In early 1816, a Romanov bride became a future Dutch Queen.
On 22 December 1815, the future King William II of the Netherlands, then known as the Prince of Orange, arrived in St Petersburg to meet his future wife. Shortly before, his future brother-in-law, Alexander I of Russia, had issued a law which said that marriages between a Romanov and a foreign candidate had to be equal, and the two would be required to have met beforehand. He had also recently issued an order which gave his mother, Maria Feodorovna (born Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg), full say over her daughters. This meant that William had to travel to Russia and also get the approval of his future mother-in-law.
Immediately after his arrival, William was taken to meet Empress Maria Feodorovna and her youngest daughter, Anna. He was taken by Anna, and the presents he had brought were well-received. He later wrote home, “The Dowager Empress [the Tsar’s mother] has […] brought our hands together and, with the Tsar’s permission, pressed them firmly together.”1 He eventually became so shy holding her hand that he pulled his hand back. Anna later told her chamberlain that it had been love at first sight.
Over the next few days and weeks, he got to know Anna and also attended the Emperor’s birthday ball. After his birthday, both Anna and William officially agreed to be married while the marriage contract was still being negotiated. On 9 February 1816, the marriage bans were read in the Grand Church of the Winter Palace.
The actual wedding was on 21 February. The Russian nobility, clergy and other members of the elite had gathered to witness the ceremony. Anna entered the Grand Church of the Winter Palace wearing a golden bridal crown. She wore a white satin wedding gown that closely followed the contours of her body. It was embroidered with pearls and diamonds. A purple ermine-lined cloak finished the magnificent look of the Romanov bride. Anna and William were led down the aisle by Anna’s mother, the dowager Empress. In the centre of the church, they were met by Anna’s younger brothers, Nicolas and Michael, as well as the metropolitan and the priests. The brothers held crowns over the heads of the bride and groom as the ceremony began. A 101-gun salute from the Peter and Paul Fortress marked the end of the ceremony.
The newlyweds then headed to the White Hall of the Winter Palace, where the Wallonian preacher De la Saussaye blessed the couple again in a Protestant ceremony.
In the evening, a dinner with 200 guests was held in St. George’s Hall of the Winter Palace, followed by a ball and a procession. The newlyweds spend their wedding night in the Shepelev palace, which was next to the Winter Palace. This has been renovated especially for them. Shortly before they entered, Anna’s brother Nicholas held an icon in front of them, and Anna’s mother handed them bread and salt, a symbol for health and fertility.”2
William was delighted with his new wife and wrote home, ” I couldn’t be happier than I am right now, although I regret that none of my loved ones are here.”3 They stayed in Russia until June, when they received permission to leave Russia. During the journey home, William wrote, “I have some wonderful news for you, which I’m sure you’ll be delighted with. My wife will soon make you a grandfather. She is about two months pregnant.”4
Anna and William went on to have five children, of whom one died in infancy. They became King and Queen of the Netherlands in 1840.
Be the first to comment