Elizabeth and James were old friends from Scotland and shared a dance. Bertie questioned James about his dance partner and asked to be introduced. Although the meeting did not make much of an impression upon Elizabeth, Bertie fell in love that evening and started courting Elizabeth. He first proposed to her in 1921 and was rejected because Elizabeth feared the changes in her life being a member of the Royal Family would require. Elizabeth served as a bridesmaid in the wedding of Bertie’s sister Mary in February 1922. The following month, Bertie again proposed to her and was turned down once more. On January 2, 1923, after taking Elizabeth to dinner at Claridge’s and the theater, Bertie proposed a third time. After talking to friends and relatives and expressing her feelings in the diary, Elizabeth agreed to marry Bertie on January 14, 1923, although she still had misgivings.

Sources:
“Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother: The Official Biography” by William Shawcross
“The Queen Mother” by Elizabeth Longford

The Trousseau

Designers from New York, Paris, London, Rome and Australia contributed to Lady Elizabeth’s trousseau, which included 65 formal gowns, over a hundred morning, tea and evening dresses and 72 fur coats and hats.

The bride-to-be received some spectacular jewels. As an engagement ring, Bertie had given her a large dark oval sapphire from Kashmir surrounded by diamonds. Her father, the Earl of Strathmore, gave her a platinum and diamond tiara with five large roses of gems separated by sprays of diamonds. From King George V, she received a diamond ribbon bow brooch. Her godmother presented her with a diamond and emerald arrow. Bertie also gave her a diamond replica of the badge of his naval cap and a diamond cluster corsage brooch designed as a spray of flowers with three diamond pendants suspended from a chain of platinum.

Sources:
“Thirty Years A Queen”, Geoffrey Wakeford
“Elizabeth and Philip” by Charles Higham and Roy Moseley

The Wedding Attire

The bride’s dress was designed by Madame Handley-Seymour of New Bond Street, London. It was a pearl embroidered gown of ivory tinted chiffon moiré. The veil was an old “point de Flandres” veil loaned by Queen Mary. The train was made of machine-made lace from Nottingham in support of industry instead of the traditional handmade lace. Lady Elizabeth wore a double strand of matched pearls around her neck. The bridesmaids’ dresses were made of white chiffon lace also from Nottingham. In their hair, they wore myrtle green leaves and a white rose with a sprig of white heather.

Sources:
“Royal Weddings” by Dulcie M. Ashdown
“Thirty Years A Queen” by Geoffrey Wakeford

The Bridesmaids

Lady Elizabeth had an escort of eight bridesmaids.

  • Lady Mary Cambridge, age 26, daughter of Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge and Lady Margaret Grosvenor, niece of Queen Mary and first cousin of the groom
  • Lady May Cambridge, age 17, daughter of Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone and Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone, niece of Queen Mary and first cousin of the groom
  • Lady Mary Thynne, age 20, daughter of Thomas Thynne, 5th Marquess of Bath and Violet Mordaunt
  • Lady Katharine Hamilton, age 23, daughter of James Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn and Lady Rosalind Bingham
  • The Honourable Diamond Hardinge, age 22, daughter of Charles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of Penshurst and Winifred Selina Sturt
  • The Honourable Cecilia Bowes-Lyon, age 11, daughter of Patrick Bowes-Lyon, the future 15th of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and Lady Dorothy Godolphin-Osborne, niece of the bride
  • The Honorable Mary Elizabeth Elphinstone, age 11, Sidney Buller-Fullerton-Elphinstone, 16th Lord Elphinstone and Lady Mary Bowes-Lyon, niece of the bride
  • Miss Elizabeth Cator, age 24, daughter of John Cator and Maud Adeane, later sister-in-law to the bride as The Honourable Mrs. Michael Bowes-Lyon

Sources:
“Thirty Years A Queen” by Geoffrey Wakeford
Royal Genealogies, http://ftp.cac.psu.edu/~saw/royal/royalgen.html
Directory of Royal Genealogical Data, http://www.dcs.hull.ac.uk/public/genealogy/royal/
Wikipedia: Wedding of Prince Albert, Duke of York and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon

The Ceremony

The wedding of HRH The Duke of York and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was held on April 26, 1923, at Westminster Abbey, London. Before the ceremony, at Buckingham Palace, King George V bestowed upon Bertie the Most Ancient Order of the Thistle, the Scottish counterpart of the Garter, which he had received six years earlier.

The wedding procession started with the Archbishop of Canterbury, followed by the Archbishop of York, the Bishop of London, and the Primate of Scotland. The National Anthem was played followed by Elgar’s Imperial March. As the Royal Family entered the Abbey, the congregation rose. Princess Mary and her husband Viscount Lascelles appeared first followed by Prince George in midshipman’s uniform flanked by Queen Alexandra, the Queen Mother, and her sister Marie, the Dowager Empress of Russia. King George and Queen Mary followed. The King was wearing the full-dress uniform of an admiral. The Queen wore a silver and aquamarine gown with the sash of the Order of the Garter.

Bertie arrived at the Abbey with his brothers the Prince of Wales and Prince Henry. Bertie wore his Royal Air Force Group Captain’s uniform. The Prince of Wales wore a Welsh Guard uniform and Prince Henry wore a Hussar’s uniform. Their grandmother, Queen Alexandra, rose from her seat and embraced all three of her grandsons.

Cheers soon were heard announcing the bride’s arrival. Lady Elizabeth and her father entered the Abbey through the Great West Door. As Lady Elizabeth passed the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, whose remains had been brought from France and buried in the Abbey floor three years earlier, she laid her bouquet of white roses on it. No doubt she was thinking of her brother Fergus and all the other British soldiers who died in World War I.

As Elizabeth proceeded down the aisle, the boys’ choir sang Lead Us, Heavenly Father. Randall Thomas Davidson, Archbishop of Canterbury and Cosmo Lang, Archbishop of York waited at the altar to perform the marriage ceremony. After the vows were exchanged, the Archbishop of York addressed the couple: “The warm and generous heart of this people takes you today unto itself. Will you not, in response, take that heart, with all its joys and sorrows, unto your own?”

The choir sang Beloved, Let Us Love One Another, which had been composed by the Westminster Abbey organist Sir Sydney Hugo Nicholson for the wedding of Princess Mary the previous year. The newly-married couple proceeded up the Abbey aisle to Mendelssohn’s Wedding March.

Sources:
“Royal Weddings” by Dulcie M. Ashdown
“Thirty Years A Queen” by Geoffrey Wakeford;
“Elizabeth and Philip” by Charles Higham and Roy Moseley

The Wedding Guests

British Royal Family and Relatives

  • King George V and Queen Mary, the groom’s parents
  • The Prince of Wales, the groom’s brother
  • The Prince Henry, the groom’s brother
  • The Prince George, the groom’s brother
  • The Princess Mary, Viscountess Lascelles and Henry Lascelles, Viscount Lascelles, the groom’s sister and her husband
  • The Honourable George Lascelles, the groom’s nephew
  • Queen Alexandra, the groom’s paternal grandmother
  • Louise, The Princess Royal, the groom’s paternal aunt
  • Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Fife and Prince Arthur of Connaught, the groom’s first cousin and her husband, the groom’s second cousin
  • Alastair Windsor, Earl of Macduff, the groom’s second cousin
  • Princess Maud of Fife, the groom’s first cousin
  • The Princess Victoria, the groom’s paternal aunt
  • The Prince Arthur, The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, the groom’s paternal great-uncle, son of Queen Victoria
  • The Lady Patricia Ramsay (Princess Patricia of Connaught) and Captain Sir Alexander Ramsay, the groom’s first cousin once removed and her husband
  • Mr. Alexander Ramsay of Mar, the groom’s second cousin
  • Princess Christian (The Princess Helena), the groom’s paternal great-aunt, daughter of Queen Victoria
  • Princess Helena Victoria, the groom’s first cousin once removed
  • Princess Marie Louise, the groom’s first cousin once removed
  • The Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, the groom’s paternal great-aunt, daughter of Queen Victoria
  • The Princess Beatrice, the groom’s paternal great-aunt, daughter of Queen Victoria
  • Alexander Mountbatten, 1st Marquess of Carisbrooke and Marchioness of Carisbrooke, the groom’s first cousin once removed and his wife
  • Dowager Marchioness of Milford Haven (Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine), the groom’s first cousin once removed
  • George Mountbatten, 2nd Marquess of Milford Haven and Marchioness of Milford Haven, the groom’s second cousin and his wife
  • Lord Louis Mountbatten and Lady Mountbatten (Edwina Ashley), the groom’s second cousin and his wife
  • Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge and Marchioness of Cambridge, the groom’s maternal uncle and aunt
  • George Cambridge, Earl of Eltham and Countess of Eltham, the groom’s first cousin and his wife
  • Lord Frederick Cambridge, the groom’s first cousin
  • Lady Mary Cambridge, the groom’s first cousin
  • Lady Helena Gibbs (Lady Helena Cambridge) and Mr. John Gibbs, the groom’s first cousin and her husband
  • Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone and Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, the groom’s maternal uncle and aunt
  • Rupert Cambridge, Viscount Trematon, the groom’s first cousin
  • Lady May Cambridge, the groom’s first cousin

Foreign Royalty Related to the Groom

  • King Haakon VII and Queen Maud of Norway, the groom’s paternal aunt and her husband
  • Crown Olav Prince of Norway, the groom’s first cousin
  • Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden, widower of Princess Margaret of Connaught, the groom’s late first cousin once removed
  • Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden, Duke of Västerbotten, the groom’s second cousin
  • Princess Ingrid of Sweden, the groom’s second cousin
  • Queen Marie of Romania (Princess Marie of Edinburgh), the groom’s first cousin once removed
  • Crown Prince Carol and Crown Princess Helen of Romania, the groom’s second cousin and his second wife, also the groom’s second cousin
  • Prince Michael of Romania, the groom’s third cousin
  • Albert, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein, the groom’s first cousin once removed
  • Queen Victoria Eugenie (Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg) and King Alfonso XIII of Spain, the groom’s first cousin once removed and her husband
  • Alfonso, Prince of Asturias, the groom’s second cousin
  • Infante Jaime of Spain, the groom’s second cousin
  • Infante Juan of Spain, the groom’s second cousin
  • Infante Gonzalo of Spain, the groom’s second cousin
  • Infanta Beatriz of Spain, the groom’s second cousin
  • Infanta Maria Cristina of Spain, the groom’s second cousin
  • Bernard III, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, widower of Princess Charlotte of Prussia, the groom’s first cousin once removed
  • Princess Heinrich XXX Reuss of Köstritz (Feodora of Saxe-Meiningen), the groom’s second cousin
  • Prince and Princess Henry of Prussia (Princess Irene of Hesse and by Rhine), the groom’s first cousin once removed and his wife, also the groom’s first cousin once removed
  • Prince and Princess Waldemar of Prussia (Princess Calixta of Lippe-Biesterfeld), the groom’s second cousin and his wife
  • Queen Mother Sophie of the Hellenes (Princess Sophie of Prussia), the groom’s first cousin, once removed
  • King George II and Queen Elisabeth of the Hellenes (Princess Elisabeth of Romania), the groom’s second cousin and his wife, also the groom’s second cousin
  • Princess Alexander of Greece and Denmark (Aspasia Manos), widow of the groom’s second cousin King Alexander I of the Hellenes
  • Princess Alexandra of Greece and Denmark, the groom’s third cousin
  • The Hereditary Princess of Hesse (Princess Margaret of Prussia), the groom’s first cousin once removed
  • Prince Wolfgang of Hesse, the groom’s second cousin
  • Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig II and Grand Duchess Eleonore of Hesse and by Rhine (Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich), the groom’s first cousin once removed and his wife
  • Queen Dowager Louise of Denmark, widow of the groom’s paternal great-uncle King Frederik VIII of Denmark
  • King Christian X and Queen Alexandrine of Denmark (Princess Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin), the groom’s second cousin and his wife
  • The Duchess of Västergötland  (Princess Ingeborg of Denmark) and Prince Carl of Sweden, Duke of Västergötland, the groom’s second cousin and her husband
  • Queen Dowager Olga of the Hellenes (Grand Duchess Olga Constantinovna of Russia), the groom’s great-aunt
  • Empress Dowager Maria Feodorovna of All the Russias (Princess Dagmar of Denmark), the groom’s great-aunt
  • The Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Princess Thyra of Denmark) and Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Ernst August, formerly Crown Prince of Hanover, 3rd Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale), the groom’s great-aunt and her husband
  • Prince Valdemar of Denmark, the groom’s great-uncle
  • Prince and Princess Axel of Denmark, the groom’s second cousin and his wife
  • Princess René of Bourbon-Parma (Princess Margaret of Denmark), the groom’s second cousin
  • The Dowager Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (Elizabeth of Anhalt), widow of the groom’s first cousin once removed Adolphus Friedrich V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz,
  • Princess Julius Ernst of Lippe (Marie of Mecklenburg-Strelitz), second cousin of the groom
  • The Crown Princess (Jutta of Mecklenburg-Strelitz) and Crown Prince Danilo of Montenegro, second cousin of the groom and her husband

The Bride’s Family

  • Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne and Countess of Strathmore
  • and Kinghorne (Cecilia Cavendish-Bentinck), the bride’s parents
  • Patrick Bowes-Lyon, Lord Glamis and Lady Glamis (Lady Dorothy Godolphin-Osborne), the bride’s brother and sister-in-law
  • John Bowes-Lyon, Master of Glamis, the bride’s nephew
  • Mr. Timothy Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s nephew
  • Miss Cecilia Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s niece
  • Miss Nancy Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s niece
  • The Honorable Mr. and Mrs John Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s brother and sister-in-law
  • Miss Anne Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s niece
  • Miss Nerissa Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s niece
  • Mr. Michael Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s brother
  • Mr. David Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s brother
  • Lady Elphinstone (Lady Mary Bowes-Lyon) and Sidney Buller-Fullerton-Elphinstone, 16th
  • Lord Elphinstone, the bride’s sister and brother-law
  • John Elphinstone, Master of Elphinstone, the bride’s nephew
  • The Honorable Andrew Elphinstone, the bride’s nephew
  • The Honorable Jean Constance Elphinstone, the bride’s niece
  • Lady Rose Leveson-Gower (Rose Bowes-Lyon) and William Leveson-Gower Esq, the bride’s sister and brother-in-law
  • Mr Granville James Leveson-Gower, the bride’s nephew
  • Miss Mary Cecilia Leveson-Gower, the bride’s niece
  • Mr and Mrs Francis Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s paternal uncle and aunt
  • Miss Muriel Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
  • Mr Charles Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
  • Mr Geoffrey Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
  • Miss Winnifred Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
  • Mr Ronald Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
  • Miss Doris Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
  • Miss Lillian Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
  • Mrs Ernest Bowes-Lyon, widow of the bride’s late paternal uncle
  • Mr Hubert Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
  • Miss Susan Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
  • Miss Dorothea Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
  • Miss Joan Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
  • Miss Marjorie Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
  • Miss Ernestine Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
  • Mr and Mrs Patrick Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s paternal uncle and aunt
  • Mr Jean Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cosuin
  • Miss Margaret Ann Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
  • Mr and Mrs Malcolm Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s paternal uncle and aunt
  • Miss Clodagh Pamela Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
  • Lady Constance Blackburn and Mr Robert Francis Blackburn, the bride’s paternal aunt and uncle
  • Mr Phyllis Blackburn, the bride’s first cousin
  • Miss Claudia Blackburn, the bride’s first cousin
  • Lady Maud Agness Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s paternal aunt
  • Miss Ann Violet Cavendish-Bentinck, the bride’s maternal aunt

Sources:
Wikipedia: Wedding of Prince Albert, Duke of York and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon

The Wedding Breakfast

The wedding breakfast was held at Buckingham Palace with the following menu: Consomme a la Windsor, Supremes de Saumon Reine Mary, Cotelettes d’Agneau Prince Albert, Chapons a la Strathmore, Jambon et Langue Decoupes a l’Aspic, Salade Royale, Asperges, Sauce Creme Mousseuse, Fraises Duchesse Elizabeth, Panier de Friandises, Dessert, Cafe.

Fourteen wedding cakes were made for the wedding breakfast. The most elaborate weighed 300 pounds and had nine tiers with a replica of the couple on top. On the first tier were reproductions of Windsor Castle and St. George’s Chapel. Glamis Castle appeared on the second tier and on the third tier were Masonic emblems in honor of Bertie and the Earl of Strathmore who were both Masons. Cupids ringing tiny silver wedding bells moved up and down ladders leading to the top of the cake. After the breakfast, the couple appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

Sources:
“English Royal Cookbook” by Elizabeth Craig
“Thirty Years A Queen” by Geoffrey Wakeford
“Elizabeth and Philip” by Charles Higham and Roy Moseley

The Honeymoon

During the first part of their honeymoon at Polesden Lacey, Surrey

The couple took the train from Waterloo Station, London to Dorking, Surrey where they stayed at Polesden Lacey, the home of society hostess Mrs. Ronald Greville. They continued their honeymoon with a visit to Glamis Castle where Elizabeth came down with whooping cough. When she recovered, the couple concluded their honeymoon at Frogmore House, Windsor.

Sources:
“Elizabeth and Philip” by Charles Higham and Roy Moseley
“Thirty Years A Queen” by Geoffrey Wakeford
“The Queen” by Elizabeth Longford

Children

Embed from Getty Images 

Bertie and Elizabeth had two children:

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Wedding of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Claus von Amsberg

by Emily McMahon  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Photo Credit: Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor

Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands, the future Queen Beatrix, and Claus von Amsberg were married on March 10, 1966, in a civil ceremony at the City Hall in Amsterdam in the Netherlands and a religious ceremony at the Westerkerk also in Amsterdam.

Beatrix’s Family

Beatrix, on the right, with her family in 1948; Photo: Corbis

Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard was born at Soestdijk Palace in Baarn, Netherlands, on January 31, 1938. She was the first of four daughters of Princess Juliana, the heir to the throne of the Netherlands, and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. Her second and third names are in honor of both of her grandmothers. When asked about the significance of his daughter’s first name, Prince Bernhard stated that he and his wife had simply liked it.

At the time of her birth, Beatrix’s grandmother Wilhelmina had been Queen of the Netherlands for nearly 50 years. Beatrix’s birth was welcomed by the Dutch people as the House of Orange was on the brink of extinction comprising of only Juliana and Wilhelmina. Beatrix’s younger sisters Irene, Margriet, and Christina followed in 1939, 1943, and 1947, respectively.

Beatrix spent her early life at Soestdijk with her family. World War II broke out in 1939; the German occupation of the Netherlands followed shortly after. Wilhelmina, Juliana, Bernhard, Beatrix, and infant Irene escaped to London for safety following the invasion. As London was frequently bombed at the time and in danger of possible German occupation, Juliana’s position as heir to the throne and the vulnerability of the children necessitated their move to a safer location.

Juliana, Beatrix, and Irene were moved to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, in 1940. The family lived in Stornoway House, a home owned by a prominent Ottawa family which later became a property of the Canadian government. Margriet was born in Ottawa during the family’s exile. Beatrix and Irene attended Rockcliffe Park Public School and lived as peacefully as possible in difficult circumstances. Beatrix, her mother, and her sisters returned to the Netherlands in 1945. A gift of several thousand tulip bulbs was sent from Juliana to Canada in appreciation for the country’s wartime hospitality, a tradition that has continued to this day.

Beatrix continued her education in Bilthoven (a village near Baarn) as the first Dutch royal to attend school with other children. Free from the tight security and formality of other European courts, Beatrix rode her bicycle to school from Soestdijk. Remembered by her classmates as jovial and approachable with a touch of mischief, young Beatrix was once given a lash across her hands at school after being caught placing a firecracker underneath the desk of the school janitor. After her grandmother’s abdication and her mother’s accession in 1948, Beatrix became the heiress presumptive to the Dutch throne.

Beatrix then studied law and sociology at Leiden University, graduating in 1961. She had a romance of some seriousness during that time with a fellow Dutch student but allegedly broke off the union at Juliana’s insistence. Beatrix also became an avid sailor and greatly enjoyed piloting The Green Dragon, a yacht given to her by the Dutch people on her eighteenth birthday. Beatrix also became a great fan of the arts, dabbling in sculpting, and frequently attended theatrical productions and ballet in Amsterdam.

Throughout her childhood and young adulthood, Beatrix accompanied her mother (and later went on her own) touring the country she would one day rule. After her university graduation, Beatrix spent two years touring the Middle East, the United States, and various Dutch territories around the world.

Claus’ Family

Claus in 1936; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Claus Georg Wilhelm Otto Friedrich Gerd von Amsberg was born to Claus Felix von Amsberg and Baroness Gösta von dem Bussche-Haddenhausen at Haus Dotzingen (his uncle’s estate), near Hitzacker, Germany on September 6, 1926. The only son in the family, Claus had an older sister, Sigrid, and five younger sisters – Rixa, Margit, Barbara, Theda, and Christina. He spent part of his childhood in Tanganyika (now Rwanda), where his father operated a coffee plantation. At the age of 12, Claus returned to Germany and proceeded with his education at Baltenschule in Pomerania. He continued his studies until he was drafted into the German Army in 1942.

After joining the army, Claus served with the 90th Panzer Division, fighting in Italy during World War II. Claus was captured by Allied forces in May 1945. At the time of his capture, Allied forces determined Claus had no Nazi sympathies despite his being a member of Hitler youth groups. During his time in a prisoner of war camps in Italy and Britain, Claus served as a driver and an interpreter.

