Yeovil Celebrates the 1893 Royal Wedding
The 1893 Royal Wedding
How Yeovil celebrated the wedding of Prince George and Princess Mary
Princess Mary of Teck's engagement to Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale, eldest son of the Prince of Wales, ended after the duke's death on 14 January 1892. Even before the duke's death, his grandmother Queen Victoria had wanted to ensure the succession, and consequently desired that his younger brother and (second-in-line to the throne) Prince George marry either Princess Marie or Princess Victoria Melita of Edinburgh. After the death of Prince Albert his grandmother Queen Victoria, who was fond of the Duke of Clarence's fiancée, made known her wish for Mary to wed his brother George (now the Duke of York). The situation was embarrassing for the couple, as the country expected their engagement and contemporary newspapers speculated wildly on the affair. Mary was still mourning the duke's death, but faced the intense pressure of her parents, among others.
The wedding of
Prince George,
Duke of York
(later King
George V), and
Princess Mary of
Teck (later
Queen Mary) took
place on 6 July
1893 at the
Chapel Royal, St
James's Palace
in London.
From the
diary of
Louisa
Harris ....
|
In its edition of 26 June 1893 the Western Morning News reported "The committee (consisting of the Mayor and Corporation and ministers of all denominations in the town) appointed by a public meeting held at Yeovil on June 15th to carry out the arrangements for giving a free tea to the children and aged of the town on the Royal wedding day having declined to carry out the duties which were delegated to them, a second public meeting
The 14 July 1893
edition of the
Shepton Mallet
Journal reported
"At Yeovil the
Royal marriage
was celebrated
in a befitting
manner. Early in
the morning
cannons were
fired. At 11
o'clock military
bands discoursed
lively airs in
the principal
streets, the
bells were rung,
and at 12
o'clock business
suspended. The
streets
presented an
animated
appearance.
Business
premises and
private houses
were gaily
decorated with
flags, mottoes
and evergreens.
At two o'clock
from 2,000 to
3,000 school
children
assembled in the
churchyard,
headed by their
respective
banners, and
medals were
presented to
them by Mr
S Watts. The
National Anthem
was sung, and
cheers were
given for Mr
Watts. An
immense
procession was
then formed, in
which were
several bands.
Proceeding
through the
principal
streets of the
town, the
children were
taken to Wyndham
field, where tea
was provided at
the expense of
Mr Watts. Sports
subsequently
took place, an
attractive
programme having
been arranged by
a committee.
Each child was
afterwards
presented with a
Bible, provided
through the
generosity of Mr
Watts, and the
proceedings were
brought to a
close by a grand
display of
fireworks. The
streets were
gaily
illuminated at
night, the
effect being
excellent. The
weather was
exceedingly
fine."
From the
diary of
Louisa
Harris ....
|
gallery
The official wedding photograph of Prince George and Princess Mary of Teck.
The above scarce commemorative medallion in my collection was given to Sunday school children of Yeovil by the then Mayor of Yeovil, Sidney Watts, to commemorate the marriage of HRH Prince George (1865-1936), later King George V (reigned 1910-1936), to HSH Princess Mary of Teck 1867-1953. Mary (full name Victoria Mary Augusta Louise Olga Pauline Claudine Agnes) was informally known as 'May' after the month of her birth - hence the name on the medallion.
The medallion is just over 38mm in diameter and 2.6mm thick. The obverse carries profile portraits of the prince and princess with the date of their marriage, July 6 1893, around the edge. The reverse carries the edge inscription "TO COMMEMORATE THE MARRIAGE OF" and a central inscription reading "HRH PRINCE GEORGE DUKE OF YORK AND HSH PRINCESS MAY OF TECK PRESENTED BY MR SIDNEY WATTS YEOVIL".
The Yeovil Military Band photographed in 1892. At centre, with the beribboned tunic and holding the baton is band master Alfred Beare. Officially this was the band of Yeovil F Company, 2nd Battalion, Prince Albert's Somerset Light Infantry.