Royal Brides in November: Three Iconic Weddings and the Jewels They Wore

When we think of royal weddings, the mind often conjures images of grand summer ceremonies dazzling under bright sunshine. Yet, in the history of the British monarchy, there are a few exceptions, royal weddings that took place in the chilly, mysterious month of November. Today, we're taking a journey back in time to look at three such unique weddings, each of which left its mark on history. These three marriages were all distinct, with each couple following a unique path. In this video, we'll explore the November weddings of Princess Marina, Princess Elizabeth, and Princess Anne. What dazzling jewels did these brides wear as they walked down the aisle? How did these marriages shape the history of the royal family? And what stories are hidden behind each of these unions? Today, we'll uncover the mysteries of these three November weddings, preserved in the annals of British royalty. Before we begin, please support my channel by clicking the Like and Subscribe buttons. Thank you. On November 29, 1934, London witnessed one of the most anticipated weddings of the year, the union of Greek Princess Marina, known for her elegance, and British Prince George, Duke of Kent, in a series of unforgettable ceremonies. George, the fourth son of King George V and Queen Mary, was granted the title of Duke of Kent just weeks before the wedding. His bride, 28-year-old Princess Marina, was the daughter of Greek Prince Nicholas and Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia, a member of the illustrious Romanov family. This union brought together the British and Greek royal families, linked by their shared ancestry from Danish monarchs. The grand ceremony began at Westminster Abbey, where the bride and groom exchanged traditional Welsh gold rings before an audience of 4,000 guests. The Archbishop of Canterbury presided over the ceremony, which was broadcast on the radio for the first time in royal wedding history, allowing people across the country and even overseas to listen. Following this, an intimate Greek Orthodox ceremony was held in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace, attended by close relatives, including the groom's older brothers, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York, the future King George VI, who held the honor of carrying the crowns. Marina chose a refined wedding gown by the renowned designer Edward Molyneux. The dress, crafted from white and silver brocade and adorned with English roses, featured a chic cowl neckline, reflecting the 1930s fashion trends. The long train, lined with silver lame, underscored the bride's sophisticated style. However, it was the bride's jewels that added a unique radiance to the occasion. Marina wore the family heirloom, the Vladimir Fringe Tiara, originally owned by her grandmother, Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, one of the most notable jewelry collectors of the Romanov family. This tiara, crafted for Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, was designed in the traditional Romanov style with sunray-shaped spikes, a signature feature of many Russian fringe tiaras. After Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, the tiara was passed down to her daughter, Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna, who took this impressive piece to Greece upon her marriage to Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark. In 1934, Elena's two daughters, Elizabeth and her younger sister Marina, honored their Russian heritage by selecting fringe tiaras for their weddings. After Elizabeth's wedding, the tiara remained in her family as a cherished heirloom. Her daughter, Elena, wore it at her wedding to Archduke Ferdinand of Austria in 1956, and her granddaughter, Sofia, continued the tradition, wearing it for her wedding in 1990. Most recently, the tiara was seen at a family wedding in 2005, when Elizabeth's grandson, Archduke Maximilian, married Maya Alaskari. In addition to the family tiara, Princess Marina wore a stunning diamond-collet necklace made up of 36 large stones, a gift from her new father-in-law, King George V. She also wore exquisite diamond earrings, along with King George V's royal family order pinned to her gown. In some wedding photographs, you can spot a small Art Deco diamond brooch, delicately pinned at the neckline of Marina's gown, adding an extra touch of elegance to her ensemble. This Art Deco brooch was a wedding gift from Queen Mary, Featuring a square diamond cluster at its center with diamond-set links on each end, the brooch became a versatile piece in Marina's collection. She wore it on her wedding dress, and later pinned it to her hat when leaving for her honeymoon. After Marina's passing in 1968, the brooch was inherited by her son, the Duke of Kent, and became a favorite piece of his wife, the