Following his release from Allied captivity, Claus began his studies of political science and law at the University of Hamburg. In 1953, while Claus was a student, his father passed away. Following his graduation in 1956, Claus practiced law briefly in Hamburg before entering the West German foreign service. He held positions in the Dominican Republic and Côte d’Ivoire before returning to Bonn.

During his time in the foreign service, Claus became an expert on the economic development of third-world countries. Through his education and foreign service career, Claus became fluent in German, English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swahili, and later Dutch. At the time he met Beatrix, Claus was working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on fostering relationships with several African countries.

The Engagement

 

Beatrix and Claus initially met at the wedding of Tatiana of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Moritz, Landgrave of Hesse in the summer of 1964. Tatiana’s brother Richard – also a friend of Claus – had long been mentioned as a possible suitor for Beatrix.

Claus and Beatrix met again in January 1965 at a ski resort in Gstaad, Switzerland, as guests of Prince Moritz of Hesse. In an amusing twist, Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg accompanied Claus on his trip, fueling the fire that Beatrix and Richard were romantically involved. However, an astute (and baffled) reporter following the story noticed that Richard was often seen skiing alone. Richard is believed to have accompanied Claus as a “decoy” to allow the couple to get to know one another away from intrusions. Within a week of this second meeting, Prince Bernhard began making private inquiries about Claus’ history and character.

The release of a photograph of Claus and Beatrix together at Juliana’s birthday in April 1965 piqued public interest in the couple. However, when asked about his relationship with the princess, Claus confirmed that he was acquainted with Beatrix, but stated that the idea of marriage was “inconceivable” and that he had no plans to marry anyone at that point.

A second photo of the couple walking hand in hand at Drakensteyn was released in May, appearing in British, then Dutch newspapers. Although Beatrix and Claus had hoped to keep their romance a secret for a bit longer, they released that speculation about the nature of their relationship would only increase following the release of the photos.

Queen Juliana announced the engagement to the Dutch public via television on June 28, 1965, from the palace at Soestdijk. Beatrix said of the romance, “With us duty goes before sentimental considerations.” Juliana noted that the family understood that acceptance of the engagement may be difficult for Dutch citizens due to the war. Claus and Beatrix made additional radio and television appearances later in the day answering questions about the engagement and its political implications.

The announcement of the engagement was a surprise to most of the Dutch citizens who were unaware the two were so serious about one another. The couple noted several times that they had expected the engagement would draw criticism but was confident that their decision was a good one. When told of the engagement, Dutch Premier M. L. T. Cals reportedly uttered, “A German…what a pity.” However, after meeting with Claus, Cals had a good opinion of him. Cals then spoke in support of the couple and expressed hope that their happiness with one another would win over the Dutch public.

Beatrix and Claus met with members of the Dutch Cabinet and Parliament the day after the engagement was announced. Premier Cals confirmed that a bill would be introduced for parliamentary approval or disapproval of the marriage. This was required by the Dutch constitution in order for Beatrix to retain her place in the line of succession.

Public Reaction

With memories of the horrible experiences of the World War II occupation still fresh in the minds of many Dutch citizens, there was a significant public protest over Beatrix’s choice of a husband. As Claus was a former soldier and nominal member of the Hitler Youth (a requirement at the time for attendance at Claus’ school), the association with the Nazi party was particularly painful. Orange swastikas were painted on walls around Amsterdam as an ugly association between the House of Orange and Germany’s Nazi past.

Still, other Dutch citizens believed that Claus was simply an unimpressive candidate as a consort for their future queen. In addition to his WWII service, Dutch were concerned that Claus was too old for Beatrix, had little personal fortune, and was not of royal blood. The more republican dissenters began to raise the question of whether the monarchy was really beneficial to the country at all. At least three separate protests were made to the Dutch government by members of academia, former Resistance leaders, and the clergy urging for rejection of the marriage bill.

In October 1965, several Dutch newspapers ran advertisements urging readers to sign the petition against the approval of the marriage. The petition was signed by several prominent Dutch academics and members of the artistic community. A handful of Dutch Parliament members indicated their plan to vote against the bill.

Over 65,000 signatures were on the petition when it was submitted to the Dutch Parliament requesting the denial of a bill approving the marriage between Beatrix and Claus due to his military service and association with the Nazi party. Approval of the bill was required by the Dutch Constitution for Beatrix to remain in the line of succession.

The Family’s Response

Claus understood the Dutch objections to his membership in Nazi youth organizations as well as his service with the German Army during World War II. He explained that while he did not take an active stance against the Nazi Party, he also did not maintain active involvement in any organization with the group. In hindsight, Claus remarked, the Nazi rule had been incredibly harmful to the world. Similar regimes, he continued, should be avoided at all costs.

Claus also noted that he looked favorably on Prince Bernhard’s life as a consort to a queen regnant, indicating that he wished to assist Beatrix and the Dutch in much the same way as his prospective father-in-law had done for Queen Juliana. Claus’s military record was carefully examined by Dutch officials in order to identify any objectionable actions on his part. However, the investigation did not discover Claus’ participation in any activities deemed unacceptable for his future role as Beatrix’s consort.

Beatrix noted that if her parents or the Dutch government had demanded she give up Claus, she would have done so. For her part, Juliana said that she gave her full support to Beatrix and her fiancé and that she was glad the couple followed their hearts despite any expected backlash from the public. Juliana also remarked that she had no intentions of abdicating the throne to Beatrix anytime soon.

Prince Bernhard, a German who had also initially been distrusted by the Dutch public, praised his future son-in-law, noting that in time the Dutch citizens would understand that Claus was an excellent person who would be an asset to his new country. Prince Bernhard further noted that he “could not think of a better husband for [his] daughter.”

In addition to his extensive knowledge of various languages, Claus began learning Dutch while dating Beatrix. He also began touring the Netherlands and meeting with the people, alone or accompanied by his fiancée. At the time of the wedding, he was reported to speak the language “…fairly well, and with a good accent.” Claus’ positive interactions with the Dutch people eventually made him a very popular member of the royal family.

Wedding Preparations

The bill for Beatrix’s permission to marry Claus passed the lower house of the Dutch Parliament in November 1965, with 132 yeas and 9 nays. The house also approved the extension of Dutch citizenship for Claus on the day of the wedding. The bill passed the upper house the following month.

The wedding date was set for March 10, 1966, at the Westerkerk, a large church located not far from the building that hid Dutch Jewish teenager Anne Frank during World War II. The choice of Westerkerk was unique in that it had never before hosted a royal wedding. Nieuwe Kerk, a church near the palace and a more obvious choice, was undergoing significant renovations at the time that would not be completed before the wedding.

Beatrix herself reportedly oversaw many of the details of the wedding and related celebrations. Plans were made to televise the religious ceremony in the Netherlands, a first for Dutch royal weddings. Beatrix requested that a red light indicator be placed in Westerkerk as a sign of when the television cameras would be on her.

On February 17, 1966, Claus and Beatrix registered their upcoming marriage in Baarn. The couple received a gift of silver salt cellars made in Amsterdam upon registering their marriage. The gift was presented to Beatrix and Claus by Burgermaster F.J. van Beeck Calkoen on behalf of the city of The Hague. Schoolchildren in Amsterdam were released early for the day in celebration of the event. Most of the children flocked to the town hall to wave at the couple and the accompanying television cameras.

After the registration, Beatrix and Claus toured The Hague via horse-drawn carriage. Later that day, a gala celebrating the engagement was held in The Hague. The couple attended the gala with their families and about 700 dignitaries.

The wedding banns were published on the same weekend in The Hague’s Hall of Knights. In celebration of the event, small bags of candy attached to parachutes were released from the ceiling as part of a Dutch tradition. Claus himself took part in the fun diving for the falling candy. The couple then attended a special performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The Dutch government agreed to contribute 1.5 million guilders ($420,000 American) for wedding expenses. The city of Amsterdam provided approximately $220,000 American, while the rest of the cost was covered by Beatrix’s family and private donations.

The Dutch government did not release postage stamps commemorating the event (common for royal weddings), claiming that sufficient time had not been allowed to create the stamps. However, the Netherlands Antilles did release a single stamp in celebration of the event. The stamp featured a pair of lovebirds standing on a pair of wedding rings encircling the letters B and C.

Celebrations in Amsterdam

The 300 official guests of the royal family were treated to an Amsterdam canal cruise on the afternoon of March 9. Guests also enjoyed trips to Rijksmuseum and tours of the Netherlands diamond cutting and polishing factories. Beatrix and Claus attended a concert held by children from each of the eleven provinces of the Netherlands during this time.

A ball in honor of the couple was held at the Royal Palace that evening. The event was attended by over 400 guests and included an uninvited reporter who snuck in intending to get clandestine shots of the couple. It was Beatrix herself who noticed the journalist, who was immediately escorted out of the party.

The Wedding Ceremonies

 The Civil Ceremony

 

On March 10, 1966, as required by Dutch law, Beatrix and Claus were married at a civil ceremony prior to the religious service. The couple traveled first to the Amsterdam Town Hall in the 1898 golden coach used for the coronation of Beatrix’s grandmother, Queen Wilhelmina. The Westerkerk bells rang and cannons fired as the two made their way to the hall.

Orange, blue, and red flowers representing the Dutch flag decorated the interior of the Amsterdam Town Hall. The brief ceremony, conducted by Mayor Dr. Gijsbert Van Hall, concluded with Beatrix, Claus, and their witnesses signing the marriage certificate in front of a group of personal guests.

The coach carrying Beatrix and Claus continued from the town hall to the religious wedding at the renovated Westerkerk. The procession was about a mile in length, shorter than most other royal weddings. This was due in part to the caution over possible unrest and concern for the safety of the couple, their guests, and spectators.

Queen Juliana, Prince Bernhard, and Mrs. von Amsberg traveled to the wedding in a glass coach, while eleven cars carried various royal guests. An estimated 80,000 to 100,000 spectators lined the streets to watch the processional. The crowd was unusually light for a royal wedding. People were kept home possibly due to the controversy surrounding Claus, the cool and rainy weather, and the television broadcast.

The religious ceremony; Photo Credit – By Unknown photographer ANEFO – GaHetNa (Nationaal Archief NL), CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38971959

Claus and Beatrix entered the church to the French hymn of “A toi la glorie,” set to music by Handel. The signed marriage certificate from the civil wedding was presented to the clergy at the start of the religious service. The ceremony was conducted by Reverend Johannes Hendrik Sillevis Smitt, who urged the couple not to take the outcry over their wedding to heart. Reverend Hendrik Jan Kater conducted the closing prayer, calling for God to look after everyone, and for greater understanding between the Dutch Christian and Jewish populations.

Beatrix and Claus whispered and smiled at one another several times during the 75-minute religious service. The word “obey” was not used during the civil or the religious ceremony, possibly due to Beatrix’s prominent status or to the changing views on a woman’s role within marriage. When Beatrix had difficulty putting on Claus’ ring, he pushed it on the rest of the way himself and the two shared a chuckle.

There was also some interest in the wedding within Canada as Beatrix had lived in the country as a young child. Canada was also rumored to be a possible honeymoon destination for the couple. Rallies were held in some of the larger Canadian cities to celebrate the event.

After the religious wedding, the couple entered the 1898 coronation coach and headed back to the royal palace, waving to spectators along the way.

Wedding Day Protests

A smoke bomb is thrown on Dam Square a few days before Beatrix’s wedding; Photo Credit – https://fromhotelvwithlove.com

Given the mixed public opinions and the threat of violence on the wedding day, several additional security and safety precautions were established. Physicians in Amsterdam were requested to stand by in case of protests escalated into violence. In addition, the blood types of all of the wedding guests were recorded in the assurance that supplies would be stocked accordingly.

An estimated seven smoke bombs were thrown by a group of 1,000 young protesters at the wedding. One of the bombs went off just before the golden coach passed, causing a horse to jerk. However, the horse recovered its gait quickly. The smoke was not said to be hazardous and dissipated almost immediately. Another bomb was set off just as the couple left the church.

An estimated 8,000 soldiers and police officers were brought in to control crowds and prevent wedding-related violence. These included plainclothes officers who mingled in the crowd looking for any signs of unrest. Prior to the wedding, the Dutch police requested the use of the Anne Frank House as a temporary police post due to its close proximity to Westerkerk. The Anne Frank House refused.

Police had to remove a small barricade of bicycles across the road included in the route, a symbolic move made by the protesters at the German seizure of Dutch bicycles during World War II. 
There were also reports of protesters unsuccessfully attempting to rush at the royal procession. Nineteen arrests were also made in connection with the protests. No deaths or serious injuries were reported, but one of the protesters received non-life-threatening injuries in a skirmish with the police.

Wedding Attire

 

Beatrix had made a name for herself in the years before her wedding as one who generally ignored trendy French fashion houses. She made no exception to this in planning the design and assembly of her wedding dress, choosing largely unknown Dutch designer Caroline Berge-Farwick of Maison Linette. Berge-Farwick was known to be a favorite of Queen Juliana’s and was known for designing single pieces of clothing specific to her individual clients rather than offering seasonal collections.

Beatrix wore a square-necked gown of white silk and satin duchesse with a 16-foot train falling from the waist. The dress featured three-quarter length sleeves, a fitted waist, and a bell-shaped skirt with white velvet trim. Hints of the scrollwork from the Württemberg Ornate Pearl Tiara were incorporated into the embroidery on the dress, which Beatrix herself assisted in the design. All of the cloth used was made especially for the dress in St. Etienne, France.

Beatrix’s mid-length white tulle veil was attached to the Württemberg Ornate Pearl Tiara, brought to the Dutch royal collection via Sophie of Württemberg (first wife of Willem III of the Netherlands). The tiara may have come with Sophie in its complete form, or as loose gems that were later used in its assembly. The tiara remains one of the grandest of the Dutch collection and features numerous large pearls set among diamond-studded spikes. It was also worn by Beatrix’s grandmother Wilhelmina at her enthronement.

On her left side, Beatrix wore a pearl and diamond brooch that was also created for Sophie. She also carried a bouquet of white eucharis and lilies of the valley, both common flowers used for spring weddings. The floral creations for the wedding were designed by Dutch designer Abel Verheijen, who later became famous for his art all over Europe. The wedding marked the first of many occasions in which Mr. Verheijen would provide his floral designs for Dutch royal events, including Beatrix’s 1980 inauguration.

The six bridesmaids wore long satin dresses with straight skirts and matching lace jackets with half-length sleeves. The dresses were light blue, mint green, or lavender, with two bridesmaids wearing each color. Each bridesmaid also donned feathered headpieces and elbow-length white gloves during the service. The two flower girls wore short-sleeved white satin dresses with circlets of white flowers in their hair. The pages wore black trousers, ruffled white shirts, and wrist-length white gloves.

Claus, wisely forgoing his military uniform, wore a morning coat with striped trousers, a gray vest, and gray trousers.

The Wedding Attendants

 

For her six bridesmaids, Beatrix chose a mix of relatives, fellow royals, and close friends. Four bridesmaids carried and arranged Beatrix’s train, while the two remaining bridesmaids took charge of the pages and flower girls. The six bridesmaids were:

  • Christina of the Netherlands, Beatrix’s youngest sister.
  • Christina of Sweden, a granddaughter of Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden.
  • Christina von Amsberg, Claus’ sister.
  • Lady Elizabeth Anson, a stepdaughter of Prince George Valdemar of Denmark and a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II.
  • Joanna Roell, a friend of Beatrix and daughter of a former lady-in-waiting to Queen Juliana.
  • Eugenie Loudon, a Dutch noble and friend of Beatrix.

The page boys were Joachim Jencquel and Markus von Oeynhausen-Sierstorpff. The flower girls were Daphne Stewart Clark and Carolijn Alting von Geusau.

The couple also had several prominent witnesses to the signing of the marriage certificate at the civil ceremony. These witnesses were:

  • Prince Ernst Aschwin of Lippe-Biesterfeld, the bride’s uncle.
  • Willem Drees, a former Dutch premier and leader of the Dutch Resistance movement during WWII.
  • Princess Alexandra of Kent
  • Count Ferdinand von Bismarck
  • Julius von dem Bassche Haddenhausen

Wedding Guests

 

Approximately 1600 guests attended the religious ceremony at Westerkerk, with a small portion being present at the civil service as well. About 20 of the 45-member Amsterdam City Council did not attend the wedding out of protest for Beatrix marrying a German. In addition, two Amsterdam rabbis invited to the wedding refused to attend due to the treatment of Dutch Jews by Nazi occupiers.

In a somewhat unusual circumstance, few crowned heads of Europe attended the wedding celebrations. Of those who did, the majority were younger monarchs. Additionally, several of the missing monarchs were represented by their children or other younger members of their families.

The presence of Carlos Hugo of Bourbon-Parma was initially doubted due to the controversy over his marriage with Beatrix’s sister Irene several years before. Additionally, it was rumored that Juan Carlos and Sophia of Spain would not attend either. The word had been that Juan Carlos was angry over the Dutch response to the Bourbon-Parma/Netherlands wedding, although other reports indicated that Juan Carlos had fallen ill with the flu just before the start of the celebrations. In any event, all of the Spanish royals in question did attend with no further reports of trouble.

The following royal and family guests attended the religious wedding:

  • Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands
  • Mrs. Gosta von Amsberg
  • Princess Marina, Dowager Duchess of Kent and Prince Michael of Kent (representing Elizabeth II)
  • Crown Prince Harald of Norway
  • Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte of Luxembourg
  • Prince Charles of Luxembourg
  • King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola of the Belgians
  • King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of the Hellenes
  • Princes Carlos Hugo and Princess Irene of Bourbon-Parma
  • Princess Christina of the Netherlands
  • Princess Benedikte of Denmark
  • Princess Christina of Sweden
  • Infante Juan Carlos and Infanta Sofia of Spain
  • Princess Alexandra of Kent and Sir Angus Ogilvy
  • Prince Albert and Princess Paola of Liege
  • Infanta Pilar of Spain
  • Christina von Amsberg
  • Prince Karim Aga Khan
  • Princess Armgard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
  • Princess Margaretha of Sweden and Mr. John Ambler
  • Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and fiancé Pieter van Vollenhoven
  • Prince Aschwin and Princess Simone of Lippe-Biesterfeld
  • Princess Irene of Greece
  • Prince Richard of Sayn- Wittgenstein-Berleburg
  • Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Bull, the Canadian ambassador to the Netherlands and his wife

Pamela’s Story

Pamela at the wedding with her chaperone, Gerda Mus

(The photo of Pamela Sue Smith and Gerda Mus as the wedding appears courtesy of Koninklijke Bibliotheek/The Memory of the Netherlands. The original photograph can be found here.)

Pamela Sue Smith, a 12-year-old girl from Patchogue, New York, chose Queen Juliana when assigned to prepare a school report on a famous person. Pamela wrote to Juliana as a requirement for the project and received a standard reply from a Dutch lady-in-waiting. Pamela
then sent additional letters, which also received replies.

An overexcited Pamela then started a rumor at her school that she would be attending the upcoming Dutch royal wedding. The rumor gained strength among her classmates and their families, and within a day Pamela had received congratulations from all over town. The local chamber of commerce even proposed sending with Pamela a bottle of locally-made perfume to give to Beatrix as a gift.

When the mayor of Patchogue contacted Washington to inquire about a passport for the “wedding guest,” a horrified Pamela confessed that she had not actually been invited to the wedding. By this time, Onno Leebaert, director of the Netherlands Tourist Association, caught wind of the story and decided to make it a reality for Pamela. Mr. Leebaert was able to provide a complimentary airline ticket and secure an official invitation to the wedding for a very excited girl. He praised Pamela for her honesty in coming clean about the original rumor.

On March 8, Pamela left for Amsterdam in the company of Gerda Mus, an employee of the tourist association. Upon her return, Pamela lamented her height, noting that while she was able to see the processional quite well, it was difficult to watch the actual ceremony with so many adults in front of her. Pamela said that she liked the windmills and canals in Amsterdam, and even learned a few Dutch words on her trip. She was especially surprised to see her own picture in the office window of a Dutch news association. Pamela returned home to Patchogue, tired and happy, with several souvenirs, including a Dutch lace cap.

After the Wedding

 

The completion of the wedding ceremonies made Claus a Prince of the Netherlands, excluding any rights of succession to the throne. A personal allowance of $80,000 was also awarded to him. Castle Drakensteyn was undergoing remodeling at the time to accommodate the new couple.

After arriving at the palace, Beatrix and Claus stepped out onto the balcony to wave to a crowd of about 200,000 spectators. The balcony was decorated with bunches of white tulips in celebration of the occasion.

Following the wedding, Beatrix released a statement thanking those who had sent gifts and well-wishes. She also acknowledged those who were opposed to the union with the following words: “That not all can rejoice in this marriage is a fact we recognize and understand. [We know] that many of you had to bear fathomless sorrow in the past and suffered irreparable losses. It is this background that deepens our feeling of gratitude.”

In a happy epilogue to the story of Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg acting as a decoy during Beatrix’s and Claus’ courtship, Richard met Princess Benedikte of Denmark for the first time at the wedding. After spending time dancing and chatting during the wedding festivities, the couple began dating. Their engagement was announced in 1967, and the couple married the following year.

Honeymoon

Early projected honeymoon destinations were Tanzania (the area where Claus spent part of his childhood), Canada, or the Dutch West Indies. Prior to the wedding, an anonymous royal source claimed that while the couple was not planning to vacation in the United States, they would be heading “westward” from the Netherlands.

