Altar were two faldstools for Her Majesty and the Prince. The floor was covered with blue and gold patterned carpet with the Norman Rose. The remaining part of the interior, including the pews in the aisle, the seats in the galleries, and the ambassador's closet, had the appearance of simple oak with Gothic panels, scrolls and mouldings, the seats being covered with crimson cushions, with gold coloured edges and broad gold coloured fringe. The ceiling had been refreshed. On the occasion of the Queen's marriage the organist was Sir George Smart, and the choir, which consisted of ten boys and sixteen men, were provided with places in the gallery facing the organ loft.1 At her marriage the Queen wore a dress of white satin of Spitalfields manufacture, with a very deep flounce of Honiton lace. The body and sleeves were richly trimmed with the same material to correspond. The train was of white satin, and was also lined with white satin trimmed with orange blossoms. Her Majesty wore on her head a wreath of orange blossoms, and a veil of Honiton lace, with a necklace and earrings of diamonds. In addition to these jewels the Queen wore an armlet, having the motto of the order of the Garter, 'Honi soit qui mal y pense,' inscribed in diamonds, and also the Star of the Order. The Prince Consort wore the uniform of a Field Marshal in the British Army, and over his Royal A 1 The only instrument used at this ceremony was the organ. temporary gallery had been erected before it, so that the keys, had they remained in the usual position, would have been useless. To obviate this difficulty a long movement was added to the instrument. Highness's shoulders was hung the Collar of the Garter, surmounted by two white rosettes. The Honiton lace for her Majesty's bridal dress and veil, which were similar in design, was worked at the village of Beer, and afforded employment to more than two hundred poor lace-workers for more than eight months. Her Majesty's bridesmaids and train-bearers were attired in dresses similar to that of the Bride. They wore, however, no veils. Writing to W. H. L. on February 21st, 1840, Sarah, Lady Lyttleton, in her book, thus describes the Queen's marriage: As to the Queen's marriage, truly I had not much to add to the Newspaper account, which was very full and, for a wonder, I think, quite correctly true. Being a component part of the Procession, I, of course, saw very little of its effect, and especially was prevented, by the portly forms and finery of the Duchess of Bedford and Lady Normanby, who walked before me, from seeing the Queen and her train-bearers at all: and they were said to have formed much the most striking part of the show in their pure and simple white dresses; they looked like village girls among all the gorgeous colours and jewels that surrounded them. The Queen's look and manner were very pleasing, her eyes much swollen with tears, but great happiness in her countenance, and her look of confidence and comfort at the Prince, when they walked away as man and wife, was very pretty to see. Such a new thing for her to dare to be unguarded in conversing with anybody, and, with her frank and fearless nature, the restraints she has hitherto been under, from one reason or another, with everybody, must have been most painful. |