Queen Victoria led the Royal Guests and Relatives from around Europe at the Wedding of her two grandchildren, Grand Duke Ernest Louis of Hesse and Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, at Schloss Ehrenburg in Coburg on this day in 1894, 130 years ago.
Grand Duke Ernest Louis of Hesse, the son of Grand Duke Louis IV of Hesse and by Rhine and Princess Alice of the United Kingdom, married Princess Victoria Melita of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg und Gotha, daughter of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia, at Schloss Ehrenburg in Coburg.
Princess Victoria Melita wore her Emerald Tiara, a wedding gift from her parents, and English Rose Brooch, a gift from Queen Victoria. The couple’s mutual aunt, Empress Frederick of Germany wrote of the bride wearing:
a light slender diadem of emeralds with a sprig of orange blossom stuck in behind’
Among the Royal Guests pictured who saw off the new Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine were the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna (wearing her Faberge Pearl and Diamond Tiara), Crown Princess Marie of Romania (in her Diamond Loop Tiara), Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and the Duchess of Connaught (wearing her Fringe Tiara), and Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna (in her Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara).
Queen Victoria led the Royal Guests and Relatives, writing in her journal for 21 April 1894:
‘the whole of our large family party were photographed by English, as well as German photographers. Many groups were taken, & some of me with Vicky & my 3 sons, & William.’
Seated L-R: Kaiser Wilhelm II; Queen Victoria; Empress Frederick of Germany; with Princess Beatrice of Edinburgh and Princess Feodora of Saxe-Meiningen in front.
First standing row L-R: Prince Alfred of Edinburgh; Tsarevitch Nicholas of Russia (Tsar Nicholas II); Princess Alix of Hesse (Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna); Princess Louis of Battenberg; Princess Henry of Prussia; Grand Duchess Vladimir of Russia (Maria Pavlovna); Grand Duchess Marie, Duchess of Edinburgh.
Second standing row: The Prince of Wales (King Edward VII); Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom; Princess Philip of Saxe-Coburg Kohary; Charlotte, Hereditary Princess of Saxe-Meiningen; Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein; Princess Louise, Duchess of Connaught.
Two standing rows at back: Prince Louis of Battenberg; Grand Duke Paul of Russia; Prince Henry of Battenberg; Prince Philip of Saxe-Coburg Kohary; Count Mensdorff; Grand Duke Serge of Russia; Crown Princess Marie of Romania (Queen Marie); Crown Prince Ferdinand of Romania (King Ferdinand I); Grand Duchess Serge of Russia (Elizabeth Feodorovna); Grand Duke Vladimir of Russia; Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught; Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh
The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine had one daughter, Princess Elisabeth, before the got divorced soon after Queen Victoria’s death in 1901, with the Grand Duke saying
I see the absolute impossibility of going on leading a life which was killing her and driving me nearly mad”.
Grand Duke Ernest remarried to Princess Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich in 1905, and passed away in 1937. Princess Victoria Melita married another cousin, Grand Duke Kirill of Russia, and died in 1936.
Emerald Tiara
Strawberry Leaf Tiara
Greek Key Tiara
Cartier Sapphire Necklace
Diamond Necklace
English Rose Brooch