The couple honeymooned in Mexico, dividing their time between Acapulco and the island of Cozumel. While in Cozumel, Beatrix and Claus stayed in a villa owned by former Mexican President Adolfo Lopez Mateos. While visiting Acapulco, the couple stayed at the estate of Jorge Mendes, a Mexican financier. Both Lopez Mateos and Mendes were friends of the Dutch royal family.

In a statement later released by the US State Department, Beatrix and Claus were first flown first to the United States via a KC-135 military jet. The jet was said to be returning to the US from Germany when it made a stop in Frankfurt, West Germany, allowing the couple to board. The statement also noted that Beatrix and Claus were only able to fly on the military jet as space was already available. The request for transport had been initially made by Queen Juliana through diplomatic channels.  After landing at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, the couple then boarded a second military plane to Laredo, Texas, and onto Mexico.

Due to guidelines at the time, passengers were required to pay $1 more per person for a flight in a military plane if commercial flights were available. After Dutch airlines KLM totaled the cost of service for two passengers on the Frankfurt/District of Columbia/Laredo route, it was discovered that the couple had been overcharged by $7.88 for the service. There were no reports of the family demanding reimbursement.

Children

Beatrix and Claus with their three sons; source: Hello

Beatrix and Claus had three sons:

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Wedding of King Felipe VI of Spain and Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Felipe, The Prince of Asturias (the future King Felipe VI of Spain) and Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano were married on May 22, 2004, at the Santa María la Real de La Almudena Cathedral in Madrid, Spain.

Photo Credit – http://www.casareal.es

Felipe VI’s Early Life

Felipe in his mother’s arms with his family; Credit – http://www.casareal.es

King Felipe VI of Spain was born at the Nuestra Señora de Loreto Clinic in Madrid, Spain on January 30, 1968. He is the only son and the third of the three children of King Juan Carlos of Spain and his wife, Queen Sofia, born Princess Sophia of Greece. Felipe has two older sisters: Infanta Elena (born 1963) and Infanta Cristina (born 1965). At the time of Felipe’s birth, Spain was ruled by the dictator General Francisco Franco and his father had no official title or position in Spain. However, Felipe was registered in the Civil Registry as Infante with the style of Royal Highness. In 1969, General Franco recognized Juan Carlos as his successor and bestowed upon him the title of Prince of Spain. Felipe then became second in the line of succession to the vacant throne. Juan Carlos became King of Spain in 1975 upon the death of General Franco. On January 22, 1977, Felipe was formally created Prince of Asturias, the title traditionally held by the heir to the Spanish throne.

Felipe attended Santa María de los Rosales School in Madrid, Spain until 1984, when he was 16. For his last year of secondary education, he attended Lakefield College School in Lakefield, Ontario, Canada. In 1985, Felipe started his military education at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza, Spain, and studied there for three years. From 1988 – 1993, he attended the Autónoma University of Madrid, where he graduated with a degree in law. Felipe obtained a Master’s Degree in International Relations at the Edmund Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, DC where he studied from 1993 – 1995 and was a roommate of his first cousin Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece.

In 1992, Felipe was a member of the Spanish Olympic Sailing Team at the Barcelona Summer Olympics. He was the flag bearer at the Opening Ceremonies and his Soling Class sailing team finished in sixth place.

Upon the abdication of his father King Juan Carlos I on June 19, 2014, Felipe became King Felipe VI of Spain.

Unofficial Royalty: King Felipe VI of Spain

Letizia’s Early Life

Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano presenting the news; Photo Credit – http://www.casareal.es / TVE/EFE

Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano was born on September 15, 1972, in Oviedo, Asturias, Spain. She is the eldest of three daughters of Jesús José Ortiz Álvarez, a journalist, and his first wife, María de la Paloma Rocasolano Rodríguez, a registered nurse and hospital union representative. Regarding Spanish naming customs, using Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, the first surname or paternal family name is Ortiz and the second surname or maternal family name is Rocasolano. Letizia’s parents divorced in 1998 and her father married again to a fellow journalist, Ana Togores. Letizia has two younger sisters, Telma (born 1973) and Érika (1975-2007). It was widely reported that Letizia’s sister Érika died from an intentional prescription drug overdose.

In her hometown of Oviedo, Letizia completed her primary education at the Colegio Público La Gesta de Oviedo and started her secondary education at the Instituto Alfonso II. Due to her father’s job as a journalist, the whole family moved to Madrid in 1987 where Letizia continued her secondary education at the Instituto Ramiro de Maeztu. Letizia has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Complutense University of Madrid and a Master’s Degree in Audiovisual Journalism from the Institute for Audiovisual Journalism Studies.

In 1998, Letizia civilly married Alonso Guerrero Pérez, a high-school literature teacher, and the couple divorced in 1999. Since this marriage was only a civil ceremony, the Roman Catholic Church did not need to issue an annulment in order for Letizia to have a religious wedding in the future.

While Letizia was pursuing her university degrees, she worked for La Nueva España, a daily newspaper published in her hometown of Oviedo, ABC, a Spanish national daily newspaper, and Agencia EFE, a Spanish international news agency. After Letizia completed her university, she took a position at Siglo XXI, a newspaper in Guadalajara, Mexico.

When she returned to Spain, Letizia worked for the Spanish version of the financial channel Bloomberg before moving to CNN+, a Spanish 24-hour television news channel, where she spent two years broadcasting the news in the morning shift. In 2000, she received the Mariano José de Larra Award from the Press Association of Madrid as the most accomplished journalist under the age of 30.

In 2000, Letizia began working at Televisión Española, the national state-owned public television broadcaster in Spain where she worked for the news channel 24 Horas. By 2002, Letizia was anchoring the weekly news report program Informe Semanal and then the daily morning news program Telediario Matinal. In August 2003, Letizia started anchoring the daily evening news program Telediario 2, the most-watched newscast in Spain. During most of this time period, Letizia was maintaining a secret relationship with Felipe, Prince of Asturias, the heir to the Spanish throne.

Unofficial Royalty: Queen Letizia of Spain

The Engagement

Engagement announcement; Photo Credit – http://time.com

It was in November 2002 while covering the Prestige oil tanker disaster, Spain’s largest environmental disaster, that Letizia’s life would change forever. Felipe, Prince of Asturias had flown to the area to offer his support to the communities worst affected by the oil spill. Although the couple had met the year before at a mutual friend’s dinner party, it was during this terrible disaster that they fell in love. Their relationship was kept a closely guarded secret until the engagement was announced on November 1, 2003, with the following announcement:

Their Majesties the King and Queen have the great pleasure to announce the engagement of their son, His Royal Highness the Prince of Asturias Don Felipe, with Doña Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano. The asking of the hand will take place next Thursday, November 6th, at Zarzuela Palace. The wedding will be celebrated at the beginning of the Summer of 2004 at the Cathedral of Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena in Madrid.

Early in the morning of November 1, 2003, Letizia left her apartment in Madrid for Zarzuela Palace, then the residence of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain, where she would live until the wedding.

The official engagement ceremony, in which Felipe officially asked for the hand of Letizia, took place on November 6, 2003, at El Pardo Palace, and not at Zarzuela Palace as indicated in the official announcement of November 1, 2003. Afterward, the official presentation and press conference took place in the garden of El Pardo Palace.

Felipe gave Letizia a ring from Suarez Jewelers with sixteen baguette diamonds and white gold bands on either side of the diamonds.

The engagement ring; Credit – http://theroyalpost.com/2011/11/09/princess-letizias-engagement-ring

Pre-Wedding Festivities

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia hosted a dinner for 330 guests including heads of state, foreign representatives, and relatives on the evening before the wedding at El Pardo Palace. The King and Queen, the bride’s parents, the bride and groom, and the groom’s two sisters and their husbands welcomed the guests in the Central Courtyard of the El Pardo Palace. After the greeting, the guests proceeded to Habsburg Patio, where they were served appetizers. Dinner was then served in Bourbon Patio.  After dinner, the guests returned to the Habsburg Patio, where a ball was held.

Menu

  • Asparagus Tips from Tudela with Summer Truffle and Soup
  • Monkfish with Baby Broad Beans in Mint, Iberian Tomato Ravioli, and Sherry Vinegar
  • Duck Breast Marinated in Red Wine, Lemon Purée
  • Chocolate, Coconut, Red Berries with Citrus Sorbet

Wines

  • Clarión Viñas del Vero (Somontano Aragón)
  • Milmanda Torres (Cuenca la Barberá) – White
  • Chivite colección 125 (D.O. Navarra) – White
  • Matarromera (Ribera del Duero) – Red
  • M.R. Moscatel (D.O. Málaga)

Wedding Guests

More than 1,700 guests, including 30 heads of state, attended the wedding. Below is a partial guest list.

Family of the Groom

 King Juan Carlos I of Spain and his sister Infanta Pilar, Duchess of Badajoz

  • King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain, parents of the groom
  • Infanta Elena of Spain, Duchess of Lugo, sister of the groom, and Don Jaime de Marichalar, Duke of Lugo
  • Infanta Cristina of Spain, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca, sister of the groom, and Don Iñaki Urdangarín, Duke of Palma de Mallorca
  • Infanta Pilar of Spain, Duchess of Badajoz, paternal aunt of the groom
  • Doña Simoneta Gómez-Acebo y de Borbón, paternal first cousin of the groom, and Don José Miguel Fernández Sastrón
  • Don Juan Gómez-Acebo y de Borbón, Viscount de la Torre, paternal first cousin of the groom, and Doña Gabriela de la Rosa
  • Don Bruno Gómez-Acebo y de Borbón, paternal first cousin of the groom, and Doña Bárbara Cano de la Plaza
  • Don Beltrán Gómez-Acebo y de Borbón, paternal first cousin of the groom, and Doña Laura Ponte Martínez
  • Don Fernando Gómez-Acebo y de Borbón, paternal first cousin of the groom, and Doña Mónica Fernán y Luque
  • Infanta Margarita of Spain, Duchess of Soria, paternal aunt of the groom, and Don Carlos Zurita
  • Doña María Zurita y de Borbón, paternal first cousin of the groom
  • Don Alfonso Zurita y de Borbón, paternal first cousin of the groom
  • Don Luís Alfonso de Borbón y Martínez-Bordiú, paternal second cousin of the groom
  • Doña Emanuela Pratolongo, widow of Gonzalo, Duke of Aquitaine, who was a first cousin of King Juan Carlos I of Spain

Family of the Bride

  • Don Jesús Ortiz Álvarez, father of the bride
  • Doña Paloma Rocasolano, mother of the bride
  • Doña Telma Ortiz Rocasolano, sister of the bride
  • Doña Érika Ortiz Rocasolano, sister of the bride, and Don Antonio Vigo
  • Doña Menchu Álvarez del Valle, paternal grandmother of the bride
  • Don José Luis Ortiz Velasco, paternal grandfather of the bride
  • Doña Henar Ortiz Álvarez, paternal aunt of the bride
  • Don Francisco Rocasolano, maternal grandfather of the bride
  • Doña Enriqueta Rodríguez, maternal grandmother of the bride
  • Don Alfonso Rocasolano Lláser, maternal uncle of the bride
  • Doña Valerie Chrastek
  • Doña Abigail Rocasolano Lláser, maternal first cousin of the bride, and her fiancee Don Juan José Morueco Clemente
  • Don Francisco Rocasolano Rodríquez, maternal uncle of the bride, and his wife Doña María Concepción Lláser Moyano

Royal Guests

 Prince Albert of Monaco, The Prince of Wales and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden

  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan of Abu Dhabi
  • Prince Karim Aga Khan IV and Begum Inaara Aga Khan
  • Duke and Duchess of Aosta
  • Duke of Apulia
  • Archduke Karl and Archduchess Francesca of Austria
  • Archduke Georg and Archduchess Eilika of Austria
  • Duke de Santangelo and Duchess de Santangelo
  • Archduke Carl-Christian and Archduchess Marie-Astrid of Austria
  • Archduchess Catharina of Austria and Massimiliano, Count Secco d’Aragona
  • Archduke Philipp of Austria
  • Archduchess Sophie of Austria and Prince Hugo zu Windisch-Graetz
  • Archduke Maximilian of Austria
  • Archduke Martin and Archduchess Katharina of Austria-Este
  • Countess Immaculata von und zu Hoensbroech
  • Margrave Max and Margravine Valerie of Baden
  • Don Juan de Bagration y Ulloa and Doña Floriane del Río y Thorn
  • Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain and Sheikha Halaa Bint Daij Al Khalifa of Bahrain
  • Duke Franz of Bavaria
  • Princess Tessa of Bavaria
  • King Albert II and Queen Paola of the Belgians
  • Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium, Duke and Duchess of Brabant
  • Princess Astrid of Belgium and Prince Lorenz of Belgium, Archduchess and Archduke of Austria-Este
  • Prince Laurent and Princess Claire of Belgium
  • Queen Fabiola of Belgium
  • Infante Carlos, Duke of Calabria and Princess Anne, Duchess of Calabria
  • Princess Cristina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and Don Pedro López Quesada
  • Duke of Noto and Doña Sofía Landaluce y Melgarejo
  • Princess Inès of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and Michele Carrelli Palombi
  • Princess Victoria of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and Mr. Markos Nomikos
  • Princess Maria Margherita of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
  • Princess Maria Immaculata of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
  • Prince Casimiro and Princess Maria Christina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
  • Duke and Duchess of Bragança
  • Crown Prince Kardam and Crown Princess Miriam of Bulgaria
  • Prince Kyril and Princess Rosario of Bulgaria
  • Prince Kubrat and Princess Carla of Bulgaria
  • Prince Konstantin and Princess María of Bulgaria
  • Princess Kalina of Bulgaria and Don Kitín Muñoz Valcárcel
  • Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik of Denmark
  • King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece
  • Princess Alexia of Greece and Don Carlos Morales Quintana
  • Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece
  • Prince Nikolaos of Greece
  • Princess Theodora of Greece
  • Princess Irene of Greece
  • Prince Heinrich and Princess Thyra of Hanover
  • Princess Alexandra of Hanover
  • Landgrave Moritz of Hesse
  • Hereditary Prince Donatus and Hereditary Princess Floria of Hesse
  • Count Ferdinando Brachetti-Peretti
  • Sheikh Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait
  • Shahbanou Farah of Iran
  • Shah Reza and Princess Yasmine of Iran
  • Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan
  • Queen Rania of Jordan
  • Queen Noor of Jordan
  • Princess Raiyah of Jordan
  • Princess Muna Al Hussein of Jordan
  • Prince Faisal bin Hussein and Princess Alia Al Faisal of Jordan
  • Princess Sarvath El Hassan of Jordan
  • Prince Rashid Bin El Hassan of Jordan
  • Prince Talal bin Mohammed and Princess Ghida Al Talal of Jordan
  • Prince Hans-AdamI of Liechtenstein
  • Prince Nikolaus and Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein
  • Princess Nora of Liechtenstein
  • Prince Alois-Konstantin and Princess Anastasia zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg
  • Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg
  • Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg
  • Prince Jean of Luxembourg
  • Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg
  • Donna Giovanna dei Conti Marone
  • Don Luis Sánchez Merlo y Ruiz
  • Donna Maria Teresa dei Conti Marone
  • Hereditary Prince Albert of Monaco
  • Princess Caroline of Monaco and Prince Ernst August of Hannover
  • Prince Moulay Rachid of Morocco
  • Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
  • The Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands
  • Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands
  • King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway
  • Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway
  • Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and Mr. Ari Behn
  • Sayyed Haytham bin Tariq Al Said of Oman
  • Beatrice d’Orléans, Comtesse d’Evreux
  • Princess Clotilde of Orléans and Mr. Édouard Crépy
  • Princess Adelaïde of Orléans and Mr. Pierre Louis Dailly
  • Prince François of Orléans
  • Prince Pedro Carlos of Orléans and Bragança
  • Doña Maria da Glória of Orléans and Bragança
  • Don Manuel of Orléans and Bragança
  • Doña Teresa of Orléans and Bragança
  • Mrs. Elisabeth Martorell y d’Orléans-Braganza
  • Don Alvaro Jaime of Orleans-Borbón and Parodi Delfino
  • Doña Giovanna San Martino d’Aglie di San Germano
  • Prince Jaime of Bourbon-Parma
  • Princess Carolina of Bourbon-Parma
  • Princess Alicia of Bourbon-Parma
  • Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia
  • Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar
  • King Michael of Romania
  • Crown Princess Margarita and Prince Radu of Romania
  • Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia
  • Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia
  • Prince Vittorio Emanuele and Prince Marina of Savoy
  • Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, Prince of Venice and Princess Clotilde of Savoy
  • Prince Gustav of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
  • Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Count Jefferson-Friedrich von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth
  • King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden
  • Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden
  • Prince Carl Philip of Sweden
  • Princess Madeleine of Sweden
  • Mr. Gustaf Magnuson
  • Hereditary Count Ignaz and Hereditary Countess Robinia zu Toerring-Jettenbach
  • Donna Sandra Torlonia, Countess Lequio di Assaba
  • Don Marco Torlonia, Prince of Civitella-Cesi
  • Donna Blazena Torlonia, Princess of Civitella-Cesi
  • Donna Olimpia Weiller
  • The Prince of Wales
  • Duke Eberhard von Württemberg

Other Guests

 Nelson Mandela and his wife

  • Doña Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, Duchess of Alba
  • Don Alfonso Martínez de Irujo y Fitz-James Stuart, Duke of Aliaga, son of the Duchess de Alba
  • Don José María Aznar López, former Prime Minister of Spain
  • Doña Ana Botella, Councilor of the City of Madrid
  • Frey Andrew W. N. Bertie, Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta
  • Mr. Enrique Bolaños Geyer, President of Nicaragua, and Mrs. Lila T. Abaunza de Bolaños
  • Francisco Flores Pérez, President of El Salvador, and Mrs. Lourdes Rodríguez de Flores
  • Mr. Lucio Edwin Gutiérrez Borbúa, President of Ecuador, and Mrs. Ximena Bohórquez Romero
  • Doña Carmen Franco Polo, Duchess de Franco, daughter of the late dictator Francisco Franco
  • Don Felipe González Márquez, former Prime Minister of Spain
  • Doña Carmen Romero López, member of Spanish Parliament
  • Mr. Václav Havel, former President of the Czech Republic, and Mrs. Dagmar Havel
  • Mr. Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa, and his wife Mrs. Graça Machel
  • Mrs. Mary McAleese, President of Ireland, and Mr. Martin McAleese
  • Mrs. Mireia Moscoso, President of Panama
  • Mr. Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan, and Mrs. Aliya Nazarbayeva
  • Mr. Andrés Pastrana Arango, former president of Colombia, and Mrs. Nohra Puyana de Pastrana
  • Don Manuel Pertegaz Ibáñez, Spanish fashion designer
  • Mr. Johannes Rau, President of Germany, and Mrs. Christina Rau
  • Doña Maria Concepción Sáenz de Tejada, Countess Dowager de Ripalda
  • Don Juan Antonio Samaranch, former President of the International Olympic Committee
  • Mr. Jorge Sampaio, President of Portugal, and Mrs. María José Ritta de Sampaio
  • Don Juan María Urdangarín Berriotxoa and Doña Claire Liebaert Courtin
  • Mr. Álvaro Uribe Vélez, President of Colombia
  • Don José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Prime Minister of Spain
  • Doña Sonsoles Espinosa, Spanish classical singer and wife of Don José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero

Wedding Attendants

 The pages and flower girls pose with their family

Pages and Flower Girls

  • Felipe Juan de Marichalar y de Borbón, nephew of the groom
  • Victoria Federica de Marichalar y de Borbón, niece of the groom
  • Juan Valentin Urdangarín y de Borbón, nephew of the groom
  • Pablo Nicolas Urdangarín y de Borbón, nephew of the groom
  • Miguel Urdangarín y de Borbón, nephew of the groom
  • Victoria López Quesada Borbón Dos Sicilias, daughter of Princess Cristina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies who is a daughter of Infante Carlos, Duke of Calabria
  • Carla Vigo Ortiz, niece of the bride

Bridesmaids

  • Ana Codorniu Álvarez de Toledo, second cousin once removed of the groom, great great granddaughter of King Alfonso XIII of Spain and Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg
  • Claudia González Ortiz, first cousin of the bride

The dresses and suits of the pages, flower girls, and bridesmaids, designed by Spanish designer Lorenzo Caprile, were inspired by 18th-century Spanish paintings, particularly those of Francisco Goya. Each of the two youngest pages wore a shirt, trousers with a yellow silk sash tied at the waist. The older pages wore suits that reproduced 18th-century male dress: jacket, doublet, breeches, short tie and frill and buckle shoes.

The flower girls wore a bodice decorated with appliqués of lace and ribbons, with a round collar and French sleeves, and a basquiña, a skirt worn in Spain from the 16th to the 19th century, with a typical Spanish yellow sash tied at the waist.

 The two bridesmaids on the right pages and flower girls pose with their family

 

The bridesmaids’ dresses were inspired by the dress of ladies-in-waiting of the 18th century. The two bridesmaids wore a bodice decorated with ribbons and pleats, and a basquiña. They also wore an embroidered shawl and apron, manoletina shoes (similar to ballet flats) and hairnets. The garland the children carried down the aisle before the bride is an ancient symbol of joy, abundance, and happiness.

