The WEDDING DRESS Of Princess Alice | Royal Fashion History Documentary

The WEDDING DRESS Of Princess Alice | Royal Fashion History Documentary
Princess Alice (Alice Maud Mary; 25 April 1843 - 14 December 1878) was Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine from 13 June 1877 until she died in 1878. She was the wife of Grand Duke Louis IV and the third child of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Alice was the first of Queen Victoria's nine children to pass away and one of three who died before their mother, who lived until 1901. Her life was marked by tragedy, beginning with her father's death in 1861.
Alice got engaged to Prince Louis of Hesse on 30 April 1861, after getting her mother's approval. Queen Victoria convinced the Prime Minister, Lord Palmerston, to secure a dowry of £30,000 for Alice from Parliament (worth about £3.54 million in 2024).
Though this was considered a generous amount at the time, Prince Albert noted that it was modest compared to what Alice's sister Victoria would inherit as the future Queen of Prussia and German Empress.
The couple's future home in Darmstadt, the Grand Ducal seat, was also uncertain. Queen Victoria hoped for a new palace to be built, but the people of Darmstadt were unwilling to bear the cost. This controversy caused resentment toward Alice before she even arrived.
Between Alice's engagement and wedding, her father Prince Albert died on 14 December 1861. Despite her deep mourning, Queen Victoria insisted the wedding proceed as planned. Alice and Louis were married on 1 July 1862 in a private ceremony in the dining room of Osborne House, which was temporarily converted into a chapel.
Queen Victoria was escorted in by her four sons, who acted as a screen to block her from view, and she sat near the altar. Alice was given away by her uncle, Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Her four bridesmaids were her younger sisters, Princesses Helena, Louise, and Beatrice, along with Louis's sister Princess Anna.
the dress
For her wedding ceremony, Alice donned a simple yet elegant white dress. The gown was complemented by a delicate veil of Honiton lace, adding a touch of traditional craftsmanship to her ensemble. To complete her bridal look, Alice wore a wreath made from orange blossom and myrtle, symbols of purity and love. Despite the beauty of her wedding attire, Alice's dress was unembellished, lacking the customary court train that often signifies royal weddings.
In keeping with the somber atmosphere, Alice was required to adhere to mourning customs. She wore black mourning clothes both before and after the ceremony, a stark contrast to the simplicity of her wedding dress. This adherence to mourning attire underscored the period's strict conventions, even during significant personal milestones such as weddings.
Amidst the subdued celebration, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert presented their daughter with a deeply sentimental gift: a gold bracelet adorned with diamonds and pearls. This exquisite piece of jewelry was more than just an ornament; it carried a heartfelt inscription: "To dear Alice from her loving parents Albert & Victoria R who though visibly parted are ever united," dated April 25, 1863. The inscription poignantly reflected the unity and enduring love within the family, despite the physical absence of Prince Albert.
The combination of Alice's simple, elegant dress and the meaningful gift from her parents painted a vivid picture of a wedding steeped in both tradition and personal sentiment. The Honiton lace veil and the wreath of orange blossom and myrtle highlighted her purity and grace, while the mourning attire and the inscribed bracelet underscored the family's deep connection and the pervasive sense of loss. This blend of simplicity, elegance, and profound emotional significance made Alice's wedding attire and jewels a poignant symbol of her family's love and the era's traditions.

[@nickimontie]

The colorful flowers really make this dress beautiful.

[@PastPeople]

They really do x

[@saidameziani7297]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@dulciemidwinter1925]

Gosh she looks so much like Victoria!

[@chanelherrera3346]

I think she's the most beautiful daughter of Queen Victoria, and her daughter, Czarina Alexandra Feodorovna, is Queen Victoria's most beautiful granddaughter.