Queen Victoria’s journal- The wedding of Princess Helena and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, 5th July 1866:

On this, Thursday 5th July 1866, Princess Helena married Prince Christian of Scleswig-Holstein in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle.

“Was awake by the sound of the marriage bells, but felt very sad & much agitated. & Breakfasted alone with dear Lenchen. All bustle & excitement. Lenchen dressed in my bedroom, cleared out for the occasion, I wore a black Marie antique dress, interwoven with silver, my long veil surmounted by a diamond diadem & the rest of my jewels & diamonds. — Lenchen’s, wedding dress was of white satin, trimmed with one superb flounce of Houston lace, originally chosen for me, by dearest Albert, & sprays of orange flowers & myrtles, & a very long train, trimmed with the same lace & flowers. We sat waiting in my room for over so long, Bertie coming in & out, & being very kind & amiable. At length at 20. m. to 1 the Bride’s procession moved, Ld Caroline Lennox (a nice girl) coming in, to carry Lenchen’s train. She presented her with a splendid pendent of different coloured diamonds, the gift of all the Bridesmaids, who were: Ly Margaret Scott, Ly Laura Phipps, Lady Mary Fitzwilliam, Ly Muriel Campbell, Lady Caroline Lennox, Ly Alberta Hamilton, Lady Alexandrina Murray, & Ly Ernestine Edgecumbe. The Bridesmaids wore white dressed & veils, trimmed with forget-me-nots, blush roses & white heather. The corridor was full of our servants & their wives, &c. I led Lenchen, who walked between Bertie & me, & I gave her away. The Ceremony which was performed by the Arch Bishop of Canterbury, was short, without the exhortation. I could not see dear Lenchen’s face, as I stood a little behind her. […]

[…] At the conclusion of the service she embraced me warmly, & I did the same to Christian, whose countenance showed the deepest emotion. The Register was signed in the White Drawingroom, the Ld Chancellor, Ld Granville, Ld Russell & Ld Clarendon, coming in to sign as well as the Arch Bishop, the Bishop of London, the Bishop of Oxford, the Bishop of Worcester (clerk of the Closet) & the Bishop of Winchester. This over me went with the dear Couple into the Green Drawingroom, where as well as in the Red Drawingroom, all the guests were assembled, who came by, We then went in to luncheon, the Bridal pair going in first, then Bertie & Marie B. & Leopold & me, &c – Leopold in a few kind words, in very good English, gave out the healths of the Bride & Bridegroom. After luncheon we all separated & Lenchen & Christen come for a little while to my room, & gone him the Garter. He was much overcome when I told him with what confidence. I gone our darling good child to him. Then they changed their clothes, Lenchen reappearing in a pretty white muslin & lace, dress, with a white bonnet trimmed with orange flowers. At 4, went with them into the Corridor, where the whole family were assembled & me again waited a little while. Then came the moment of porting, which both dear Lenchen & I dreaded. I went to the bottom of the stairs & Kissed her again Numbers of people crowded to see her go, & all the ladies & gentlemen were in the Quadrangle. Quantities of rice & shoes were thrown, as the carriage drove away with an Escort. Crowds were on the Hill, also the Eton Boys. I ran back to my room to get a distant win of the dear Couple driving away, loudly cheered. Dear Marie Leiningen remained a few minutes with me, then I rested feeling terribly tired & sad. So many conflicting emotions filled my heart. – At 6 drove down to Frogmore with Baby & took tea in the Colonnade, as it was very windy. – Wished all good night before dinner, & dined alone with Leopold, Baby & the good Dss of Roxburghe, who was all kindness & sympathy, She remained some little time with me & read to me, after which I sat sadly alone with my thoughts! -“

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