Witnesses for the Wedding Ceremony

The bride and groom each had a group of family, friends, and people important to them serve as witnesses for the wedding ceremony. Before the end of the wedding ceremony, each witness signed the marriage certificate. When possible, the witnesses have been identified.

Witnesses for The Prince of Asturias

  • Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo, sister of the groom
  • Infanta Cristina, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca, sister of the groom
  • Don Jaime de Marichalar, Duke of Lugo, brother-in-law of the groom
  • Don Iñaki Urdangarín, Duke of Palma de Mallorca, brother-in-law of the groom
  • Don Beltran Gomez-Acebo y de Borbon, paternal first cousin of the groom
  • Don Alfonso Zurita y de Borbon, paternal first cousin of the groom
  • Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece, maternal first cousin of the groom
  • Prince Nikolaos of Greece, maternal first cousin of the groom
  • Prince Konstantin of Bulgaria, friend of the groom
  • Don Fernando Leon Boissier, on groom’s sailing team in the 1992 Summer Olympics
  • Don Alvaro Fuster Garaizabal, childhood friend of the groom
  • Mr. Christopher Dennis, attended Lakefield College School in Lakefield, Ontario, Canada with the groom
  • Don Fernando Rocha y Castilla, had career in the army, served in the Royal Guard
  • Don Alfredo Hernandez Martinez, friend of the groom
  • Don Esteban Bienert Barberon, friend of the groom
  • Don Miguel Henkart Fernandez de Bobadilla, friend of the groom
  • Don Alberto Pamos Gomez, friend of the groom
  • Mr. Christophe von Reiche, friend of the groom

Witnesses of Doña Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano

  • Don Jesus Ortiz Alvarez, father of the bride
  • Doña Paloma Rocasolano Rodriguez, mother of the bride
  • Don Jose Luis Ortiz Velasco, paternal grandfather of the bride
  • Don Francisco Rocasolano Camacho, maternal grandfather of the bride
  • Doña Menchu Alvarez del Valle, paternal grandmother of the bride
  • Doña Enriqueta Rodriguez Cigarredo, maternal grandmother of the bride
  • Doña Telma Ortiz Rocasolano, sister of the bride
  • Doña Erika Ortiz Rocasolano, sister of the bride
  • Don Antonio Vigo Perez, professor at the university the bride attended
  • Doña Cristina Palacios Rubio, journalist friend of the bride
  • Doña Sonsoles Inega Salcedo, journalist friend of the bride
  • Doña Sonia Martinez Munoz, journalist friend of the bride
  • Don Jose Eduardo Medina Casado, journalist friend of the bride
  • Don Jaime Arturo del Burgo Azpiroz, future husband of bride’s sister Telma
  • Don Luis Bruzon Delgado, journalist friend of the bride
  • Don Alex Grijelmo Garcia, journalist friend of the bride
  • Don Mar Peiteado Mariscal, journalist friend of the bride

Wedding Attire

Felipe wore the full dress uniform of a Commander of the Spanish Army with braided epaulets, the light blue sash of the Order of Carlos III and the following medals: Insignia of the Order of the Golden Fleece, Grand Cross Collar of the Order of Carlos III (Badge and Star) and the Grand Crosses for Military, Naval and Aeronautic Merit with distinction.

Letizia’s wedding gown was designed by 87-year-old Spanish designer Manuel Pertegaz, considered Spain’s leading designer. Made from Valencia silk woven with threads of fine silver, the upper part, tapered with long sleeves, extends gracefully from the waist and flows into a train measuring 15 feet/4.5 meters embroidered with fleur-de-lis flowers, the heraldic fleur-de-lis, ears of wheat, clover, and strawberries. The stand-away collar is embroidered in silver and gold thread on both sides.

The veil was a gift from the groom and was cut to echo the shape of the train. 10 feet/3 meters long and 6.5 feet/2 meters wide, it was made from off-white silk tulle and hand-embroidered using techniques of the 19th century with scrolls and garlands of ears of wheat, and fleur-de-lis.

Letizia’s earrings were a gift from King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia. They are made from platinum with six 2.44 carat pear-cut diamonds, two brilliant-cut of 1.22-carats and two brilliant-cut diamonds of 4.54-carats.

 Prussian Diamond Tiara

Letizia wore the Prussian Diamond Tiara, made of platinum and brilliant-cut diamonds in the empire style. Originally the tiara was given by Wilhelm II, German Emperor to his only daughter Princess Viktoria Luise of Prussia when she married Prince Ernst Augustus of Hanover, Duke of Brunswick in 1913. Viktoria Luise gave the tiara to her daughter Princess Frederica of Hanover when she married Prince Paul of Greece (the future King Paul I of Greece) in 1938. Frederica then gave the tiara to her daughter Princess Sophia of Greece (the future Queen Sofia of Spain) when she married Prince Juan Carlos of Spain (the future King Juan Carlos I of Spain) in 1962. Queen Sofia loaned Letizia the Prussian Diamond Tiara for her wedding.

The cascade bouquet was composed of:

  • Lilies, a symbol of the Bourbons
  • Roses, the flower of May
  • Orange blossoms, in memory of the groom’s late paternal grandmother The Countess of Barcelona and Queen Mercedes of Spain, Princess of Orléans, the first wife of King Alfonso XII of Spain
  • Apple blossoms, a tribute to the Principality of Asturias, and a symbol of Our Lady of Atocha
  • Ears of wheat, a symbol of fruitfulness, hope and joy; a symbol of Our Lady of the Almudena and San Isidro Labrador (Saint Isadore the Laborer) who is the patron saint of Madrid

Wedding Ceremony

The wedding ceremony was held on May 22, 2004, at the Santa María la Real de La Almudena Cathedral in Madrid, Spain. This was the first royal wedding held in the cathedral and the first royal wedding held in Madrid since the wedding of Felipe’s great-grandparents King Alfonso XIII and Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. When all the guests were seated in the cathedral, the Spanish royal family entered the cathedral:

  • Infante Carlos and Infanta Anne of Spain (Duke and Duchess of Calabria)
  • Infanta Margarita of Spain Duchess of Soria and the Duke of Soria
  • Infanta Cristina Duchess of Palma de Mallorca and the Duke of Palma de Mallorca
  • Infanta Elena Duchess of Lugo and the Duke of Lugo
  • King Juan Carlos I of Spain and Infanta Pilar Duchess of Badajoz
  • Queen Sofia of Spain and the Prince of Asturias

The Spanish royal family was seated on the left side of the altar. On the right side of the altar, the bride’s family was seated as well as the witnesses for the bride and groom. The Cardinal Archbishop of Madrid Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, who would give the sermon, was in the Episcopal Throne on the right of the altar.

The Apostolic Nuncio of His Holiness The Pope (the Pope’s representative in Spain); Ricardo Maria Carles, Cardinal of Barcelona; Carlos Amigo, Cardinal of Seville; Carlos Oviedo, Archbishop of Oviedo; Chaplain-General to the Armed Forces Archbishop Francisco Pérez González; Chaplain General Emeritus Monsignor José Manuel Estepa Llaurens, and the Auxiliary Bishops of Madrid all stood behind the altar in the center. The Abbot of Poblet, the Prior of El Escorial and the Abbot of Covadonga stood on the right of the altar.

Letizia and her father followed by the two bridesmaids; Photo Credit – http://www.casareal.es

As the bride left the Royal Palace with her father, it started to rain quite heavily. The pages and flower girls entered the cathedral carrying a garland symbolizing joy, abundance, and happiness. Letizia and her father then proceeded down the aisle, followed by the two bridesmaids. At the altar, Felipe received his bride from her father and the celebration of the Roman Catholic Nuptial Mass, which follows the traditional Roman Catholic Mass and includes the Sacrament of Matrimony, began.

Felipe giving Letizia her wedding ring; Credit – http://www.casareal.es

After the Mass was over the Prince and Princess of Asturias left the cathedral to the glorious Hallelujah chorus by Georg Friedrich Handel. Before they returned to the Royal Palace, their car went on a tour of the streets of Madrid and then went to the Real Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Atocha (Royal Basilica of Our Lady of Atocha).

The newlyweds leave the cathedral; Photo Credit – http://www.casareal.es

Our Lady of Atocha is the traditional patron of Spanish royalty. In tribute to Our Lady of Atocha, Felipe and Letizia had come to the basilica to lay the bridal bouquet before the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Atocha. There is also a tradition in the Spanish royal family that infants are presented to Our Lady of Atocha at the basilica forty days after their birth. This rite was performed by Queen Regent María Cristina when she presented her son who was born king, the infant King Alfonso XIII, and by King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia when they presented their children Elena, Cristina, and Felipe. Felipe and Letizia did the same with their daughters Leonor and Sofia.

Letizia presenting her bridal bouquet at the Royal Basilica of Our Lady of Atocha; Photo Credit – http://www.casareal.es

Music Played During the Wedding Ceremony

Music was provided by:

  • National Choir of Spain
  • Spanish Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra
  • Director: Jesus Lopez Cobos
  • Organist: Roberto Fresco

During the arrival of the guests: Roberto Fresco, organist of the cathedral, played pieces of notable organists and composers of the reigns of Carlos V, Felipe II, and Felipe V (16th to 18th centuries): Antonio de Cabezón, Sebastián Aguilera de Heredia, Francisco Correa de Arauxo, Pablo Bruna, and Joan Bautista Cabanilles.

  • Entrance of King Juan Carlos I: The National Anthem – Marcha Real (Royal March) by Manuel de Espinosa de los Monteros
  • Entrance of the bride: Allegro for Organ Opus 7 by Georg Friedrich Handel
  • Gloria – Missa Pro Victoria by Tomás Luis de Victoria
  • Alleluia – Hallelujah by Christopher Morales
  • Presentation of the offerings – Sancta Maria KV 273 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
  • Sanctus and Benedictus – Missa Pro Victoria by Tomás Luis de Victoria
  • Agnus Dei – Missa Pro Victoria by Tomás Luis de Victoria
  • During Communion – Tantum Ergo KV 197 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; The Salutatis by Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga; Divine Bread by Francisco Guerrero
  • Rite of Farewell and Blessing – Regina Coeli by Tomás Luis de Victoria
  • While the witnesses sign the marriage certificate – Cantata # 69 by Johann Sebastian Bach
  • Exit of The Prince and Princess of Asturias – Hallelujah Chorus by Georg Friedrich Handel
  • Exit of the Guests – Prelude for Organ, Chorale Meine Seele Erhebet den Herrn BWV 648, Chorale Ach Bleib Bei Uns, Herr Jesu Christ BWV 649, all by Johann Sebastian Bach

Wedding Reception

On the Royal Palace balcony; Photo Credit – http://www.casareal.es

After leaving the Royal Basilica of Our Lady of Atocha, Felipe and Letizia drove back to the Royal Palace. Upon their arrival, the Band of Bagpipe Players of the City of Oviedo and their youth group Vetusta (from Letizia’s hometown of Oviedo, Asturias, Spain) played the anthem of Asturias and the “March of May” which had been composed for the occasion. The bride and groom then appeared on the balcony of the Royal Palace with their parents along with Felipe’s two sisters and their husbands and greeted the many people gathered in the Plaza de Oriente. The people were very disappointed that the newlyweds only hugged and did not kiss. Then there were three photo sessions, one with the bride and groom with their families, another with the heads of state who attended the wedding, and the third with members of royal houses. After the photo sessions, the bride and groom joined their guests for lunch which was served in the Courtyard of the Prince and the attached galleries.

Family Photo; Photo Credit – http://www.casareal.es

In his toast, King Juan Carlos expressed to Letizia the enormous happiness of the whole royal family with this marriage. He asked the newlyweds to always think of Spain and to dedicate to the Spanish people their best efforts with love and devotion. The king implored the newlyweds to share in the joys, feelings, and difficulties of the Spanish people and to passionately serve their great, diverse country, proud of its democracy and freedom.

Felipe gave a speech in which he expressed his great happiness and stated that he and Letizia will always think of Spain, that their whole life will be dedicated to the well-being of the Spanish people, and thanked them for their constant show of affection and generosity.

Toast at the reception; Photo Credit – http://www.casareal.es

Menu

  • Appetizers
  • Puff-Pastry Tartlet with Seafood on a Bed of Scallops
  • Roast Capon with Thyme and Nuts
  • Cake

Wines

  • Denominación de Origen Rias Baixas – White
  • Denominación de Origen Rioja – Red 1994 Reserve
  • Cava

The composition of the main table was as follows:

  • Dr. Martin McAleese
  • Mrs. Lourdes Rodríguez de Flores
  • Mr. Johannes Rau, President of Germany
  • Queen Rania of Jordan
  • Prince Hans Adam of Liechtenstein
  • Mrs. María José Ritta de Sampaio
  • King Albert II of the Belgians
  • Queen Sonja of Norway
  • King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden
  • Queen Margrethe II of Denmark
  • Mr. Jesús Ortiz Álvarez
  • Queen Sofa of Spain
  • The Prince of Asturias
  • The Princess of Asturias
  • King Juan Carlos I of Spain
  • Mrs. Paloma Rocasolano
  • Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark
  • Queen Silvia of Sweden
  • King Harald V of Norway
  • Queen Paola of the Belgians
  • Frey Andrew W. N. Bertie, Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta
  • Mrs. Mary McAleese, President of Ireland
  • Mr. Jorge Sampaio, President of Portugal
  • Mrs. Christina Rau
  • Mrs. Mireia Moscoso, President of Panama
  • Francisco Flores Pérez, President of El Salvador

Honeymoon

 On their honeymoon in San Sebastian, Spain

Felipe and Letizia’s honeymoon itinerary was not published, but the media did piece together their whirlwind trip. The couple started off visiting several places in Spain: Cuenca, San Sebastian, Teruel, Zaragoza, Navarre, and Basque Country. Next, they went to Jordan to attend the wedding of Prince Hamzah bin Hussein to his second cousin Princess Noor bint Asem bin Nayef on May 27, 2004. (The couple had one daughter and divorced in 2009.) While in Jordan, Felipe and Letizia visited Petra, a historical and archaeological city in southern Jordan, famous for its rose-colored rock-cut architecture. The newlyweds were seen in Thailand on the island paradise of Koh Muk. It is suspected that they also visited India and China, because the pilot of a plane traveling from India to China, welcomed the prince and princess, who were traveling incognito, over the plane’s public address system. The Fiji Times reported that Felipe and Letizia stayed for a week in Fiji at the Wakaya Club, a luxurious, expensive resort. In their honeymoon’s final stretch, the couple privately cruised the Mediterranean aboard the ship of a Greek ship-owner, stopping at Greek islands and sailing through Italian ports.

Children

Embed from Getty Images 
Felipe, Letizia and their two daughters in 2018

Felipe and Letizia had two daughters:

  • The Princess of Asturias (Leonor de Todos los Santos de Borbón Ortiz), born  2005, the heir presumptive to the Spanish throne
  • Infanta Sofía (Sofía de Todos los Santos de Borbón Ortiz), born 2007

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • “A Royal Wedding Boosts Spain’s Spirits”. latimes. N.p., 2017. Web. 6 May 2017.
  • “Flashback Friday: Mediterranean Engagement Rings”. Orderofsplendor.blogspot.com. N.p., 2017. Web. 6 May 2017.
  • “La Intensa Luna De Miel De Los Principes De Asturias | Gente | Gente – Abc.Es”. ABC. N.p., 2017. Web. 6 May 2017.
  • “Netty Royal”. Nettyroyal.nl. N.p., 2017. Web. 6 May 2017.
  • “Netty Royal”. Nettyroyal.nl. N.p., 2017. Web. 6 May 2017.
  • “Página Oficial Del Enlace Matrimonial De Su Alteza Real El Príncipe De Asturias Con Doña Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano”. Casareal.es. N.p., 2017. Web. 6 May 2017.

Wedding of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg and Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium

by Emily McMahon  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Photo Credit – http://orderofsplendor.blogspot.com

Hereditary Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg (the future Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg) married Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium on April 9, 1953, in a civil ceremony in the Hall of Ceremonies at the Grand Ducal Palace in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg and then a religious ceremony was held at the Cathedral of Notre Dame also in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg.

Jean’s Early Life

Embed from Getty Images 

Jean was the eldest child of Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, and her consort Felix of Bourbon-Parma. The heir apparent of the Luxembourgish grand ducal throne from birth, Jean was born at Berg Castle on January 5, 1921. He began using the title of Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg after his eighteenth birthday in 1939.

Jean was educated in Luxembourg through his early years, continuing at Ampleforth College in the United Kingdom. After fleeing Europe with his family at the outbreak of World War II, Jean continued his studies at the French-speaking Laval University in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Jean joined several of his Imperial cousins as a student at the university, rooming for a short time with Archdukes Carl Ludwig and Rudolph of Bourbon-Parma.

Jean left Laval by choice, opting to join the British Army in the Irish Guards in 1942. Serving under the name “John Luxembourg,” Jean eventually rose through the ranks to captain. He continued with his military training at the Royal Military College of Sandhurst. Jean landed in Normandy a few days after the June 1944 invasion. He later fought in the Battle of Caen, a campaign intended to strengthen the Allied position in France as well as to cut off German mobility within the northern part of the country.

With his father, Jean took an active role in the liberation of Brussels and later his home country of Luxembourg in September 1944, riding into Luxembourg City in one of General George S. Patton’s tanks. Jean then continued fighting with Allied troops in Germany through the end of the war.

The prince earned numerous military decorations during his service, including French, Belgian, and Luxembourg Croix de Guerre, a Dutch Commemorative War Cross, and an American Silver Star. Following the war, Jean was named a Colonel of the Luxembourg Army.

Several decades after the end of World War II, Jean was recognized for his British military service by Queen Elizabeth II, who named him a Colonel of the Irish Guards and later an Honorary General of the British Army.

After the war, Jean returned to service in representing the interests of Luxembourg within Europe and overseas. He served as a member of the International Olympics Committee from the close of World War II until the 1990s.

An athletic young man, Jean practiced fencing, tennis, swimming, and skiing, later patronizing several Luxembourgish organizations devoted to sports. Like his Belgian father-in-law, Jean also had a keen interest in the environment, particularly in the preservation of native vegetation and animal life. Jean also developed an interest in the American West, spending considerable time in Arizona and Wyoming.

Joséphine-Charlotte’s Early Life

Embed from Getty Images
Joséphine-Charlotte with her two brothers, the future King Albert II and the future King Baudouin

Joséphine-Charlotte was baptized a month after her birth at the Royal Palace in Brussels. Ironically, the baby’s godmother was her future mother-in-law, Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg. Joséphine-Charlotte’s godfather was her uncle Charles, Count of Flanders. The baby’s Belgian and Swedish grandparents were also in attendance.

As agreed before the marriage of Lutheran Astrid and Catholic Leopold, Joséphine-Charlotte was raised with her father’s faith. (Astrid later converted to Catholicism a few years after her daughter’s birth.) Joséphine-Charlotte had a happy early childhood with her younger brothers Baudouin and Albert. She was affectionately called “Little Jo” within her family. Like her parents, Joséphine-Charlotte enjoyed the outdoors throughout her life, spending her free time fishing, hunting, or gardening.

Joséphine-Charlotte lost her mother in 1935 following a car accident in Switzerland. The Belgian public extended their enormous sympathies to the grieving family, with great concern given to the effects it had on Joséphine-Charlotte and her brothers. By all accounts, Leopold remained a devoted father to his children and kept close ties with his late wife’s family. Many photographs exist from this time of children with their Swedish grandparents and Norwegian cousins.

Leopold married a second time in 1941 to Lilian Baels, later known as Lilian, Princess of Réthy. Although the marriage was initially kept from the Belgian public and was later very unpopular, Joséphine-Charlotte had a close relationship with her stepmother before her marriage.

Joséphine-Charlotte was educated privately in Belgium until the outbreak of World War II, after which Joséphine-Charlotte and her family were held under house arrest in Belgium, Germany, and finally Austria. The conditions were harsh in captivity, where the Belgian royals lived with very little food and were under constant threat of execution by the Nazis.

After the war, Leopold was accused of collaborating with the Nazis and prevented from returning to Belgium. Joséphine-Charlotte and her family temporarily settled in Prégny, Switzerland. Joséphine-Charlotte studied child psychology in nearby Geneva; one of her professors was the well-known developmental psychologist Jean Piaget.

Joséphine-Charlotte was eventually allowed to return to Belgium in 1949. She spent this time working toward the restoration of her father as King of the Belgians. The following year Joséphine-Charlotte voted in the referendum held to decide Leopold’s fate as king or commoner. Joséphine-Charlotte was prevented from leaving her plane for 45 minutes as the airport was mobbed with her father’s supporters. Although Leopold briefly returned to Belgium as king, he abdicated to Baudouin the following year after a violent strike in Wallonia.

Engagement

Embed from Getty Images

Rumors of a Belgian-Luxembourg engagement began appearing in the press in November 1952. While Joséphine-Charlotte and Jean were indeed officially engaged the previous month, the engagement was not made official to the public until December 26, 1952. The April 9, 1953 wedding date was announced the following day. A ball was held in Brussels to celebrate the event.

Speculation began early on that the match had been arranged for political reasons. The promoters of the union were believed to be Dowager Queen Elisabeth and Grand Duchess Charlotte. The press seemed to conclude somewhat harshly that if the pairing was indeed arranged, the marriage would, therefore, be unhappy and loveless. At various times both Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte were said to have fallen in love and wanted to marry commoners but were prevented from doing so by their disapproving families.

