Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Feodore marries Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg




February 18, 1828


Princess Feodore of Leiningen, the daughter of the Duchess of Kent, was married today to the Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg at the Duchess' residence at Kensington Palace.

Large crowds gathered outside the palace in "expectation of beholding their beloved Sovereign," King George IV, who gave the bride away, reported the account in the Court Circular.

The "bells of Kensington church struck up a merry peal" near the time of the marriage ceremony. "White favours of the largest size" were distributed to servants and those involved in the preparation of the wedding. The wedding cake was also "liberally supplied."

Members of the Royal Family were arrived at Kensington Palace after 2 p.m. and were received at the entrance to the Grand Hall by Sir John Conroy, whose official position is principal Equerry and Private Secretary to the Duchess of Kent. The members of the Royal Family who were present were the Duke and Duchess of Clarence, the Duke of Sussex, the Duke and Duchess of Glocester (at the time the spelling of the name), the Princess Sophia, the Princess Sophia Matilda, and Prince Leopold, "being the whole of the Royal Family in England, with the exception of Princess Augusta, who is at Brighton."

The wedding took place in the Vestibule of the Grand Saloon, where a temporary altar was set up. Dr. Kepler, the chaplain of the Royal German Chapel, "united the illustrious parties according to the services of the Lutheran Church."
Others present at the wedding included the bride's brother, the Prince of Leiningen and Princess Emilie of Carolath, and the "principal attendants" of the Duchess of Kent, including Sir John and Lady Conroy, Baroness Spaeth and Baroness Lehzen."

Princess Feodore and her "Royal sister the Princess Victoria, were dressed entirely in articles of British manufacture -- their dresses were of Buckinghamshire thread lace."

Although the King was expected to attend, Princess Feodore was given away by his brother, the Duke of Clarence. The new Princess of Hohenlohe-Langenburg is 19, and her husband is 31 years old.

After the wedding ceremony, the "Royal party partook of a most splendid early dinner" given by the Duchess of Kent "in honour of the occasion." The guests departed about "six o'clock for their respective residences."

The newlyweds left Kensington Palace at about 8 o'clock in the evening in "a new carriage and four" for Prince Leopold's home, Claremont, where the Prince and Princess will spend their honeymoon.

Princess Feodore received a "most superb present in diamonds" from King George IV, and a "variety of valuable presents of jewellery from other members of the Royal Family."

Prince Leopold, who is the widower of the late Princess Charlotte and brother of the Duchess of Kent, left for Paris, where he will stay for several days.


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2 comments:

DW said...

If I'm interpreting the first and last paragraphs correctly, did
Princess Feodore marry her uncle?

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

Feodore married the Prince of Hohenlohe-Langeburg. Where would you get the idea that she married her uncle. Her mother was born a Princess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Leopold was the husband of George IV's daughter, Charlotte, who died in childbirth in 1817. Leopold later became the king of the Belgians.