Princess Louise marries Alexander Duff, 1st Duke of Fife (1889)

Princess Louise, eldest daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales, married Alexander Duff, Earl Fife, on 27 July 1889 at the Private Chapel in Buckingham Palace. The ceremony was officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury following Queen Victoria's consent to the engagement announced in June. This union marked the second instance of a descendant of Queen Victoria marrying a British subject.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Alexander Duff, styled Earl Fife between 1879 and 1889, was a Scottish nobleman born in Edinburgh. Princess Louise, known for her reserved nature, was the third child and eldest daughter of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. In June 1889, Queen Victoria recorded her consent to the engagement, noting she was pleased to grant permission and wished the couple happiness.

Ceremony. The wedding took place on Saturday 27 July 1889 at the Private Chapel within Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the monarch. The Archbishop of Canterbury officiated the service. Despite Queen Victoria's efforts to keep her daughters close, the marriage proceeded, marking the second time a descendant of the Queen married a British subject.

Context. Prior to the wedding, Alexander purchased the lease of a London townhouse at 15 Portman Square in July 1889. The event occurred in the context of the Prince of Wales's Children Act 1889, which was enacted partly due to issues surrounding the royal family's private affairs.

People involved

Sources

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