Still, other news reports portrayed Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte as long-time sweethearts, as a surprising love match that bloomed after a lifetime of casual friendship, or as each other’s best options in a limited royal dating pool. Whatever the background of their engagement, Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte gave the impression of a happy couple during their engagement.

Wedding Preparations

Embed from Getty Images

St. Michael and St. Gudula’s Cathedral in Brussels, Belgium was discussed early on as the probable location for the ceremony. The Cathedral of Notre Dame in Luxembourg City was eventually secured for the religious wedding.

Seats in stands along the wedding parade route sold for $4 while standing tickets went for half the price. With 70,000 visitors from Belgium and elsewhere expected for the wedding festivities, hotels in Luxembourg were booked months before the event. This prompted the government to call upon Luxembourgish citizens to open their homes to guests.

The Belgian government offered troops to guard the royal guests. The Luxembourgers politely declined, insisting that their own troops, police force, and firefighters could adequately ensure the safety of the visitors.

Postponement of the wedding was briefly considered following the death of Queen Mary, grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, on March 24, 1953. Although preparations went ahead as planned, Princess Margaret (the intended British representative) did not attend. Geoffrey C. Allchin, the British ambassador to Luxembourg, attended the wedding in place of Princess Margaret.

The mass influx of visitors into the tiny country was called by one newspaper as “Luxembourg’s greatest-ever peaceful invasion,” making a somewhat morbid reference to Luxembourg’s frequent military occupations.

A set of six stamps featuring a picture of the new couple and the Luxembourg coat of arms was released by the government of Luxembourg to commemorate the big event.

Joséphine-Charlotte’s Arrival in Luxembourg

Joséphine-Charlotte left Brussels amid great fanfare on April 7, 1953. Around 70,000 Belgians showed up at the Royal Palace to bid their princess goodbye and good luck before her wedding.

She traveled with her father, stepmother, and siblings from Belgium to Luxembourg by train, arriving on the afternoon of April 7. Upon their arrival in Luxembourg City, Joséphine-Charlotte stepped out smiling, dressed in a mauve velvet dress and hat.

Several thousand people had gone to the train station to watch the couple make their entrance. Jean met the royal train at the Belgian-Luxembourgish border. After welcoming his fiancée with a kiss, he joined her on the train into the city. Jean escorted Joséphine-Charlotte along a red carpet to a limousine.

King Baudouin later realized that he had forgotten to pack his sword for the ceremony. A courier was hurriedly dispatched back to Belgium, retrieving the sword just in time for the wedding.

Wedding Ceremonies

Embed from Getty Images

On April 9, 1953, as required by law in Luxembourg, Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte were first married in a civil ceremony. The civil wedding was held in the Hall of Ceremonies in the Grand Ducal Palace in the morning prior to the religious wedding. The mayor of the city of Luxembourg, Emile Hamilius, served as officiate. The parents of both couples ceremonially handed consent documents to Mr. Hamilius prior to the event.

Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte traveled by open carriage along the two-mile route to the cathedral, despite light rain falling that morning. Asked by her fiancé if she minded getting wet on the way to the wedding, Joséphine-Charlotte said with a smile that she did not.

The wedding was one of the first major royal events in Europe following the devastation of World War II. The décor and happy nature of the event matched the public’s enthusiasm for a little fun following a very rough preceding decade.

A crowd of 100,000-140,000 (far more than the projected 70,000) packed the damp streets to watch the couple’s journey to the Cathedral of Notre Dame, 100,000 of which were said to be visitors from Belgium. The street lamps along the parade route were decorated with flowers and flags of both Luxembourg and Belgium. Spectators demonstrated respect toward one another by refusing to hold umbrellas in the rain so as not to block anyone else’s view of the events.

The recently abdicated King Leopold III of Belgium, the bride’s father, and Grand Duchess Charlotte, the groom’s mother, led Joséphine-Charlotte and Jean to the altar respectively. Alexandre of Belgium, Joséphine-Charlotte’s younger half-brother and godson, carried her train. The couple had no additional attendants.

The joint Belgian and Luxembourgish Papal Nuncio Msgr Fernando Cento officiated in a golden miter and cape, giving the wedding an additional touch of majesty. During the ceremony, the couple knelt on silk cushions surrounded by white carnations and candles.

The nave of the church was covered in banners of red, white, and blue along with red, yellow, and black for the couple’s respective countries. In addition, the hall was decked in a sumptuous cream fabric.

Wedding Attire

Embed from Getty Images

Jean wore an olive green uniform indicating his status as a colonel of the Luxembourg Army. Like many royal grooms, Jean wore several of his many orders, including the Order of the Gold Lion of House of Nassau, the Order of Leopold, and several of his military medals from service during World War II.

Joséphine-Charlotte wore a dress of white organza (silk), with a high neckline, a ruffled collar, and billowing sleeves with similarly ruffled cuffs. The two layers of the dress were separated by white tulle. The dress featured a long train of (of course!) Bruges lace. The sleeves and body of the dress featured numerous covered buttons.

Joséphine-Charlotte’s fourteen-foot-long train was made of handmade needlepoint and pillow lace, with flowers on an organza backing. Her tulle veil featured handmade Belgian lace attached to a diamond-encrusted platinum diadem. She also wore matching handmade lace gloves gathered at the wrists and carried a bouquet of stephanotis trimmed with tulle.

Joséphine-Charlotte wore two different tiaras during the festivities – the Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara was worn during the ceremony, while the Belgian Scroll Tiara was worn during most of the official wedding pictures.

Royal Pains

News of tension among the Belgian royals later emerged, evidently centering around Princess Liliane’s right of precedence. While it was customary for newly married royal couples to be followed down the aisle by their respective parents, the Dowager Queen Elizabeth took the place beside Prince Felix of her deceased daughter-in-law Astrid; Liliane was placed eighth.

The precedence issue was noted to be a problem as early as February 1953. Liliane, in her first official appearance since her own marriage to Leopold, was reportedly insistent upon taking the place of the bride’s mother, but in the end, she lost out to Elizabeth. The discomfort among the Belgian royals was evident on their faces in wedding photographs.

Elizabeth was angered enough by the incident to opt out of traveling with the family from Belgium to Luxembourg by train, deciding instead to make the trip by car. Josephine-Charlotte’s apparent shakiness, distraught behavior, and eventual collapse during the ceremony were said to be the result of the fight over precedence. An “unofficial” source said that the ceremony was almost delayed by Joséphine-Charlotte’s apparent distress over the fight.

The bride was said to have appeared pale and nervous during the processional. She initially stood on the wrong side at the altar (to Jean’s right), causing both sets of families to switch sides of the church. Concerned over his bride’s behavior, Jean was reported to have repeatedly asked her if she was all right during the religious ceremony. Joséphine-Charlotte confused the order of responses to her vows, began crying, and eventually collapsed at either the end of or shortly after the ceremony. During the recessional, the still-upset bride stepped on her train three times in an effort to avoid some overeager wedding guests crowding the couple.

For her part, Liliane was observed as having “rose to her feet rather early” after Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte passed her during recessional and may have attempted to take Elizabeth’s designated place on Felix’s arm.

Back to the Palace

Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte exited the cathedral to the street via a tunnel of swords raised by Luxembourg military officers.

The new couple rode back to the palace in heavier rain via an open Chrysler convertible. Joséphine-Charlotte was said to appear somewhat revived and was smiling during the ride. Grand Duchess Charlotte and ex-King Leopold followed behind Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte in an open Cadillac convertible. Baudouin escorted his grandmother Ingeborg of Sweden in a third car. Other European royalty followed in a series of additional cars behind the family.

Thirty-two Belgian Air Force jets flew through the air during the motor recessional amid a 101-gun salute to the newly married couple. The Belgian naval band played for the couple and crowds during the parade, their instruments protected against the rain by waterproof covers.

A reception attended by 750 guests followed at the palace. The reception hall had been altered to accommodate additional guests by the removal of a stone wall that originally separated the hall into two rooms.

Both the bride and groom were smiling as they appeared on the balcony of the Grand Ducal Palace. The two waved to a very excited, noisy, and wet crowd below. Due to the constant cheering below, the couple appeared multiple times on the balcony to wave to the well-wishers.

Joséphine-Charlotte’s Jewels

Both of the tiaras Joséphine-Charlotte wore as a part of the wedding celebrations were gifts. The Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara (aptly named as it could be worn in either fashion) was designed by Van Cleef & Arpels and given to the bride by the people of the Congo.

The second tiara was presented as a gift by the national bank of Belgium, the Société Générale. Now commonly known as the Belgian Scroll Tiara, Joséphine-Charlotte liked the piece very much, wearing it for dozens of events during her marriage.

Joséphine-Charlotte was given several new and heirloom jewels by her family. Leopold gave his daughter a Van Cleef & Arpels earring and brooch set, as well as an emerald and diamond bracelet and tiara set that had originally been given to Queen Astrid.

Wedding Guests

A few weeks before the wedding, Queen Elizabeth II announced that her sister, Princess Margaret, would represent her at the wedding. However, due to the death of Queen Mary on March 24, Margaret did not attend. Geoffrey C. Allchin, the ambassador to Luxembourg, instead represented Britain.

Umberto, the former King of Italy and a brother-in-law of the couple arrived by train from his exile in Portugal. His estranged wife, the former Marie-Jose of Belgium, arrived by car. Juliana of the Netherlands arrived by a plane piloted by her husband Bernhard.

The wedding was attended by 2500 guests, including three kings, three queens, 40 princes and princesses, all from ruling and former houses of European royalty.

Notable guests:

  • Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands
  • Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg and Prince Felix
  • King Baudouin of Belgium
  • Umberto and Marie-Jose, former King and Queen of Italy
  • Geoffrey C. Allchin, British Ambassador to Luxembourg (the British did not send a royal representative as the country was still in mourning for Queen Mary)
  • Prince Carl of Sweden (uncle of Josephine-Charlotte)
  • Princess Ingeborg of Sweden
  • Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Martha of Norway
  • Princess Ragnhild of Norway
  • Princess Astrid of Norway
  • Zita of Bourbon-Parma, former Empress Consort of Austria
  • Prince Axel and Princess Ingeborg of Denmark
  • Prince George of Denmark
  • Prince Charles of Luxembourg
  • Perle Mesta, the American ambassador to Luxembourg
  • Princess Elisabeth of Luxembourg
  • Princess Marie-Gabrielle of Luxembourg
  • Prince Antoine and Princess Alix of Ligne
  • Princess Marie-Adelaide of Luxembourg
  • Princess Maria-Pia of Savoy
  • Prince Eberhard of Urach
  • Prince Franz Josef II and Princess Georgina of Liechtenstein
  • Albert, Count of Liege
  • Andre of Bourbon-Parma
  • Rene of Bourbon-Parma
  • Carlos Hugo of Bourbon-Parma
  • Princess Diane of Bourbon-Parma
  • Prince Jacques and Princess Bridgette of Bourbon-Parma
  • Prince Louis and Princess Maria Francisca of Bourbon-Parma
  • Michel of Bourbon-Parma
  • Heinrich of Bavaria

Honeymoon

A Mediterranean cruise aboard the Royal Belgian yacht was initially planned as a honeymoon for the new couple. This was delayed and later canceled due to Josephine-Charlotte’s stress over the wedding.  Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte spent time relaxing quietly in Luxembourg City.

Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte later toured Africa over a two-month period.

Children

Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte with their children in 1971; Credit – Wikipedia

Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte had five children

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

photo: Janerik Henriksson/Scanpix, source: Swedish Royal Court

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden married Daniel Westling on June 19, 2010, at the Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyrkan) in Stockholm Sweden.

Crown Princess Victoria’s Family

 

HRH Princess Victoria Ingrid Alice Désirée was born on July 14, 1977, at the Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden. Victoria is the eldest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia (neé Silvia Sommerlath). King Carl XVI Gustaf is the son of Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten and Princess Sybilla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The King’s father died in a plane crash when the young prince was just 6 months old. This made Carl Gustaf the heir-apparent to his grandfather, King Gustaf VI.

Queen Silvia was born Silvia Sommerlath, of German and Brazilian descent. She is also a descendant of King Afonso III of Portugal. She met the then Crown Prince while working at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. They married in 1976, marking the first time a Swedish sovereign had married a ‘commoner’.

Victoria was followed by two younger siblings, Prince Carl Philip (born 1979) and Princess Madeleine (born 1982). Although born as heiress-presumptive, Victoria was replaced briefly upon the birth of her younger brother. However, in 1980, a constitutional reform was enacted changing the line of succession to follow equal primogeniture, making Victoria the Crown Princess and heiress-apparent to the throne of Sweden.

For more information about Victoria see:

 

Daniel Westling’s Family

 

Olof Daniel Westling was born on September 15, 1973, at Örebro University Hospital, in Örebro, Sweden. He is the only son of Olle Gunnar Westling and his wife, the former Ewa Kristina Westring, and has an older sister, Anna Westling Blom.

Daniel started his own business in 1997, consulting in the fitness industry, prior to opening his own gym a few years later. That business has grown to include several gyms in Sweden as well as some other business ventures. It was at his first gym, in 2001, when he met The Crown Princess while serving as her personal trainer.

An indication of the seriousness of their relationship was Daniel’s move to a rental apartment in Drottningholm Palace in mid-2008. Just over 6 months later, the engagement of Crown Princess Victoria to Daniel Westling was announced.

For more information about Daniel see:

The Engagement

 

Crown Princess Victoria first met Daniel Westling in 2001 when he became her personal trainer at the gym he owned in Stockholm. It was at a friend’s birthday party in 2002 where photographers caught a kiss between the two, fueling the interest in the Princess’ personal life. Despite some public opinion against Daniel as a potential spouse for the princess due to his ‘common’ background, Victoria made it clear that one’s background was not the deciding factor in marriage, but rather the happiness shared by the couple.

Speculation increased in July 2008 when Daniel moved to a rental apartment in a wing of Drottningholm Palace. Many believed this was to allow him to be ‘groomed’ for the role of consort to the Crown Princess.

The Engagement of Crown Princess Victoria to Mr. Daniel Westling was announced by the Royal Palace on February 24, 2009.  At the time, it was stated that the wedding would take place sometime in the Spring of 2010. It was later announced that the wedding will take place on June 19, 2010, the King and Queen’s 34th wedding anniversary, at Stockholm Cathedral.

Pre-Wedding Festivities

 

There were celebrations all over Sweden in the days and weeks leading up to the wedding, with ‘Love Stockholm 2010’ the theme for the festivities. In the final few days before the wedding, the ‘official’ celebrations began:

June 16th – A dinner, hosted by the County Governors on the East Indiaman “Götheborg”
June 17th – A private dinner hosted by the King and Queen at Drottningholm Palace
June 18th – A private luncheon hosted by the King and Queen at Sturehof Castle
– A reception at Stockholm City Hall, followed by a dinner at Eric Ericson Hall, both hosted by the Government
– A gala concert at the Stockholm Concert Hall, hosted by the Riksdag (Swedish parliament)

Wedding Guests

 

Guests at the wedding included members of many royal families, foreign heads of state, the Swedish government, the Diplomatic Corps, and many others. Below is a list of the families, Heads-of-State, and foreign Royal Families.

HM The King
HM. The Queen
HRH The Crown Princess Victoria
Mr Daniel Westling
HRH Prince Carl Philip
HRH Princess Madeleine

HM The King’s Family
Princess Margaretha, Mrs Ambler
Baroness Sybilla von Dincklage
Baroness Madeleine von Dincklage (Bridesmaid)
Mr James Ambler and Mrs Ursula Ambler
Mr C. Edward Ambler and Mrs Helen Ambler
HRH Princess Birgitta and HSH Dr Johann Georg, Prince von Hohenzollern
HSH Prince Carl Christian von Hohenzollern and HSH Princess Nicole von Hohenzollern
Mrs Désirée von Bohlen und Halbach and Mr Eckbert von Bohlen und Halbach
HSH Prince Hubertus von Hohenzollern and HSH Princess Ute Maria von Hohenzollern
Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld and Baron Niclas Silfverschiöld
Baron Carl Silfverschiöld and Baroness Maria Silfverschiöld
Baron Hans De Geer and Baroness Christina Louise De Geer
Baron Ian De Geer (Page Boy)
Civil economist Hélène Silfverschiöld
Princess Christina, Mrs Magnuson and Consul General Tord Magnuson
Civil Economist Gustaf Magnuson
Industrial designer Oscar Magnuson and Miss Emma Ledent
Mr Victor Magnuson and Miss Frida Bergström
Countess Marianne Bernadotte af Wisborg
Count Michael Bernadotte af Wisborg and Countess Christine Bernadotte af Wisborg
Countess Kajsa Bernadotte af Wisborg
Count Carl Johan Bernadotte af Wisborg and Countess Gunnila Bernadotte af Wisborg
Countess Bettina Bernadotte af Wisborg and Philipp Haug, DI
Count Björn Bernadotte af Wisborg and Countess Sandra Bernadotte af Wisborg
Mrs Madeleine Kogevinas
Count Bertil Bernadotte af Wisborg and Countess Jill Bernadotte af Wisborg
Mrs Dagmar von Arbin

HM The Queen’s Family
Mr Ralf de Toledo Sommerlath and Mrs Charlotte de Toledo Sommerlath
Mrs Carmita Sommerlath Baudinet and Monsieur Pierre Baudinet
Mr Thibault Radigues de Chennevière
Miss Chloé Radigues de Chennevière
Mr Thomas de Toledo Sommerlath and Ms Bettina Aussems
Mr Tim de Toledo Sommerlath
Mr Philip de Toledo Sommerlath
Mrs Susanne de Toledo Sommerlath
Miss Giulia de Toledo Sommerlath (Bridesmaid)
Mr Walther L. Sommerlath and Mrs Ingrid Sommerlath
Mrs Sophie Pihut-Sommerlath
Mr Patrick Sommerlath and Mrs Maline Luengo
Master Leopold Lundén Sommerlath (Page Boy)
Mrs Camilla Lundén
Miss Helena Christina Sommerlath
Miss Vivien Nadine Sommerlath (Bridesmaid)
Mr Carlos Augusto de Toledo Ferreira and Senhora Anna Luiza de Toledo Ferreira
Exma Senhora Maria Virginia Braga Leardi and Exmo Senhor Eduardo Longo
Senhor Luiz Machado de Melo and Senhora Maria Fernanda Machado de Melo
Exma Senhora Vera Quagliato
Senhor Carlos M. Quagliato
Senhor Pedro Ferreira

Daniel Westling’s Family
Mr Olle Westling and Mrs Ewa Westling
Anna Westling Blom, BS in Soc, and Assistant Master Mikael Söderström
Miss Hedvig Blom (Bridesmaid)
Miss Vera Blom (Bridesmaid)
Mr Olle Henriksson and Mrs Anita Henriksson
Agriculturalist Tommy Henriksson
Mapping Technician Hans Henriksson
Mr Nils Westling and Mrs Ann-Catrin Westling
Mr Andreas Westling and Mrs Amanda Tegnér
Miss Frida Westling
Miss Sara Westling
Mr Hasse Åström and Mrs Anna-Britta Åström
Insurance Official Hans Åström and Entrepreneur Helena Olsson
Mr Anders Åström and Mrs Kety Lund
Nursery Teacher Anna-Karin Åström and Assistant Christer Wigren
Mr Erik Westling and Mrs Birgitta Westling
Mr Ove Westling and Mrs Yvonne Westling
Mr Bo Westling and Mrs Carina Westling
Mr Per Westling and Mrs Rose-Marie Westling

Belgium
TM King Albert II and Queen Paola
TRH Crown Prince Philippe and Crown Princess Mathilde
TRH Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz
TRH Prince Laurent and Princess Marie Claire

Bulgaria
TM King Simeon and Queen Margarita
HRH Prince Kyril
HRH Princess Rosario

Denmark
HM Queen Margrethe II and HRH Prince Henrik
TRH Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary
HRH Prince Christian (Page Boy)
Captain of HM The Queen’s Naval Household Lars Rosendahl Christothersen, Commander of Dannebrog

Finland
HE Republic of Finland’s President Mrs Tarja Halonen and Doctor Pentti Arajärvi, LL D

Greece
TM King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie
HRH Princess Alexia, Mrs Morales and Mr Carlos Morales Quintana
HRH Prince Nikolaos and Ms Tatiana Blatnik
HRH Prince Philipos

Iceland
HE Iceland’s President Dr Ólafur Ragnar Grimsson and Mrs Dorrit Moussaieff

Japan
HIH Crown Prince Naruhito

Jordan
TM King Abdullah II Bin Al Hussein and Queen Rania al Abdullah
TRH Prince Ali bin Al Hussein and Princess Rym Ali
TRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal and Princess Sarvath El Hassan
HRH Prince Rashid bin El Hassan
HRH Princess Noor bint Asem
HRH Princess Iman

Former Yugoslavia
TRH Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine

Liechtenstein
HSH Hereditary Prince Alois and HRH Hereditary Princess Sophie

Luxembourg
TRH The Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria-Teresa
HRH The Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume
HRH Prince Félix

Monaco
HSH Prince Albert II
Ms. Charlene Wittstock

The Netherlands
HM Queen Beatrix
TRH The Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima
HRH Princess Catharina-Amalia (Bridesmaid)
TRH Prince Friso and Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau
TRH Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien

Norway
TM King Harald V and Queen Sonja
TRH Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit
HRH Princess Ingrid Alexandra (Bridesmaid)
Princess Märtha Louise and Mr Ari Behn
Captain Frank Bondø, the Royal Ship Norge

Romania
TRH Crown Princess Margarita and Prince Radu

Spain
HM Queen Sofia
TRH Thee Prince and Princess of Asturias
HRH The Infanta Doña Elena
HRH The Infanta Doña Cristina and HE Don Iñaki Urdangarin

United Kingdom
TRH The Earl and Countess of Wessex
Commander Nick Cooke-Priest, Commander of HMS Kent

Germany
HRH Princess Benedikte and HH Prince Richard zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
HSH Hereditary Prince Gustav zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Ms. Carina Axelsson
HSH Princess Alexandra zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Count Jefferson von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth
HSH Princess Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Mr Alexander Johannsmann
TRH Prince Manuel and Princess Anna of Bavaria
TH Hereditary Prince Hubertus and Hereditary Princess Kelly of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

The Wedding Attendants

 

Bridesmaids
HRH Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands (Victoria’s goddaughter)
HRH Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway (Victoria’s goddaughter)
Madeleine von Dincklage (a granddaughter of Victoria’s aunt Princess Margaretha, Mrs. Ambler)
Vivienne Sommerlath (Victoria’s cousin)
Giulia Sommerlath (daughter of Victoria’s cousin)
Hedvig Blom (Daniel’s niece)
Vera Blom (Daniel’s niece)

Page Boys
HRH Prince Christian of Denmark (Victoria’s godson)
Ian De Geer (a grandson of Victoria’s aunt Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld)
Léopold Sommerlath (son of Victoria’s cousin)

The Wedding Attire

 

Princess Victoria chose a Swedish designer for her dress, Pär Engsheden. The dress was made of cream-colored duchess silk with short sleeves and a turned-out collar, with a train nearly 5 meters long.

Keeping with tradition, she wore the Cameo Tiara, believed to be a gift from Napoleon to his wife, Empress Josephine. It was passed down to her granddaughter who married into the Swedish Royal Family in 1823. It was eventually passed on to the King’s mother, Princess Sybilla who left it to the King. The Queen wore it at her wedding in 1976, as did two of the King’s sisters.

Victoria wore her mother’s lace veil, worn at her own wedding in 1976. It had been passed down, eventually to the King’s mother who also wore it at her wedding in 1932. Three of the King’s sisters also wore the lace veil at their weddings.

The bridal bouquet was a mixture of traditional Swedish flowers with other, more exotic blooms, all in shades of white. Included were: lily of the valley, rose, phalaenopsis orchid, peony, clematis, cosmos, waxflower, sweet pea, dicentra formosa, Mårbacka pelargonium, Amazon lily, gardenia, azalea, bleeding heart and the traditional myrtle from Sofiero.

The bridesmaids wore full-length pearl white dresses of silk organza, with short sleeves and rolled collars. They carried bouquets of lilies of the valley.

The pageboys, in keeping with the Bernadotte family tradition, wore sailor suits.

The Ceremony

With about 1,100 guests, the wedding ceremony took place on June 19, 2010, at 3:30 pm in the Stockholm Cathedral. The ceremony was performed by the Archbishop of Uppsala, Anders Wejryd, with assistance from The Royal Court Chief Chaplain Lars-Göran Lönnermark, the Bishop of Lund, Dr. Antje Jackelén, and the Dean of the Cathedral, and Royal Court Chaplain, Åke Bonnier.

Music played whilst the guests assembled
Herald trumpeters from the Armed Forces Music Centre
played from the tower of the Cathedral

Adolf Fredrik’s Girls Choir
-Conductor Bo Johansson
“Äppelbo March”
“Husby bridal march”
“In this sweet summertime”, by A. Öhrwall
“The flowers that bloom on the ground”, by E. von Koch

The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
-Conductor Gustaf Sjökvist
From Drottningholm Music, by J. H. Roman
Allegro — Allegro — Vivace

National Folk Musicians Hugo and Tomas Westling with accordionist Britt-Marie Jonsson
“Spring Ice”, by Britt-Marie Jonsson, “Tribute” by Hugo Westling (First performance)
Wedding March for Victoria and Daniel by Hugo Westling (First performance)

The Ceremony
Crown Princess Victoria’s Fanfare
– by Ingvar Lidholm (1921-), originally performed at the Opening of Parliament 1995
Processional Music
– The Duke of Gloucester’s/Gloster’s March, by Jeremiah Clarke (1674-1707); arr Mattias Wager
Hymn
– by Karin Rehnqvist (1957-) (First performance)
– A gift to the Bridal Couple from The Royal Academy of Music.
Psalm 57:8-11
Hymn 201
– by C.D. af Wirsén (1842-1912); music: W. Åhlén (1894-1982); translation: Carolyn and Kenneth Jennings
Act of Praise
Words of Introduction
Bible Readings
– Matthew 19:4-6
– Romans 12:9-10, 15
– First letter of John 4:7
– Galatians 6:2
– Ephesians 3:16-17
The Questions
Blessing of the Rings
The Exchange of Vows and Rings
The Announcement
In the presence of God and before this congregation
you have made your vows to one another.
I therefore proclaim that you are husband and wife.
May the Lord be with you and lead you
in his truth now and always.
“Resting Blissfully In Your Arms”
– Music Benny Andersson (1946-); text: Kristina Lugn (1948-) (First performance)
Intercession
The Lord’s Prayer
The Blessing
Hymn 84b
– by E. A. Welch (1860-1932); adapted by A. Frostenson (1906-2006); music: M. Teschner (1584-1635)
The Address to the Bridal Couple by the Archbishop
“When You Tell the World You´re Mine”
– by Jörgen Elofsson (1962-); music: Jörgen Elofsson, John Lundvik (1983-) (First performance)
Bridal Recession to: Praise the Lord with Drums and Cymbals
– by Siegfried Karg-Elert (1877-1933); arr Thomas Brantigan

At the back of the cathedral, the King invested his new son-in-law – now HRH Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland – with the Order of the Seraphim before the couple emerged, under crossed swords, to the cheers of well-wishers. The couple rode through the streets of Stockholm in an open horse-drawn carriage to greet the millions of people who were lining the route to cheer their Crown Princess and her new Prince.

Following the carriage ride, the couple boarded the Royal Barge, Vasaorden, which carried them back to the Royal Palace, where they were greeted by a choral tribute from the Swedish Choral Society. Following the tribute and the official photographs, the couple joined their guests for the Wedding Banquet.

The Wedding Banquet

Nearly 560 guests were invited to the Wedding Banquet, held in the Hall of State at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. Guests were seated at a large T-shaped table, as well as smaller round tables scattered through the room and three adjoining halls. At the head of the table, the bride and groom were seated with their parents, the Princess’ aunts Désirée and Margaretha, Count Carl Johan Bernadotte of Wisborg, the Queens of Denmark and the Netherlands, the Kings of Norway and Belgium, the President of Finland and Archbishop Anders Wejryd, who performed the marriage ceremony. The rest of the families and members of foreign royal families were seated at large tables which extended the length of the room.

Speeches were given by The King, Olle Westling (the groom’s father), and the new Prince Daniel. They can be seen at the following YouTube links:

The Menu
Norway lobster from the west coast, served with summer truffles and truffle caviar, citrus marinated farmed cod on a bed of flowers with cucumber jelly and chilled green pea soup with Kalix whitefish roe

Landö char with herb coating, poached quail egg, green asparagus and beetroot from Gotland, served with a nettle and ramsons sauce

Sirloin of veal from Stenhammar with roasted shallot crisps, potato gratin with Allerum cheese, tomato terrine, carrots cooked with thyme in a white cabbage and tarragon gravy

Strawberry mousse with rhubarb centre and vanilla ice cream in white chocolate

Wines
Champagne Pommery 2000 Grand Cru
Sancerre Les Pierris 2008 Domaine Roger Champault
Pommard 1:er Cru Epenots 2002 Louis Jadot
Château Simon 2007 Sauternes

Following the dinner, the magnificent wedding cake was served. The 11-tiered four-leaf clover-shaped cake featured almond meringue, chocolate crisp, champagne mousse with wild strawberry curd, and wild strawberry compote, all finished off with champagne mousse. The sides of the cake were decorated with handmade caramel roses and lilies, and four-leaf clovers. The top of the cake is decorated with triangular spirals in transparent gold and blue, made from spun sugar, and the couple’s monogram made of cast caramel.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Wedding of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh and Sophie Rhys-Jones

by Susan Flantzer and Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Embed from Getty Images 

Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones were married on June 19, 1999, at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle in Windsor, England.

Family of Prince Edward

edward-family

HRH The Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis was born March 10, 1964, at Buckingham Palace, London. Edward was the fourth, and last, child of Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh.

Edward’s older siblings are Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales, born in 1948; Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, born in 1950; and Prince Andrew, The Duke of York, born in 1960.

On his wedding day, June 19, 1999, Edward was created Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn, breaking with the tradition of a dukedom granted to the son of the Sovereign upon marriage.  However, it was announced that Prince Edward will eventually be granted the Dukedom of Edinburgh, currently his father’s title, at such time when it has reverted back to the Crown. The title Duke of Edinburgh automatically passed to Edward’s eldest brother Charles when their father died in April 2021, and merged into the Crown in September 2022 when Charles acceded to the throne. King Charles III granted his younger brother Prince Edward the title Duke of Edinburgh on his 59th birthday, March 10, 2023.

To learn more about Edward see:

Family of Sophie Rhys-Jones

Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones was born on January 20, 1965, in Oxford, England.  She was the second child of Christopher Rhys-Jones and his wife Mary (née O’Sullivan) and has an older brother, David.  Sophie was named in honor of her paternal aunt, Helen, who had been killed in an accident some years before Sophie was born.

To learn more about Sophie see:

Engagement and Ring

edward_engagment

At the announcement of the engagement

On January 6, 1999, Prince Edward held a press conference to announce he and Sophie Rhys-Jones were engaged to be married. It was the culmination of a long courtship, beginning in 1993 when the two renewed a casual acquaintance at a Real Tennis Challenge, hosted by the Prince. Ms. Rhys-Jones, the public relations executive handling the event, was reportedly “charmed” by the youngest of the Queen’s sons, and he with her.

While the two publicly maintained they were merely good friends, it became apparent they were spending considerable time together when Ms. Rhys-Jones was photographed at various Windsor family occasions. Several times, Prince Edward took the press to task for badgering Sophie, leading many royal watchers to believe there might be more to the relationship than met the eye.

Finally, after seeking permission from her father, the Prince asked Ms. Rhys-Jones to marry him over the 1998 Christmas holidays. In accepting the Prince’s proposal, Sophie also accepted an exquisite engagement ring. Because Diana and Sarah Ferguson had colored gemstones in their engagement rings, the superstitious Sophie insisted upon diamonds only. A cluster of three diamonds was set in white gold; a creation of royal jewelers Asprey and Garrard and estimated at $170,000.

edward_sophie ring

Rumors abounded that Sophie gave Prince Edward a marriage ultimatum and that they lived together prior to the wedding; rumors which have been denied by both bride and groom. The Prince said that while the love affair was not a sudden strike of lightning, he and Ms. Rhys-Jones are the best of friends and very much in love.

Sources: BBC News; London Telegraph; MSNBC

The Attendants

edward_sophie_attendants

As with many European weddings, Sophie’s attendants were young children.  Sophie and Edward carefully chose the four bridesmaids and pages, who were each special in some way.

Eight-year-old bridesmaid Camilla Hadden was the oldest of the children.  She is Edward’s goddaughter and the daughter of his friends Abel and Belinda Hadden.  Mr. Hadden was, at one time, the press officer for Margaret Thatcher.

Next in age, at seven, was page Felix Sowerbutts, the son of Julian and Lucinda Sowerbutts, who are friends of Sophie’s from well before the beginning of her public relations career.

Six-year-old page Harry Warburton, the son of Sarah Warburton, who was Prince Edward’s Assistant Private Secretary, and also happens to be the Prince’s godson.  Ms. Warburton was instrumental in many of the wedding preparations.

Five-year-old Olivia Taylor was the second bridesmaid.  She is the daughter of Ian and Lindy Taylor, some of Sophie’s oldest friends.

edward-wedding-brothers

Prince Edward also had two individuals who stood with him at the ceremony:  Prince Charles and Prince Andrew.  At most weddings, their roles would be considered that of Best Man.  However, in royal circles, they are termed “Supporters”.

Sources: BBC News; London Telegraph; British Royal Website; MSNBC; The Guardian

Wedding Attire

edward_sophie_wedding attire

Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones had already decided their wedding would be different than most royal events, and their wedding clothes, while traditional, also carried their own stamps of individuality.

It had been speculated that Sophie’s gown would be relatively simple, given the style of her chosen designer, Samantha Shaw. While the cut of the dress was simple: a hand-dyed ivory silk crepe corseted coat over a hand-dyed ivory silk organza skirt, it had the sparkle of 325,000 handsewn cut-glass and pearl beads, as well. The beads decorated the deep V-neckline, which extended both in front and in back; as well as the slightly flared sleeves. Beads also cascaded down the cleverly designed train, which was sewn in panels so it would pleat out behind the bride as she walked down the aisle. Ms. Rhys-Jones also wore a hand-dyed silk tulle veil one inch longer than her train, which was dotted with occasional hand-sewn crystal beads, and supported by a diamond tiara borrowed from the Queen’s private collection. Her shoes were also ivory silk crepe, and her bouquet consisted of ivory garden roses, stephanotis, lily of the valley, and freesia. Her most remarkable accessory, however, was the beautiful black and white pearl necklace and matching earrings designed by Prince Edward as a personal wedding gift.

The Prince looked dashing in formal morning dress, with a lively yellow waistcoat made especially for the wedding by John Kent. He also wore a blue shirt with a white collar and a patterned blue and yellow tie. He, too, wore a special accessory: an 18-carat yellow gold Hunter pocket watch and chain given to him as a wedding gift by Sophie.

edward-wedding-group

The young attendants were dressed in the Plantagenet style. The bridesmaids wore ivory silk taffeta dresses with navy silk velvet tunics decorated with gold braid, and feather-trimmed velvet hats. They each carried a small bouquet of heavily scented flowers tied informally with ivory ribbon. The pages were dressed in navy velvet knickers and tunics with brass buttons over ivory taffeta shirts and accented with taffeta cummerbunds. They, too, wore velvet berets with feathers.

The mother of the groom, remembering the day over fifty years before when she pledged her troth to Prince Philip, wore the pearl necklace, dainty pearl, and diamond earrings and diamond brooch she donned on her own wedding day. Lovely in a lilac lace and chiffon gown by Sir Hardy Amies, a feathered hat in a similar hue completed the ensemble.

Sources: BBC News; London Telegraph; MSNBC; SkyNews

Wedding Guests

The wedding was attended by 550 guests.

Groom’s Family

  • The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, the groom’s parents
  • The Prince of Wales, the groom’s brother
  • Prince William of Wales, the groom’s nephew
  • Prince Henry of Wales, the groom’s nephew
  • The Duke of York, the groom’s brother
  • Princess Beatrice of York, the groom’s niece
  • Princess Eugenie of York, the groom’s niece
  • The Princess Royal and Commander Timothy Laurence, the groom’s sister and her second husband
  • Mr. Peter Phillips, the groom’s nephew
  • Miss Zara Phillips, the groom’s niece
  • Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, the maternal groom’s grandmother
  • The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon and The Earl of Snowdon, the groom’s aunt and her ex-husband
  • Lady Sarah and Daniel Chatto, the groom’s first cousin and her husband
  • Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, the groom’s great-aunt
  • The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the groom’s cousin once removed and his wife
  • Lady Rose Windsor, the groom’s second cousin
  • Lady Davina Windsor, the groom’s second cousin
  • The Duke and Duchess of Kent, the groom’s cousin once removed and his wife
  • Earl and Countess of St Andrews, the groom’s second cousin and his wife
  • Lord Nicholas Windsor, the groom’s second cousin
  • Lady Helen Taylor and Timothy Taylor, the groom’s second cousin and her husband
  • Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, the groom’s cousin once removed and his wife
  • Lord Frederick Windsor, the groom’s second cousin
  • Lady Gabriella Windsor, the groom’s second cousin
  • Princess Alexandra, The Hon. Lady Ogilvy, the groom’s cousin once removed
  • James and Julia Ogilvy, the groom’s second cousin and his wife
  • Mrs. Marina Ogilvy, the groom’s second cousin

Bride’s Family

  • Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Rhys-Jones, the bride’s parents

Royal Guests

  • The Sultan of Brunei
  • Queen Anne-Marie of the Hellenes
  • The Prince of Asturias
  • Prince Joachim and Princess Alexandra of Denmark

Other Notable Guests

  • Anthony Andrews
  • Robin Bextor
  • John Cleese
  • Billy Connolly
  • Sir David Frost
  • Stephen Fry
  • Ruthie Henshall
  • Andrew Lloyd Webber
  • Nigel Mansell

Sources: BBC; CNN; British Monarchy Website

The Ceremony

As a televised audience of 200 million looked on, a throng of eight thousand locals fortunate enough to have been chosen to represent the residents of Windsor lined the drive leading up to Windsor Castle, witnessing the bride’s arrival in a vintage black Rolls Royce. The bride acknowledged the cheering crowd before entering the house of worship, where a new phase of her life as the Countess of Wessex would begin.

As the clock struck 5 P.M. the passionate strains of “The Marche Heroique” echoed through the chapel as the bride made her way past such illustrious witnesses as Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Frost to stand at the altar by her intended. A forty-five-minute ceremony followed, in which the bride was presented with a wedding band which, in the royal tradition, was fashioned from Welsh gold. At the conclusion of the nuptials, the Toccata from the 5th Symphony and The Coronation March– Crown Imperial escorted the newly betrothed up the aisle.

Following the ceremony, the new Earl and Countess of Wessex rode in an open carriage to the reception at Windsor Castle, greeting thousands of well-wishers who had come out to celebrate their marriage.

The Wedding Reception

edward-cake

Five hundred fifty guests gathered in the State Apartments of Windsor Castle for a feast fit for a king, complete with smoked haddock with rice and mushrooms in pastry, beef stroganoff, and fresh raspberries for dessert. Attendees also nibbled on a seven-tier wedding cake adorned with sugar roses and fruit by Upper Crusts Country Kitchen before taking to the dance floor, where it was reported that the Queen danced along with her grandchildren to The Village People’s “YMCA.”

The Honeymoon

The couple chose Birkhall Lodge, located five miles from Balmoral, for their four-day honeymoon. The venue’s romantic past (Prince Philip, the groom’s father, proposed to the future Queen of the United Kingdom at the locale) makes the lodge a sentimental favorite among members of the royal family.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Wedding of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Silvia Sommerlath

by Emily Mc Mahon  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

 

King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden married Silvia Sommerlath on June 19, 1976 at the Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyrkan) in Stockholm, Sweden.

Carl Gustaf’s Early Life

Carl Gustaf with his sister Christina in 1952; Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus was born during the reign of his great-grandfather, Gustaf V of Sweden, at Haga Palace on April 30, 1946. Carl Gustaf was the fifth child of Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten and Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. His birth following four older sisters (Margaretha, Birgitta, Desiree, and Christina) was greeted with much relief as females were at the time excluded from the succession. Carl Gustaf was third in line to the Swedish throne at birth.

Prince Gustaf Adolf was the eldest son of the future King Gustaf VI Adolf, while Sibylla was the eldest daughter of Charles Edward, the last Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. The two were great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria through her sons Arthur and Leopold. The family had made their home at Haga Palace, a 19th-century residence that had long served as a summer home for the Swedish royal family.

But the young family’s happiness was soon cut short. The Duke of Västerbotten died in a plane crash in Denmark in January 1947, when his son was only seven months old. Carl Gustaf and his sisters later said that the adults in their lives rarely spoke of the tragedy with them and that Carl Gustaf himself did not know how his father died until he was seven years old.

Sibylla and her father-in-law, Gustaf VI Adolf, supervised young Carl Gustaf’s schooling. Carl Gustaf was educated entirely in Sweden, first at the Broms School and later at the Sigtuna School where he graduated in 1966. He was a somewhat indifferent student who had a difficult time with his studies due to dyslexia, a learning disorder not well understood at the time.

Carl Gustaf served in all three branches of the Swedish military between 1966 and 1968. He was treated as an ordinary soldier during his service, where he gained praise from his superiors for his hard work and adaptability. Carl Gustaf also sailed around the world during his training, doing everything from scrubbing decks to washing dishes. The prince flourished during his time in the military but particularly during his naval training, passing the officer’s examination in 1968.

After completing his military service, Carl Gustaf studied a variety of subjects at Stockholm University and Uppsala University. He also interned with numerous welfare organizations, factories, schools, and governmental offices. Carl Gustaf spent time abroad working with the United Nations, as well as various embassies and banks, and organizations dedicated to developing nations. He also began representing his grandfather Gustaf VI Adolf in a limited number of official duties. This work was meant to give Carl Gustaf a broad range of knowledge in Swedish and international affairs in preparation for his future role as monarch. Carl Gustaf succeeded his grandfather as King of Sweden upon the latter’s death in 1973.

Carl Gustaf often said he thought of himself as an ordinary man. He drove his own car, rode by regular passenger train whenever possible, and rarely traveled with an official entourage. Had he not been born in line for the Swedish throne, he claimed he would probably have had, “an earthy job, perhaps as a farmer.”

