Wedding dresses in the royal collection. Princess Charlotte's gown is in the middle. Image @Daily News
The Telegraph.co.uk features a video of five beautiful wedding dresses of the past, Queen Victoria’s and Princess Margaret’s among them, and asks the question, “How will Kate Middleton’s gown measure up to history?” Featured is Princess Charlotte’s beautiful silver wedding gown, which has not been on view for several decades and which, as the oldest wedding dress in the collection, requires quite a bit more conservation. In these images pulled from the film you can see the beautiful sheen of the silver fabric, which was meant to represent British wealth, status, and power.
It was made by Mrs Triaud of Bolton Street, from ‘cloth-of-silver’, silk bobbinet embroidered with heavy silver lamé, embellished with Brussels lace, and with embroidered flowers and shells festooning the hem.” –Telegraph.co.uk
Contemporary images simply do not do the dress justice.
One can see in this small (blurred) image how the dress sparkles under lights. The dress required “500 hours of detailed hand-stitching in ultra-fine, mono-filament silk threads, almost invisible to the naked eye.” Those poor seamstresses must have gone blind. The Regency Fashion page carries a description of the dress and ceremony in La Belle Assemblee.
The manteau was of silver tissue lined with white satin, with a border of embroidery to answer that on the dress, and fastened in front with a splendid diamond ornament. Such was the bridal dress” … La Belle Assemblee
Princes Charlotte and Prince Leopold on their wedding day in 1816, Chapel Royal, St. James's Palace
The historic wedding dresses are among the 10,000 items in the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection. Queen Victoria’s wedding dress will be publicly displayed in March 2012, in the new permanent exhibition at the refurbished Kensington Palace, ‘Victoria Revealed” hrp.org.uk . – Telegraph.co.uk
In this older image you can see the gown's train. Image @Museum of London
The jewellery of the royal bride is most superb; beside the wreath, are a diamond cestus, ear- rings, and an armlet of great value, with a superb set of pearls.” – La Belle Assemblee
Contemporary depiction of Princess Charlotte's wedding
Sadly, the marriage did not last for even two years, due to Princess Charlotte’s death in childbirth (see article below.) Thank you, Brandy Parfums for alerting me to this video and article!
More posts about Princess Charlotte and Royal Weddings:
- Royal Weddings by Emily Brandt, a Review and Poll
- Princess Charlotte’s Bellflower Court Dress, 1814-1816
- A Triple Tragedy: How Princess Charlotte’s Death in 1817 Changed Obstetrics
- Regency Wedding Dresses and Later Developments in Bridal Fashions
- Conserving Royal Wedding Dresses
Thanks for posting, Vic. Even before I knew about the Regency fad for silver wedding gowns, I was attracted to the idea. I chose for my own wedding dress a gown not meant to be a wedding dress, a Swiss silver dot over white tulle, bought in a department store here – designed by the now retired Murray Arbeid. He had a way with sparkly dresses.
Such a beautiful dress! My personal favourite is the one worn by Princess Margaret in 1960.It is absolutely gorgeous and yet so simple.
I agree. Princess Margaret’s dress required impeccable fit to pull of the simplicity. I loved the rows of tiny close-placed buttons, and like the gown almost as well as Princess Grace’s wedding dress.
Yes I made a version of Princess Margarets wedding dress for my wedding
It wasn’t usual for the ladies to have a special wedding gown– a gown that was used for nothing except the wedding. Most married in a new or the best gown they had How many times the gown was worn following the ceremony depended on the wealth of the woman. Some only wore a dress once or twice before giving it away. One as elaborate as a silver wedding dress would probably be considered too expensive to just give to the lady’s maid. Such a dress might be kept. It might also have been remodeled slightly to look different but so that the expensive material would be used again. However, there were some who showed their wealth by never wearing a gown twice. Conspicuous consumption at its best.
I love to look at gowns in museums and am always thankful that these were saved for whatever reason.
I do love that dress. Now if only Kate would turn up in that …
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What a breathtakingly beautiful wedding gown. Such intricate and delicate work is truly amazing, a testament to the talent and expertise of the women who spent so many hours in its creation. Truly a gown fit for royalty.
Vic, thank you for all your well written and informative articles. I so look forward to reading each and every one of them, sometimes more than once.
Thank you, Christine. It’s comments like yours that make my day!
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The assiut or tulle Bi Telli looks nice on that dress. That is cool she used the material on her dress. Very rare to find now a days.
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