Duchess of Kent. The Duchess often paired it with Queen Mary's diamond bandeau, later known as the Kent Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara, and used the brooch as a belt accent at official events. Princess Marina also wore her engagement ring, chosen by Prince George in 1934 from Cartier. The ring featured a stunning square-cut cashmere sapphire flanked by baton-cut diamonds in a platinum setting. Known for its incomparable deep blue hue, the cashmere sapphire was a fitting choice for Marina, whose love for this gemstone was well known. The ring's modern design reflected George's refined taste, setting a trend for sapphire engagement rings that year. After a luxurious wedding breakfast, George and Marina departed for their honeymoon in a horse-drawn carriage, greeted by the delighted cheers of young guests, including Princess Elizabeth and her sister, Princess Margaret. During their marriage, the couple had three children, Prince Edward, Princess Alexandra, and Prince Michael. They settled at Coppins, the Buckinghamshire estate George inherited from his aunt. Sadly, their life together was cut short when Prince George tragically died in a plane crash in Scotland in 1942, leaving Marina a widow and their children fatherless. Nearly 13 years after Princess Marina's wedding, the young bridesmaid from that memorable day became a bride herself. On November 20th, 1947, 21-year-old Princess Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, married 26-year-old Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, formerly Prince of Greece and Denmark. Before the wedding, he renounced his Greek titles and became known as Lieutenant Mountbatten, although he was later granted the title Duke of Edinburgh. Westminster Abbey once again hosted a major royal event, with thousands of guests gathered, including monarchs from across Europe. This wedding offered a welcome breath of joy to Britain, still recovering from wartime austerity and was broadcast on the radio to more than 200 million listeners worldwide. The ceremony was conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury with assistance from the Archbishop of York. For her wedding, Elizabeth chose a gown of ivory Duchess satin by renowned designer Norman Hartnell. The dress was embroidered with flowers, including lilies and orange blossoms. Due to post-war restrictions, Elizabeth received extra ration coupons to ensure that her gown would be truly regal. Her veil was anchored by the Queen Mary's fringe tiara, one of the most iconic pieces in the British royal collection. The tiara, created in 1919, was commissioned by Queen Mary, using diamonds from a necklace gifted to her by Queen Victoria for her 1893 wedding. Queen Mary entrusted the famous House of Gerrard with transforming the original piece into an elegant fringe tiara in the Russian kokoshnik style, with pointed spikes that give it a structured, majestic appearance. Such fringe tiaras were popular among Russian royalty in the late 19th century. On Princess Elizabeth's wedding day, this tiara became the centerpiece of her ensemble, but not without a last-minute mishap. Just before the ceremony, the tiara unexpectedly broke. The panicked attendants called on Gerrard jewelers, who rushed to the palace and managed to repair the piece within minutes of Elizabeth's walk down the aisle. In some of the day's photographs, a small gap from the quick repair is visible. In addition to the tiara, the princess wore two pearl necklaces, the Queen Anne and Queen Caroline strands. These pearls, containing 46 and 50 pearls respectively, were a gift to Queen Victoria, and were said to have belonged to royals as far back as the Stuart and Hanoverian dynasties. These necklaces are traditionally worn together and hold great historical significance for the British royal family. However, amidst the pre-wedding excitement, the necklaces were accidentally left on display with the wedding gifts at St. James's Palace, rather than being brought to Buckingham Palace for the ceremony. When it was discovered that the necklaces were missing, there was very little time to spare. Princess Elizabeth's private secretary, Jock Colville, immediately set off to retrieve them from St. James's Palace. Borrowing King Haakon VII of Norway's limousine to speed through the crowd surrounding Buckingham Palace, Colville eventually found himself unable to proceed by car. Realizing the urgency, he abandoned the limousine and ran through the sea of people, carrying the necklaces by hand. He made it back to the palace just in time, delivering the necklaces to the princess moments before the ceremony. This heroic act, worthy of a rescue mission, added another layer of legend to the royal wedding. Colville was later knighted for his service to the crown. With the rescue of the wedding pearls surely among his most memorable deeds. Elizabeth also