For more information about Carl Gustaf see:

Silvia’s Early Life

Silvia as a child with her mother, Photo Credit – vivanepotista.com

Silvia Renate Sommerlath was born on December 23, 1943, in Heidelburg, Germany, to Brazilian Alice Soares de Toledo and German Walther Sommerlath. Silvia joined older brothers Ralf, Walther, and Jörg and remained the family’s only daughter. Although her father was a businessman, many of Silvia’s male relatives are and were members of the clergy.

From the ages of 4 to 14, Silvia lived in her mother’s hometown of São Paulo, Brazil. Silvia’s father worked as the head of the Brazilian branch of the Swedish Uddeholm steel company. While living in Brazil, the future Queen attended Colégio Visconde de Porto Seguro, a German-Portuguese school in Morumbi area of Sao Paulo. Silvia has had a fondness for classical music since her youth, playing the piano and organ.

Walther was long suspected of having ties to the Nazi Party before and during World War II. There is some evidence that he joined the party in 1934 while living in Brazil, but no clear record of any specific activities in which Walther may have participated. An examination of German state records revealed that Walther became the head of a company that produced equipment for tanks – a company that had recently been seized from Jewish ownership. Walther’s association with the party later became a point of concern when his daughter announced her engagement but was later dismissed due to a lack of evidence tying Walther to any known Nazi activities.

Upon the family’s return to Germany, Silvia was sent to school near Heidelberg. She completed secondary school in Düsseldorf in 1963. Silvia continued her education at the Munich School of Interpreting (Sprachen and Dolmetscher Institut München) studying the Spanish language. Silvia eventually learned to speak an impressive six languages – French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, English, and Swedish. Carl Gustaf is said to have been intrigued by Silvia’s linguistic ability from the very start of their relationship.

After her graduation from the Munich School of Interpreting in 1969, Silvia worked for a time as a Spanish interpreter at the Argentine consulate in Munich. She was hired on to the staff of the Munich Olympic Games in 1971, serving as the senior hostess and interpreter. She also trained 1,500 other hosts and interpreters in preparation for the 1972 Summer Games. Silvia followed her stint at the Munich Games with a job as the assistant chief of protocol for the 1976 Innsbruck Winter Games.

For more information about Silvia see:

The King In Love

Carl Gustaf was the first modern Swedish king to truly date. Although the Swedish monarch was not prohibited from marrying a commoner, it was expected early on that Carl Gustaf would marry a fellow royal. In fact, at the time Carl Gustaf came of age any Swedish royal other than the monarch would lose his or her royal status through marriage to a commoner. Hence, the earliest talk of a wife for Carl Gustaf centered on fellow royals.

Periodic visits to relatives in Britain in the 1960s caused gossip to flourish that Carl Gustaf was actually courting Princess Anne. During his visits, gossip flew about a possible (or ideal, by some observers) romance between Carl Gustaf and Princess Anne – that the two had made several outings together, or even that they were secretly engaged. Talk of the so-called royal romance continued into the 1970s until Anne’s marriage to Mark Phillips.

Carl Gustaf was attached at one point to Charlotte Klingspor, a wealthy Swedish heiress, and was occasionally seen in the company of Margarita of Romania. None of Carl Gustaf’s relationships with women appeared to be serious, and the King seemed very happy frequenting clubs with a tight circle of noble and royal friends. The Swedish Royal Court suggested that Carl Gustaf, being at the beginning of his reign, was concentrating on his duties rather than finding a wife.

When once interviewed about the type of woman he wanted to marry, Carl Gustaf stated that he wanted someone he loved, but her rank was unimportant. “She may be a secretary or a government official. That does not matter. The important thing is love.” The King also that he was somewhat traditional when thinking of a role for his future wife, noting that he would prefer her to take care of the home and children.

As part of her job duties, Silvia was assigned as hostess and guide to several high-profile attendees at the Games. One of Silvia’s assigned guests was Carl Gustaf. Carl Gustaf asked Silvia for a date on the day they met, and the couple had dinner just a few hours later. Carl Gustaf noted several years afterward that he and Silvia simply “clicked” upon their first meeting and had done so ever since that day.

At the time of her first meeting with Carl Gustaf, Silvia was living in a simple studio apartment in Munich and was unaccustomed to fanfare regarding her personal life. On one of her earliest trips to Stockholm to visit Carl Gustaf, Silvia allegedly disguised herself in a blonde wig to throw the tail off of curious journalists. During her subsequent visits to the Swedish capital, Silvia would stay at an apartment owned by an unnamed friend of Carl Gustaf’s.

In the spirit of keeping their relationship private, Silvia told very few of her friends that she was dating a king. When questioned by a friend about why she moved so frequently (she moved from Munich to Heidelburg to Innsbruck in 1973), Silvia hinted that she was dating someone famous, but did not mention Carl Gustaf’s name. She lamented to her friend that she moved and switched cars frequently to keep reporters away.

In early 1973, a Swedish journalist photographed Silvia and Carl Gustaf driving together. As Silvia was unknown at the time, much speculation was given as to whom Carl Gustaf was seeing. Because Carl Gustaf had previously been linked to Margarita of Romania, the press speculated that she was King’s passenger.

When they wished to escape from the eager Swedish press, Carl Gustaf and Silvia spent time skiing in Switzerland and sunning on the French and Italian Mediterranean. The two were also photographed in Munich nightclubs and on the estate of Prince Otto von Bismarck. In 1974, the couple reportedly hunted at the British royal hunting grounds on the Sandringham estate.

A newspaper report in January 1974 claimed Carl Gustaf and Silvia would marry on April 30 of that year. The report noted that Silvia and Carl Gustaf had become engaged during a visit a few weeks prior. The Swedish royal court declared that talk of an engagement was “a bit premature,” and said that the couple needed some time before deciding something so serious. Later that year, however, Silvia moved into a Stockholm apartment owned by the King’s sister Christina, giving some credence to the rumors of an engagement. However, the world would have to wait a while for the official word.

The Engagement

Together with Silvia’s parents (Carl Gustaf’s mother Sibylla had died four years earlier), Carl Gustaf and Silvia announced their engagement on March 12, 1976. Carl Gustaf and Silvia alluded to being “unofficially” engaged several months prior but had decided to wait until Silvia had completed her duties at the Olympic Winter Games in Innsbruck before making it public.

A news conference was held the next day in the King’s official apartment at the palace. Carl Gustaf said that he and Silvia had a date in mind to marry and that the ceremony would definitely take place in the early summer. When asked during the press conference what attracted Carl Gustaf to Silvia, he simply answered, “She is Silvia. You can see for yourself.”

Carl Gustaf said that he recognized his future wife already had an established career. Although he didn’t object to her working on principle, he doubted Silvia could hold a regular job as a translator while married to him. Besides, Silvia would be Queen as soon as she married Carl Gustaf, a job that was not only full-time but would incorporate Silvia’s linguistic skills. The press also asked the couple about their plans for children, to which Carl Gustaf asked to be allowed to get married first.

When asked what type of life she’d like to lead as Sweden’s queen, Silvia said she would like to live as normally as possible given her position. But the country and her new job did interest her a great deal, Silvia added. “I may have to give [up] some things after I marry, but on the other hand, I will get a sort of new job which I am very interested in,” Silvia explained. “I would like to take part in all affairs in Sweden, being a very curious person myself,” she added.

Carl Gustaf gave his fiancée a single solitaire ring set with a 2-carat diamond. The ring once belonged to his mother, Sibylla. Silvia was said to have been touched at receiving a ring with such a history. Carl Gustaf also wore a traditional and customary plain gold engagement ring.

Wedding Preparations

Silvia during a fitting for her wedding dress. Credit: hereliesthekingdom.com

The wedding was planned for June 19, 1976, the date of several other Swedish royal weddings. The future King Oscar I and Josephine of Leuchtenberg married on June 19, 1823, in Stockholm. Charles XV married his wife, Louise of the Netherlands on the same date in 1850, while he was still heir to the throne. In 2010, Crown Princess Victoria married Daniel Westling on June 19 as well.

To prepare for the couple’s tour of Stockholm following the religious service, workers created a temporary park beside the palace. This park would serve as an entryway for Silvia and Carl Gustaf to board the royal barge to tour the harbor. More than 1,000 police officers from all over Sweden were brought to Stockholm to provide crowd control and security for the couple and their guests.

The wedding would also be the first Swedish royal wedding to be broadcast on television. The event was televised in accordance with Carl Gustaf’s wish that the wedding celebrations be as open and accessible to as many people as possible. While royal weddings had been televised in other countries for several years, this had yet to be done in Sweden as none of Carl Gustaf’s sisters had had a televised ceremony. The Swedish wedding was also unique in that as soon as the couple was declared married, the country would automatically have a new Queen.

The wedding costs were estimated at $1.1 million, but the wedding itself was expected to be a moneymaker in terms of broadcasting rights and potential tourism dollars spent in and around the city of Stockholm.

Celebrations in Stockholm

ABBA performed the first live and the first Swedish performance of “Dancing Queen” at the Royal Swedish Opera Gala in honor of King Carl Gustaf and his soon-to-be Queen

The wedding celebrations got off to a rough start when, about two weeks before the wedding, Silvia came down with the flu. She was unable to make a planned appearance with the King on June 6 (Sweden’s National Day) due to her condition. Silvia was still feeling under the weather the following day when the banns were read in the palace’s chapel. Although reportedly appearing “pale and tired,” Silvia attended the event with a smile.

When asked if she was nervous about her coming wedding, Silvia said she was not. “[I have] no butterflies in my stomach because of the tremendous reception I have received in Sweden.” On June 17, Silvia received the Order of the Seraphim and officially became a Swedish citizen the following day. On June 18, the King and the soon-to-be-Queen attended a gala performance at the Royal Swedish Opera. The gala was especially notable for the performance of Swedish band ABBA, at the peak of their fame, of the first live and the first Swedish performance of “Dancing Queen,” one of ABBA’s most famous songs. Despite the title, members of ABBA noted that the song had not been written specifically for the event or for Silvia.

The pre-wedding concert at the Royal Opera marked the first time Silvia publicly wore a tiara (the Connaught Diamond Tiara), a favorite of Carl Gustaf’s mother Sibylla. The event was also the first occasion of Silvia’s wearing of her new Order of the Seraphim. A reception and dance for 200 guests at Drottningholm Palace followed the performance at the Royal Opera.

Wedding Ceremony

Carl Gustaf and Silvia during the recessional at their wedding. Photo credit: svspb.net

The ceremony was held on June 19, 1976, at Stockholm’s Storkyrkan (Great Church) with the Archbishop of Uppsala Olof Sundby presiding. Sundby was assisted by Hans Akerhelm, the first chaplain to the court, and the Reverend Ernst Sommerlath, Silvia’s uncle and a former professor of theology at Leipzig University.

The church was decorated with a new breed of red roses named “Queen Silvia”, in honor of the bride and her new role. The roses were held in two silver vases chosen by Silvia that had belonged to Louise, a previous Swedish queen. Two historic crowns were also brought from the Swedish national treasury to be displayed during the wedding. The two crowns displayed were those of King Erik XIV and 18th-century monarch Queen Louisa Ulrika. The crowns rested on blue cushions on either side of the altar. Other decorations included a seventeenth-century crucifix in oak, gold, and silver that had been made for Queen Christina’s coronation. Guests listened to the Swedish Radio symphony orchestra’s performance of various traditional Swedish music.

Mr. and Mrs. Sommerlath took their seats just before noon, not long before the processional began. The couple entered the cathedral to the strain of J. H. Roman’s “Sinfonia de Chiesa.” Carl Gustaf “beamed” as he made his way to the altar holding Silvia’s hand. Silvia and Carl Gustaf had six children serve as their attendants:

  • Prince Hubertus of Hohenzollern (son of Carl Gustaf’s sister Princess Birgitta)
  • Baroness Hélène Silfverschiöld (daughter of Carl Gustaf’s sister of Princess Desiree)
  • Carmita Sommerlath (daughter of Silvia’s brother Ralf Sommerlath; carried the wedding ring)
  • James Ambler (son of Carl Gustaf’s sister  of Princess Margaretha)
  • Sophie Sommerlath (daughter of Silvia’s brother Walther Sommerlath)
  • Amelie Middelschulte (daughter of Silvia’s close friend Beate Middelschulte)

The religious ceremony lasted approximately 40 minutes and included several Swedish hymns. Silvia and Carl Gustaf elected to have a single ring ceremony according to German tradition; thus Carl Gustaf placed a ring on his wife’s finger, but Silvia did not do the same for her husband. Silvia delivered her vows in nearly perfect Swedish, impressing the guests and the Swedish public watching on television. Neither the bride nor groom was asked to obey the other, a somewhat new practice in the church and a sign of changing times.

At the conclusion of the religious service, Silvia and Carl Gustaf made their way down the aisle to J. S. Bach’s “Sinfonia in D Major.” Television broadcasters noted when announcing that at precisely 12:21 PM, Sweden had its first queen in 11 years, since the death of Carl Gustaf’s step-grandmother Louise.

Wedding Attire

Carl Gustaf, Silvia, and their wedding party. Photo credit: royalty online.blogspot.com

Silvia chose Marc Bohan of Dior to design her wedding dress, a floor-length white duchesse silk gown. The dress was very simple in its design as it featured no lace, trim, embroidery, or decorative buttons. The structure of the dress included a very gentle A-line skirt, long bell sleeves, a jewel neckline, and a 12-foot train that fell from Silvia’s shoulders. Carl Gustaf’s sisters Birgitta and Desiree also wore the train as part of their own wedding ensembles.

The dress’s starkness was meant to showcase the other elements in Silvia’s ensemble, particularly the tiara and veil. Silvia wore one of the oldest, most well-known, and arguably most unique tiaras in the Swedish royal collection. The Cameo Tiara was a gift given by French Emperor Napoleon I to his then-wife, Josephine, in the early 19th century. It came into the hands of the Swedish royal family through the marriage of Josephine’s granddaughter (another Josephine) to Oscar I of Sweden. The diadem features cameos of various portraits and scenes from Greek mythology adorned with yellow gold and numerous pearls of various sizes. Although cameo tiaras were once quite commonly worn, the Swedish Cameo Tiara is thought to be one of the only cameo tiaras of its kind still in use. Carl Gustaf’s sisters Birgitta and Desiree had previously worn the Cameo Tiara on their wedding days; Silvia and Carl Gustaf’s daughter Victoria continued the tradition when she wore it for her own wedding in 2010.

Silvia’s lace veil was originally owned by Sofia of Nassau, the consort of Oscar II. Carl Gustaf’s mother Sibylla wore it at her 1932 wedding. Sibylla’s daughters Desiree, Margaretha, and Christina subsequently wore the veil as well. Although the veil was originally intended to cover the length of Silvia’s train, a miscalculation was made in the construction of the train. As a result, Silvia folded part of the lace veil over the tiara in order to compensate for the shorter train and to prevent the lace from being damaged. As with the Cameo Tiara, Victoria also wore the heirloom veil on her wedding day.

Sprigs of myrtle from a plant belonging to Carl Gustaf’s grandmother Margaret trimmed the veil and tiara; the wearing of myrtle in the wedding is thought to bring a Swedish bride good luck. Silvia wore very little jewelry, forgoing a necklace and bracelets, and wearing only a pair of tiny pearl earrings. She carried a bouquet of orchids and jasmine complemented by lilies of the valley and stephanotis, completing the ensemble.

On a somewhat more comical note, Silvia’s simple dress had no pockets or anywhere to discreetly place a handkerchief. Alice Sommerlath insisted her daughter carry one in case she became tearful during the ceremony (she never did). Silvia had little choice but to hastily fasten the handkerchief to her right wrist with a rubber band. Although the handkerchief was not visible during the ceremony due to the long sleeves of the dress, it was very visible whenever Silvia waved.

Carl Gustaf wore his Swedish naval admiral’s uniform. He wore the insignia of all four Swedish orders – the Order of the Seraphim, Order of the Sword, Order of the Polar Star, and Order of Vasa. According to some sources, Carl Gustaf also wore the Order of Merit of the German Federal Republic in honor of his bride’s origins.

The Tour Through Stockholm

Embed from Getty Images
Carl Gustaf and Silvia on their carriage ride through Stockholm

The royal couple was carried in an open horse-drawn landau through the streets of Stockholm waving to the crowds of between 150,000 and 180,000 lining the streets, many of who had been there since the early morning hours. Carl Gustaf and Silvia were greeted by cheers from the spectators, most of who were waving miniature Swedish flags or holding balloons printed with the couple’s pictures.

On Skeppsholmen Island opposite the palace, the King and his new Queen then boarded the royal barge, Vasaorden, to review Swedish naval ships parked in the harbor. As Carl Gustaf and Silvia toured by barge, three divisions of Swedish Air Force jets drew a large white heart in the sky during a 21-gun salute by the Swedish Navy.

The couple then disembarked the Vasaorden and walked into the palace serenaded by over 200 folk musicians from Dalarna playing a Swedish bridal march. The two were greeted by the Governor of the Royal Palace Sixten Wohlfahrt, who formally welcomed the King and new Queen to the palace for the first time. Carl Gustaf and Silvia then appeared on the balcony of the Royal Palace to greet the crowds. Carl Gustaf lifted Silvia’s hand and declared their happiness to a cheering crowd.

Reception

After the harbor tour, the royal couple remained at the Royal Palace for a luncheon with 300 guests in the Vita Havet (White Sea) stateroom. Strolling fiddlers and pipers during the meal serenaded the diners. Carl Gustaf’s uncle Bertil served as the formal host and gave a speech welcoming Silvia into the family and into her new role as Queen.

Royal head chef and renowned restaurateur Werner Vögeli prepared the wedding buffet. The menu included salmon mousse baked in puff pastry, jellied consommé with caviar, Scottish forest pigeon, foie gras, and wild strawberries and ice cream. Croquembouche decorated with pink marzipan flowers served as a wedding cake.

Silvia had previously complimented the salmon mousse when she sampled it prior to the wedding. Wanting to do something special for the new Queen, Vögeli copied the recipe for the mousse on a special card, which was placed at Silvia’s seat before the banquet as a keepsake. Vögeli, originally a Swiss citizen, went on to cater many of the official dinners and banquets during the early years of Carl Gustaf’s reign.

Wedding Guests

Silvia and Carl Gustaf with their families and royal and political guests. Photo credit: thepinkroyals.blogspot.com

Although Carl Gustaf’s and Silvia’s wedding was attended by fewer royals than some ceremonies before and since, the ceremony still drew about 1200 guests.

Among the most notable guests at the wedding were:

  • Prince Bertil of Sweden, Duke of Halland
  • Lillian Craig (Lillian became Duchess of Halland later that year)
  • Walther and Alice Sommerlath
  • Ralf and Charlotte Sommerlath
  • Jörg Sommerlath
  • Walther (Silvia’s brother) and Michele Sommerlath
  • Princess Margaretha of Sweden and John Ambler
  • Princess Birgitta (of Sweden) and Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern
  • Princess Désirée of Sweden and Baron Nils-August Otto Carl Niclas Silfverschiöld
  • Princess Christina of Sweden and Tord Magnuson
  • Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
  • Richard and Birgitte, Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (official representatives of the British monarchy)
  • Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus of the Netherlands
  • Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte of Luxembourg
  • Queen Ingrid of Denmark
  • King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece (former)
  • King Olav V of Norway
  • Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik of Denmark
  • Princess Benedikte of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (formerly of Denmark)
  • King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola of the Belgians
  • Urho Kaleva Kekkonen, President of Finland
  • Dr. Kristján Eldjárn, President of Iceland, and Halldora Eldjárn
  • Walter Scheel, President of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany), and Mildred Scheel

Honeymoon and Afterward

Six hours after the wedding, the bride and groom left Stockholm to begin their month-long honeymoon. Before leaving, Carl Gustaf expressed his belief that the press would likely not follow them. “There’s a good chance,” he said happily, “that we will be left alone.”

The couple first headed to the US state of Hawaii, where they hoped to begin their honeymoon “just like any married couple.” The two were met with a security entourage so vast that Rick Larsen, the Swedish Consul in Hawaii, had a tough time finding the couple to welcome them. Larsen managed to reach Silvia first, who received a traditional lei around her neck. While in Hawaii, Carl Gustaf and Silvia stayed at a private estate owned by Lurline Roth, a shipping heiress.

Carl Gustaf and Silvia then headed to Botswana, where the two stayed in a tent near the Linyanti River. The area in which the two stayed was later renamed Kingspool in honor of its royal guests. The couple followed their Hawaiian and African honeymoon with a short stay at the Solliden Palace in Öland, where they were first pictured together three years prior.

The wedding did a great deal to bolster the popularity of Carl Gustaf and the Swedish monarchy itself. Both had met with considerable criticism from the start of Carl Gustaf’s reign for the usual reasons. Detractors questioned the necessity of the institution and believed Carl Gustaf was too irresponsible for the position. The marriage of Carl Gustaf to Silvia brought stability to the monarchy, and their romance warmed the hearts of even the most virulent critics.

Children

Embed from Getty Images
Carl Gustaf and Silvia with their three children in 1983

Carl Gustaf and Silvia had two daughters and one son:

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Wedding of King Constantine II of Greece and Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

source: Zimbio

King Constantine II of Greece and Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark were married on September 18, 1964, in the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Annunciation in Athens.

