Queen Victoria (wearing a white gown which established the tradition) married her first cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha at the Chapel Royal of St. James’s Palace in London on this day in 1840. The Queen and her Prince Consort remained devoted to each other, having nine children, until his tragic death in 1861, which plunged Queen Victoria into four decades of mourning. The couple, along with King Christian IX of Denmark, are the ancestors of the majority of European Royals. The bride described her affection for her groom on her wedding day as:
I NEVER, NEVER spent such an evening!!! MY DEAREST DEAREST DEAR Albert … his excessive love & affection gave me feelings of heavenly love & happiness I never could have hoped to have felt before! He clasped me in his arms, & we kissed each other again & again! His beauty, his sweetness & gentleness—really how can I ever be thankful enough to have such a Husband! … to be called by names of tenderness, I have never yet heard used to me before—was bliss beyond belief! Oh! This was the happiest day of my life!
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