wore diamond and pearl earrings previously owned by the Duchess of Gloucester, a granddaughter of King George III. The earrings were gifted to Elizabeth by her grandmother, Queen Mary, in early 1947. On Elizabeth's finger sparkled her engagement ring, a piece rich with family history. When Philip proposed, he commissioned the ring from London jeweler Philip Antrobus Limited, using diamonds from a tiara that belonged to his mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg. The ring featured a three carat central diamond surrounded by smaller stones, giving it a refined elegance in line with Elizabeth's tastes. Philip used the remaining diamonds from the dismantled tiara to create a wedding gift for Elizabeth, a platinum and diamond bracelet also crafted by Philip Antrobus Limited. On the wedding day, Philip placed another ring on Elizabeth's finger, her wedding band made of Welsh gold. This piece of gold, sourced from the Klogau St. David's mine in Bontu, had been reserved for royal wedding rings since 1923, establishing a cherished British royal tradition. After the ceremony, members of the royal family gathered for the traditional group photograph in the throne room at Buckingham Palace. Standing at the forefront were King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary, Princess Andrew of Greece, and other family members. Later, the newlyweds appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony to greet the enthusiastic crowds gathered to celebrate this momentous occasion. This marriage not only laid the foundation for a new royal dynasty, but also created a family that would become a symbol of Britain for decades. Together, Elizabeth and Philip shared over 70 years of marriage, raising four children and leaving a lasting legacy in the history of the monarchy. Almost 26 years after Elizabeth's wedding, the royal family once again gathered on the Buckingham Palace balcony to celebrate another November royal wedding. This time, on November 14th, 1973, 23-year-old Princess Anne, the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, married 25-year-old Captain Mark Phillips, an army officer and Olympic equestrian champion. The couple had met at an equestrian event in 1968, quickly bonding over their shared love of horses and announced their engagement on May 29th, 1973. For her wedding, Anne chose a Tudor-inspired gown by designer Maureen Baker, featuring a high neckline, long wide sleeves, and a flowing train. In keeping with tradition, she secured her veil with Queen Mary's fringe tiara, the same tiara her mother, Queen Elizabeth II, wore at her own wedding. The tiara continued its legacy when it was worn by Princess Beatrice for her wedding in 2020, adding a modern chapter to its rich history. Anne's wedding jewelry included an engagement ring, modest by royal standards, fitting her unpretentious style and character. Custom-made by Gerd, it featured an oval sapphire flanked by two diamonds, all set in yellow Welsh gold. As Anne described it, you see it's pretty simple, a sapphire in the middle and a diamond on each side. Her wedding band, like those of other British royals, was crafted from Welsh gold, sourced from the same nugget used for her mother's, grandmother's, and Aunt Princess Margaret's rings. This maintained a meaningful tradition, imbuing the ceremony with symbolic significance. On her wedding day, Princess Anne wore diamond floral cluster earrings, which subtly complemented her Tudor-style gown and added a delicate sparkle to her ensemble. With floral motifs crafted from diamonds, the earrings were understated yet refined, in harmony with Anne's style. After the ceremony, the royal family and guests, including monarchs from various European countries, gathered for the traditional group photo in the throne room at Buckingham Palace. Later, Anne and Mark waved to cheering crowds from the Buckingham Palace balcony, keeping with the long-held tradition of royal wedding celebrations. The wedding attracted significant public interest, was watched by millions on television, and was even declared a national holiday. Unfortunately, the marriage of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips was not long-lasting. The couple, who had two children, Peter and Zara, separated in 1989 and officially divorced in 1992. That same year, Anne married Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Lawrence in a private ceremony attended by around 30 guests. Mark Phillips later remarried as well. Thank you for watching to the end. I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Which season do you think is ideal for a wedding? And in what month did you get married? If you enjoyed this video, please remember to like, subscribe to the channel, and share this episode. There are many more fascinating stories of royal weddings and jewels for us to discover together. See you next time.