Constantine’s Early Life

Constantine was born on June 2, 1940, at Villa Psychiko in Athens to Crown Prince Paul of Greece and Princess Friederike of Hanover. He has one older sister – Queen Sofia of Spain, and one younger sister – Princess Irene of Greece. During World War II, the Greek Royal Family was forced to flee Greece, settling in Alexandria, Egypt, and then Cape Town, South Africa. They returned to Greece in 1946, and the following year, his uncle, King George II died. Constantine’s father became King, and Constantine became Crown Prince.

He attended school in Athens from 1949-1955, followed by all three Greek military academies. He then went to the National University of Athens to study law. An avid athlete, Tino (as he was known in the family) participated in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, winning a gold medal in sailing (Dragon Glass). This was Greece’s first gold medal in 48 years. He became a member of the International Olympic Committee in 1963.

He became King of the Hellenes following his father’s death in March 1964. Just three years after the wedding, following a coup in 1967, the Greek royal family went into exile, living in Rome for several years before moving to Denmark and then finally settling in the United Kingdom. While in exile, King Constantine was deposed and the monarchy was formally abolished in 1974.

For more information about Constantine see:

Anne-Marie’s Early Life

Embed from Getty Images 

Princess Anne-Marie Dagmar Ingrid of Denmark was born on August 30, 1946, at Amalienborg in Copenhagen. She is the third and youngest daughter of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Princess Ingrid of Sweden. Her two older sisters are Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Princess Benedikte of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg. A year after her birth, her grandfather died, and her father became King Frederik IX. Several years later, the King had the succession laws changed to allow for female succession, putting Anne-Marie third in line to succeed her father.

After attending a private school in Copenhagen from 1952-1961, Anne-Marie was enrolled at the Chatelard School for Girls, a boarding school in Switzerland, from 1961-1963. She then attended the Institut Le Mesnil, a Swiss finishing school.

For more information about Anne-Marie see:

The Engagement

Constantine and Anne-Marie are third cousins, several times over, through their mutual descent from both King Christian IX of Denmark and Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. They first met in 1959, when Constantine accompanied his parents on a State Visit to Denmark. Constantine was 19, and Anne-Marie was just 13. They met again in Denmark in 1961, but it was in 1962 that the romance truly began to blossom. Anne-Marie was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Constantine’s sister, Sophia, to Juan Carlos of Spain. By that time, Tino was clearly smitten and the two spent much of the night dancing together. After that, Tino made many visits to Denmark to see Anne-Marie, and the media began to speculate about a romance with Anne-Marie’s older sister Benedikte. In the summer of 1962, Anne-Marie was on holiday in Norway with her governess, and Tino was also there competing in yacht racing. They spent a lot of time together, and soon he proposed, and Anne-Marie accepted. His parents were delighted with the news, but the Danish King was hesitant to give his blessing. Soon, however, he realized that the two were in love and he relented, giving his consent. However, there were several conditions that had to be met. He insisted that the wedding could not take place until Anne-Marie had finished her education and reached her eighteenth birthday and that the engagement could not be made public until the beginning of the next year.

For the next six months, the couple kept their engagement a secret, while Constantine made many trips to Denmark, often using sailing events as an excuse for his visits. Finally, on January 23, 1963, the Danish Royal Court announced the couple’s engagement. Several days later, Constantine and Anne-Marie, along with their parents, appeared at a press conference and then greeted the crowds from the balcony at Amalienborg.

Once the excitement had died down, Anne-Marie returned to School in Switzerland and Tino returned to his official duties in Greece. The wedding was planned for January 1965. However, this would soon change due to the death of King Paul. In early 1964, King Paul was diagnosed with cancer. After undergoing surgery, he suffered from a pulmonary embolism and died on March 6, 1964. Tino assumed the Greek throne as King Constantine II. The wedding plans were moved forward and scheduled for September 18, 1964. This would be just weeks after Anne-Marie’s eighteenth birthday, and days after the end of the official court mourning.

Pre-Wedding Festivities

The celebrations began on September 7, 1964, when Constantine arrived in Denmark. That evening, a private dinner and dance were held at Fredensborg Castle, and the following day they returned to Amalienborg for the official display of the wedding gifts. That evening, they attended a gala performance at the Royal Theatre, followed by a lavish banquet held at Christiansborg Palace, with over 1,000 invited guests. The next morning, Anne-Marie and Tino were guests at a reception held by the City of Copenhagen and rode in a carriage procession through the streets to greet the thousands of Danes who had come out to wish them well.

The festivities then moved to Greece. Constantine, Anne-Marie, and her family sailed to Greece aboard the Danish Royal Yacht, Dannebrog, where they were greeted by Queen Frederica, Princess Irene, and Prince Michael.

King Constantine hosted three large receptions at Tatoi Palace, with more than 6,000 guests invited. A special committee had been formed in Athens to select people from around the country to come – at the Government’s expense – to meet the King and his future Queen. A reception was also held at the Hotel Grande Bretagne, in Athens, in honor of the Danish royal family.

On September 16, most of the royal guests began to arrive, and King Constantine personally greeted most of them as their planes landed in Athens. That evening, a gala ball was held in the gardens of the Royal Palace of Athens, with 1,600 invited guests. The royal guests were resplendent in their gowns and uniforms, with their best jewels on show. The bride wore a light blue gown with the Greek Emerald Parure, which was among the jewels given to her by Queen Frederica. Read more about the parure here.

Wedding Guests

More than 1,200 guests attended the wedding, including many members of royal and noble families from around the world. According to the New York Times, the guest list included “eight reigning monarchs and their consorts, two former kings, more than 55 princes and princesses, and heads of state and representatives from more than 87 countries”. The royal guests included:

Constantine’s Immediate Family

  • Dowager Queen Frederica
  • Princess Sofia and Prince Juan Carlos of Spain
  • Princess Irene
  • Princess Viktoria Luise, Dowager Duchess of Brunswick

Anne-Marie’s Immediate Family

  • King Frederik and Queen Ingrid
  • Princess Margrethe
  • Princess Benedikte

Royal Guests

  • King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola of Belgium
  • Prince Ingolf of Denmark
  • Prince Michael of Greece
  • Princess Eugenie of Greece, Duchess of Castel Duino
  • Princess Tatiana Radziwill
  • Prince George Radziwill
  • Princess Irene of Greece, Dowager Duchess of Aosta
  • The Duke and Duchess of Aosta
  • Princess Katherine of Greece, Lady Brandram and Sir Richard Brandram
  • Princess Alice of Greece
  • King Hussein and Princess Muna of Jordan
  • Hereditary Grand Duke Jean and Hereditary Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg
  • Prince Rainier of Monaco
  • Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands
  • Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands
  • King Olav of Norway
  • Crown Prince Harald of Norway
  • The Count and Countess of Barcelona
  • King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden
  • Crown Prince Carl Gustaf of Sweden
  • Princess Christina of Sweden
  • King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit of Thailand
  • The Duke of Edinburgh
  • The Prince of Wales
  • Princess Anne of the United Kingdom
  • Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent
  • Prince Michael of Kent
  • Earl Mountbatten of Burma
  • Tsar Simeon and Tsaritsa Margarita of Bulgaria
  • Prince Georg Wilhelm and Princess Sophie of Hanover
  • Prince Karl of Hesse
  • Princess Clarissa of Hesse
  • King Umberto and Queen Marie-José of Italy
  • King Mihai and Queen Anne of Romania
  • Queen Mother Helen of Romania
  • Princess Margareta of Romania
  • Count Michael Bernadotte
  • Princess Olga of Yugoslavia
  • Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia

Wedding Attire

The bride wore a gown made by a Danish designer, Jørgen Bender. The simple, yet elegant dress featured a wide neckline, empire waist, and three-quarter sleeves, with a split-front skirt with a detailed edge, extending out into a 20-foot train.

Her veil of Irish lace was a family heirloom. It was originally a gift to her grandmother, Princess Margaret of Connaught, for her wedding to the future King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden in 1905. Holding the veil in place, Anne-Marie wore the Khedive of Egypt Tiara, another piece that goes back to her grandmother’s wedding, having been a wedding gift from the Khedive of Egypt. You can read more about the tiara here. Keeping with tradition, both the veil and the tiara have been worn by all of Queen Ingrid’s female descendants.

The groom wore his white Field Marshal’s uniform, adorned with several Greek and Danish orders and medals.

The bride’s attendants (listed below) wore simple gowns of white organza, with white flowers in their hair.

  • Princess Anne of the United Kingdom
  • Princess Christina of Sweden
  • Princess Irene of Greece
  • Princess Margareta of Romania
  • Princess Tatiana Radziwill
  • Princess Clarissa of Hesse

Wedding Ceremony

On the morning of September 18, 1964, with all of the guests already assembled at the Cathedral, King Constantine, accompanied by his mother, left the Royal Palace in an open carriage. Soon, he was followed by Princess Anne-Marie and her father. The bride’s attendants were waiting outside the cathedral to help her with her gown and train, and then the procession began.

The traditional Greek Orthodox ceremony was conducted by Archbishop Chrysostomos, the Primate of Greece. After hearing the sacraments of marriage, the two exchanged rings and took communion. Part of the service involved crowns being held over their heads. This was done first by Queen Frederica, and then by a succession of princes – Crown Prince Harald of Norway, Crown Prince Carl Gustaf of Sweden, The Prince of Wales, Prince Michael of Greece, Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia, Prince Ingolf of Denmark, Prince Michael of Kent, Prince Karl of Hesse and Count Michael Bernadotte.

At the end of the service, red and white rose petals fluttered down into the cathedral, as the couple embraced her parents, and the Dowager Queen Frederica curtsied to Greece’s new Queen.

Following the ceremony, the King and his new Queen led a carriage procession back to the Royal Palace where a wedding breakfast was held for 80 guests. Constantine and Anne-Marie then left for Corfu to begin their honeymoon.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Wedding of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld

by Emily McMahon  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Juliana, the future Queen Juliana, and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld were married on January 7, 1937, in a civil ceremony at The Hague Town Hall in the Netherlands and in a religious ceremony at the Great Church (St. Jacobskerk), also in The Hague.

Juliana’s Family

Princess Juliana with her mother Queen Wilhelmina in 1914; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Juliana was born on April 30, 1909, in The Hague, the daughter of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and her consort Prince Hendrik, formerly Duke Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Juliana was born to the couple after eight years of marriage. Wilhelmina was the only surviving child of her father, Willem III of the Netherlands, so it was imperative that she provide herself with an heir. Wilhelmina experienced several miscarriages and a stillbirth before the birth of Juliana who was, incidentally, her only surviving child. Although Juliana’s parents were not happily married, Wilhelmina and Hendrik both doted on their daughter. Juliana was named for Juliana von Stolberg, the mother of Willem I of Orange, the liberator of the Dutch Netherlands from Spanish rule. Juliana spent her childhood at the palaces of Het Loo, Huis ten Bosch, and Noordeinde.

Juliana was educated with a small group of similarly aged girls of the Dutch nobility. Wilhelmina had selected Juliana’s “class” upon advice that she would learn best among children her own age. After her initial education was complete, Juliana enrolled in the University of Leiden. The intellectually curious Juliana spent four years at Leiden and received an honorary degree in literature and philosophy.

Juliana’s beloved grandmother, the former Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont (known as the Queen Mother) passed away in 1935. A few months later, Prince Hendrik died suddenly of a heart attack. This meant that Queen Wilhelmina and Princess Juliana now made up the entire House of Orange. As it had been with her mother, it was necessary for Juliana to marry and produce her own heir to ensure the survival of the Dutch monarchy. While possible contenders for the future role of Juliana’s consort had been bantered about since the mid-1920s, 1935 signaled the year when full-fledged marriage preparations began.

For more information about Juliana see:

Bernhard’s Family

Bernhard with his father in 1914; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Bernhard Friedrich Eberhard Leopold Julius Kurt Carl Gottfried Peter, Graf von Biesterfeld was born on June 29, 1911, in Jena in the Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach now in Germany. He was the elder son of Prince Bernhard of Lippe (younger brother of Leopold IV, Prince of Lippe) and his wife Armgard von Cramm. Bernhard and Armgard’s marriage was considered morganatic, so the younger Bernhard was styled Graf von Biesterfeld (Count of Biesterfeld) at birth. Bernhard had one younger brother Prince Aschwin of Lippe-Biesterfeld (1914 –1988). In 1916, Bernhard’s uncle, the reigning Prince of Lippe, created Armgard Princess of Lippe-Biesterfeld with the style Serene Highness and this title and style also was extended to her two sons.

Bernhard started his education with tutors at home and at the age of 12 began to attend a boarding school for boys in Züllichau in the Prussian province of Brandenburg, now Sulechów, Poland. In 1929, he completed his secondary education and then studied law at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland and at the Friedrich-Wilhelm University in Berlin, Germany, now Humboldt University. Bernhard then obtained a job at the Parisian subsidiary of the German chemical company IG Farben, where he continued to work until his engagement to Juliana.

For more information about Bernhard see:

The Engagement

Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard celebrate their engagement in Amsterdam on September 8, 1936

In early 1936, Wilhelmina and Juliana attended the Winter Olympics in Bavaria. The Olympic Games had long since had significant royal connections (the Greek royals had been instrumental in their revival in the late 19th century), and several royals were known to be in attendance. Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld was one of these princes at the Winter Games. Bernhard’s father, also named Bernhard, had been acquainted with Prince Hendrik, but the younger Bernhard had never been considered as a husband for Juliana. Bernhard had suffered from ill-health as a child, was the product of a morganatic marriage, had a bit of a wild side, and was not even officially a prince until after his fifth birthday, but Wilhelmina was growing desperate and consented to Bernhard’s request to meet Juliana. The two took skiing lessons together under Wilhelmina’s watchful eye.

Juliana was finally impressed with a prince – in Bernhard’s case, his intelligence, education (he had studied law in Switzerland for a time), and charisma. For his part, Bernhard found Juliana thoughtful, good-natured, and likewise intelligent. Bernhard asked Wilhelmina if he could further visit Juliana in the Netherlands, which Wilhelmina granted. When these visits went well, Bernhard asked if he could accompany mother and daughter on their summer vacation in Switzerland.

Wilhelmina could see the writing on the wall. Bernhard had obviously caught Juliana’s attention and seemed sincere in his interest in her. Wilhelmina was advised of Bernhard’s previous health issues, but those had seemed to disappear after childhood. Bernhard’s family was unimpressive, but perhaps limited family interference would be a good thing. Bernhard’s mother Armgard was divorced prior to his birth and somewhat of a woman about town in her past. However, her second marriage seemed to have had a calming effect on Armgard and she was quite devoted to her family. There were rumors of Bernhard’s involvement with alcohol, women, and fast cars, but Wilhelmina dismissed these to youth.

Of more concern was Bernhard’s association with Nazism. Bernhard was a member of the honorary motorized SS corps, but this was almost standard for young German men interested in motorcycles at the time. Bernhard’s brother Aschwin was also a follower of Nazism and later became an officer in the German army. After gaining attention as a candidate for Juliana’s hand, Bernhard met briefly with Adolf Hitler. Hitler disliked Bernhard immediately – and the feeling was mutual for Bernhard. Bernhard’s dismissal of Hitler – and Juliana’s growing attachment to him – convinced Wilhelmina to allow Bernhard to propose.

And so Juliana and Bernhard became engaged in Weissenburg, Switzerland, during the summer of 1936. The engagement was announced to the Dutch public on September 8 of that year, with a wedding scheduled for January 7, 1937 – the anniversary of Juliana’s maternal grandparents. Bernhard visited his fiancée at Noordeinde Palace as an accompaniment to the announcement. Bernhard became a Dutch citizen on November 24.

In preparation for her wedding, Juliana followed a German diet plan that allowed her to lose some weight. Her dress had to be fitted multiple times to accommodate her weight loss.

The Wedding

Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Juliana and Bernhard registered their marriage (known in Dutch at the “ondertrouw” or “under-marriage”) on December 19, 1936, a few weeks before the wedding. The couple attended an orchestral performance in their honor the night before the wedding. The Nazi and British national anthems were both played, with many guests on both sides visibly uncomfortable.

Dutch cafes and restaurants stayed open all night before the wedding to accommodate many curious visitors to The Hague. Oranges hung from trees in The Hague to celebrate the marriage of the heir of the House of Orange.

On January 7, 1937, Juliana and Bernhard had a civil ceremony in The Hague Town Hall. The couple traveled to the civil ceremony in the State Coach presented to Queen Wilhelmina at the time of her marriage in 1901. A second, religious service took place in the Great Church (St. Jacobskerk). Bernhard received the title of Prince of the Netherlands on the day of the wedding. Given Juliana’s position as heir to the Dutch throne, the usual bride’s vow to obey her husband was eliminated from the wedding ceremony.

Juliana and Bernhard rode to their religious wedding in a coach of glass and gold; Queen Wilhelmina followed behind the couple in a crystal coach. The bridesmaids and groomsmen traveled in three four-horsed coaches escorted by eight Hussar officers.

Juliana’s bridesmaids and child attendants included Princess Thyra of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Princess Anastasia of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Duchess Woislawa of Mecklenburg, Grand Duchess Kira Kirillovna of Russia, Princess Helena of Erbach-Schonberg, Princess Sieglinde of Lippe-Detmold, Princess Elizabeth of Lippe-Detmold, Duchess Eilika of Oldenburg, and Countess Svea of Oeynhausen-Sieperstorff.

Sophie of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Juliana’s second cousin, was originally chosen as a bridesmaid but could not attend as the Nazi government refused to issue her a visa. Though her visa was issued at the last moment, Sophie did not attend the wedding. Baroness von Heeckeren van Kall, a lady-in-waiting to Juliana, served as a bridesmaid in her place.

Bernhard’s supporters included four Dutch nobles, four German counts, two German barons, a French cavalry officer, the Prince von Windishgraetz. Professor Huizenga of the University of Leyden took the place of the Prince of Wied who, like Sophie of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach was denied a visa from Germany. His child attendants were Prince Armin of Lippe and Kaspar of Oeynhausen-Sieperstorff.

Wedding Guests

The wedding guests were made up mostly of family members of the couple, the majority of whom were German nobles and royalty. More guests were expected but many German royals and nobles did not get their expected visas from the Nazi government.

  • Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands
  • Princess Armgard zur Lippe-Biesterfeld
  • Prince Viktor Adolf & Princess Rosa, Prince & Princess zu Bentheim und Steinfurt
  • Princess Elisabeth, Princess zu Erbach-Schönberg
  • Prince George, Duke of Kent (representing HM George VI)
  • Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone & HSH the Earl of Athlone
  • Major Henry & Lady May Abel Smith
  • Prince Leopold & Princess Anna, Prince & Princess of Lippe
  • Prince Armin of Lippe
  • Prince Aschwin zur Lippe-Biesterfield
  • Prince Julius & Princess Marie of Lippe
  • Prince Ernst August of Lippe
  • Princess Karola of Lippe
  • Grand Duke Friedrich Franz & Grand Duchess Alexandra of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
  • Hereditary Grand Duke Friedrich Franz of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
  • Duke Adolf Friedrich & Duchess Elisabeth of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
  • Grand Duchess Elisabeth of Oldenburg
  • Hereditary Grand Duke Nikolaus & Hereditary Grand Duchess Helena of Oldenburg
  • Duchess Eilika of Oldenburg
  • Prince Friedrich, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont
  • Count Paul & Countess Allene Kotzebue
  • Count Rabe & Countess Margarethe von Oeynhausen-Sierstorpff
  • Count Caspar von Oeynhausen-Sierstorpff
  • Countess Svea von Oeynhausen-Sierstorpff
  • Count & Countess von der Goltz

Wedding Attire

Photo Credit – Wikipedia

For her wedding, Juliana wore five diamond rose brooches connected with small pearls. The rose is in the family coat of arms of the House of Lippe. The brooches were bought at Mellerio and a gift from King Willem III to Queen Emma. Juliana wore an ivory satin draped dress designed by Masion Kühne of The Hague. The dress was inspired by the clothing of ancient Greece. Juliana’s veil was of white tulle with silver embroidery. The veil hung from a diadem of diamonds in the shape of a rose in honor of the House of Lippe, a gift to Juliana from Bernhard’s mother Armgard. Roses and orange blossoms also adorned her veil.

Bernhard wore the uniform of the Royal Dutch Hussars, as an honorary captaincy had been bestowed upon him when he renounced his German citizenship. Bernhard also wore a cluster of Dutch military orders on the uniform. Bernhard long wore his medals in the English style, while most Dutch wore theirs in Prussian style. The twelve bridesmaids wore satin dresses of differing pastel colors (blue, lilac, green, yellow, pink, and orange) to form the appearance of a rainbow.

Juliana and Bernhard appeared on the balcony of Noordeinde Palace after the wedding. Following a mock departure from the wedding banquet, Juliana and Bernhard left for the honeymoon the day after the wedding.

The Honeymoon

Wawel Castle; Photo Credit – By Kriskros – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 pl, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21142368

Juliana and Bernhard embarked on a 3-month tour of Europe immediately after the wedding. They spent much time in Poland, skiing in Krynica Zdroj in the southern part of the country. The newly-married couple also visited Wawel Castle in Krakow. Juliana and Bernhard also visited Vienna, Budapest, Nice, Monaco, Paris, and Rome.

Children

Embed from Getty Images 
Juliana, Bernhard and their four daughters

Juliana and Bernhard had four daughters:

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.