• Home
  • Audio/Podcasts
  • Austensites
  • AV/E-Texts
  • History
  • JA Novels & Bio
  • Links
  • Original Sources/19th C. Texts
  • Social Customs During the Regency
  • Teacher/Student
  • Writer/Literature Resources

Jane Austen's World

This Jane Austen blog brings Jane Austen, her novels, and the Regency Period alive through food, dress, social customs, and other 19th C. historical details related to this topic.

Feeds:
Posts
Comments
« A Receipt for a Pudding by Mrs. Austen
Vanity Fair, but where is Mr Darcy? – Part 1 »

In Honor of the Royal Wedding: Princess Charlotte’s Wedding Dress, 1816

April 25, 2011 by Vic

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

Share with others:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Posted in 19th Century England, jane austen, Jane Austen's World, Regency style, Regency World | Tagged Prince Leopold, Princess Charlotte, Princess Charlotte's Wedding Gown, Regency weddings, Royal weddings | 16 Comments

16 Responses

  1. on April 25, 2011 at 11:58 Patty

    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.


  2. on April 25, 2011 at 12:01 charlottechuckcharles

    Such a beautiful dress! My personal favourite is the one worn by Princess Margaret in 1960.It is absolutely gorgeous and yet so simple.


    • on April 25, 2011 at 12:42 Vic

      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.


    • on February 14, 2012 at 20:43 Ellen Rose of england

      Yes I made a version of Princess Margarets wedding dress for my wedding


  3. on April 25, 2011 at 14:32 Nancy

    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.


  4. on April 25, 2011 at 20:44 Nicola

    I do love that dress. Now if only Kate would turn up in that …


  5. on April 25, 2011 at 20:54 “Princess Diana’s Designer Elizabeth Emanuel Predicts Kate Middleton’s Wedding Dress Style” and related posts | Global News

    […] In Distinction &#959f th&#1077 Royal Wedding: Princess Charlotte’s Wedding Dress, 1816 – Jane Austen's Planet […]


  6. on April 26, 2011 at 07:43 The Royal Wedding

    […] one special day in November in 2010 to propose to Kate. BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Kings, queens, world lThe Royal Wedding – Prince William and Kate Middleton have got dated for 8 years, until Prince William made a […]


  7. on April 26, 2011 at 09:25 In Honor of the Royal Wedding: Princess Charlotte's Wedding Dress … | Askingly.com

    […] See the article here: In Honor of the Royal Wedding: Princess Charlotte's Wedding Dress … […]


  8. on April 26, 2011 at 23:44 Christine

    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.


    • on April 27, 2011 at 08:40 Vic

      Thank you, Christine. It’s comments like yours that make my day!


  9. on April 28, 2011 at 13:50 Royal Wedding, circa 1816 « Two Teens in the Time of Austen

    […] read those accounts, see Austenonly; Jane Austen’s World; The Regency Fashion Page; Princess Charlotte’s page on […]


  10. on May 1, 2011 at 12:21 The Royal Wedding of Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton of Berkshire, April 29, 2011 and a March Through Time of Royal British Weddings « Jane Austen's World

    […] In honor of the Royal Wedding: Princess Charlotte’s Wedding Dress, 1816 […]


  11. on April 4, 2012 at 01:21 Dallas

    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.


  12. on April 22, 2012 at 16:25 Princess Charlotte’s Blue Gown « Jane Austen's World

    […] In Honor of the Royal Wedding: Princess Charlotte’s Wedding Dress […]


  13. on September 9, 2012 at 02:57 What Goes Around Comes Around « Wonderfully Vapid Romance

    […] of all the ball gowns and wedding dresses the world has seen Princes Charlotte’s wedding dress (Jane Austin’s World has a great post on this) is one of the most decadent. […]



Comments are closed.

  • Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    Join 7,146 other subscribers
  • Items of Interest

  • Follow Jane Austen's World on WordPress.com
  • Blog Stats

    • 16,746,748 hits
  • RECOMMENDED BOOKS AND RESOURCES

  • Fashionable Goodness: Christianity in Jane Austen's England is now available! By JAW contributor Brenda S. Cox. See Review. Available from Amazon and Jane Austen Books.
  • Praying with Jane: 31 Days through the Prayers of Jane Austen, Rachel Dodge, and a bookmark with the quote "A whole family assembling regulary for the purpose of prayer is fine!" Jane Austen, Mansfield Park
    We also recommend JAW contributor Rachel Dodge's devotionals based on Jane Austen's prayers and classic literature. Reviews:
    Praying With Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen;
    The Secret Garden Devotional;
    The Anne of Green Gables Devotional;
    The Little Women Devotional.
  • Book cover of Bath: An Adumbration in Rhyme by John Matthews
    Bath -An Adumbration in Rhyme. Edited by Ben Wiebracht. Read the review of the book at this link. Click to order the book on Amazon US or Amazon UK
  • In Sri Lanka lies the grave of Rear Admiral Charles Austen CB, Jane Austen’s Brother

    The neglected tombstone found in an overgrown burial ground.

    Rear Admiral Charles Austen CB

    Died off Prome, the 7th October 1852, while in command of the Naval Expedition on the river Irrawady against the Burmese Forces, aged 73 years.”

    The grave after restoration

    Read the full article in The Sunday Times. June 27, 2021.

  • The Obituary of Charlotte Collins by Andrew Capes

    Click on image to read the story.

  • Comments

    “My idea of good company…is the company of clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation.” – Jane Austen, Persuasion

     

    Gentle readers: Please feel free to post your comments and continue the conversation! Due to SPAM, we will no longer accept comments on posts after 30 days of publication. In some instances, links will be removed from comments as well.

  • Administrators and Contributors

    Vic Sanborn, founder of this blog, is supported by a team of talented and knowledgeable writers about Jane Austen and the Regency era. They are:

    • Brenda Cox
    • Rachel Dodge and
    • Tony Grant, who now contributes his photos from London and England

    Click on their names to enter their own blogs.

    In addition, we thank the many experts and authors who frequently contribute their posts and opinions, and who continue to do so freely or at our request.

  • Pin It!

    Follow Me on Pinterest
  • Top Posts

    • Men's hair styles at the turn of the 19th century
      Men's hair styles at the turn of the 19th century
    • Highclere Castle Floor Plan: The Real Downton Abbey
      Highclere Castle Floor Plan: The Real Downton Abbey
    • Regency Fashion: Men's Breeches, Pantaloons, and Trousers
      Regency Fashion: Men's Breeches, Pantaloons, and Trousers
    • Social Customs During the Regency
      Social Customs During the Regency
    • Pride and Prejudice Economics: Or Why a Single Man with a Fortune of £4,000 Per Year is a Desirable Husband
      Pride and Prejudice Economics: Or Why a Single Man with a Fortune of £4,000 Per Year is a Desirable Husband
    • Regency Hygiene: The Bourdaloue
      Regency Hygiene: The Bourdaloue
    • The Servant's Quarters in 19th Century Country Houses Like Downton Abbey
      The Servant's Quarters in 19th Century Country Houses Like Downton Abbey
    • Jane Austen and Rom Coms: Enemies-to-Lovers in Pride and Prejudice
      Jane Austen and Rom Coms: Enemies-to-Lovers in Pride and Prejudice
    • Dancing at the Netherfield Ball: Pride and Prejudice
      Dancing at the Netherfield Ball: Pride and Prejudice
    • Dressing for the Netherfield Ball in Pride and Prejudice: Regency Fashion
      Dressing for the Netherfield Ball in Pride and Prejudice: Regency Fashion
  • Recent Posts

    • Jane Austen and Rom Coms: Enemies-to-Lovers in Pride and Prejudice
    • Lady Hester Stanhope: Traveler and Trailblazer
    • Jane Austen-Themed Valentines
    • Winter, Regency Style
    • Book Review: Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
  • Links to Jane Austen Blogs

    Click here to enter the page. Topics include Regency fashion, historic foods, Jane Austen societies, British sites, related topics. Click on image.

  • May we suggest?

  • Hello, my name is Vic and I live in Maryland, USA. I have adored Jane Austen almost all of my life. I am a proud lifetime member of the Jane Austen Society of North America. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me and my team. We do not accept any form of cash advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions. However, we do accept and keep books and CDs to review.

    If you would like to share a new site, or point out an error, please email us. (Yes, we are fallible. We'll own up to our mistakes and will make the corrections with a polite smile on our faces.) Write us at

    gmailbw

    Thank you for visiting this blog. Your comments and suggestions are most welcome.

  • Project Gutenberg: eBook of Stage-coach and Mail in Days of Yore, Volume 2 (of 2), by Charles G. Harper

    STAGE-COACH AND MAIL IN DAYS OF YORE: A PICTURESQUE HISTORY
    OF THE COACHING AGE, VOL. II, By CHARLES G. HARPER. 1903. Click on this link.

     

  • Top Posts & Pages

    • Men's hair styles at the turn of the 19th century
    • Highclere Castle Floor Plan: The Real Downton Abbey
    • Regency Fashion: Men's Breeches, Pantaloons, and Trousers
    • Social Customs During the Regency
    • Pride and Prejudice Economics: Or Why a Single Man with a Fortune of £4,000 Per Year is a Desirable Husband
    • Regency Hygiene: The Bourdaloue
    • The Servant's Quarters in 19th Century Country Houses Like Downton Abbey
    • Jane Austen and Rom Coms: Enemies-to-Lovers in Pride and Prejudice
    • Dancing at the Netherfield Ball: Pride and Prejudice
    • Dressing for the Netherfield Ball in Pride and Prejudice: Regency Fashion
  • Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape
  • Disclaimer: Our team makes no profit from this blog. We may receive books (physical or digitized) and DVDs for review purposes.

  • Copyright Statement: © Jane Austen's World blog, 2009-2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jane Austen's World with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Blog at WordPress.com.

WPThemes.


  • Follow Following
    • Jane Austen's World
    • Join 7,146 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Jane Austen's World
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Copy shortlink
    • Report this content
    • View post in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: