The marriage of Princess Helene of Orleans, daughter of the late Comte de Paris, heir to the throne of Louis Philippe, King of the French, to the Duc d'Aosta, nephew to King Humbert of Italy, took place on Tuesday, June 25,1895. in the small Roman Catholic church of St. Baphael, at Kingston-on-Thames.
The bride was accompanied her mother the Comtesse de Paris, her brother, the Duke of Orleans, who was borne on an invalid’s chair, her sisters. Princesses Isabelle and Louise, the Duke and Duchess of Chartres, the Duke and Duchess of Montpensier, the Due d’Aumale, the Prince and Princess de Joinville, Princess Clementine of Orleans, and others of her family, who had assembled at Orleans House, Twickenham.
Princess Helene's wedding dress was made of a 'creamy white faille skirt, bordered with orange blossoms, with a train three yards long, lined with white moire and a corsage made in blouse style, with three deep plaits back and front."
Around her neck was a ruffle made of 'finely plaited silk gauze and supported by a number of bows and white faille ribbon."
Her sleeves were fitted close by 'gigots above the elbow.' She wore a veil that was 'inwrought with the arms of France and Savoy.' It said the veil would cover the whole dress.
With the bridegroom were the Prince of Kaples, his cousin, the Count of Turin, the Archduchess Clotilde. and the Duke of Oporto. The Prince and Princess of Wales, with Princesses Victoria and Maud, Prince and Princess Henry of Battenberg, representing the Queen, the Duke and Duchess of York, the Duke of Connaught, the Duke and Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Princess Christian of Schleswig - Holstein, with her husband and daughter, and the Grand Duke and Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, were present.
Instead of the Duke of Orleans, the bride’s brother, not yet sufficiently recovered from the effects of his accident, she was given away by her uncle, the Duke of Chartres. The religious service was performed by the Bishop of Southwark, and was followed by a Mass. The wedding party returned to Orleans House to breakfast.
Quite the most exquisite gifts are the emeralds which the Duke of Aosta and the Duc d'Aumale have chosen for the Royal bride.
The necklace given the former consists of five square shaped diamonds and the same number of pear-shaped emeralds with an emerald clasp>>
A matching tiara with square emeralds also forming, together with some diamonds>>
a clasp to the twenty-three were woolen.
Parure of pearls and diamonds, a string of 35 pearls with diamond clasp, eleven strings of pearls with emerald and diamond clasp the Duke of Chartres.
a necklace of diamonds and emeralds — consisting of five square diamonds and five pear-shaped emeralds with emerald clasp from her new husband, the Duke of Aosta.
a emerald ornament large square emerald and diamond scrolls, from the Duke of Aosta
a diamond necklace, emerald pendants from the Duke of Orleans
a diadem and and aigrette, emeralds and diamonds from The Duke of Orleans, her brother.
a Diamond and Pearl Ornament - pearl cluster and two wings in Diamond - Princess Isabelle of Orleans.
Starry diamond Crown - Superb high crown of upright stars and high sprays of diamonds on a wide band encrusted with these gems. The diamonds are of great size and the crown one of imposing magnificent made by Musy >>- from the King and Queen of Italy
Two strings of pearls and diamonds with an emerald pendant......from the bride's grandmother, the Duchess of Montpensier.
A "caduceus" insignia in diamonds, pearls and rubies mercury-wand bearing the inscrition, "Pour la chere Helen de la part de Albert Edward, Aleyandra, Georg, May, Victoria et Maud" .....from the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of York, the Princesses Victoria and Maud of Wales.
A pendant cross with sapphires and diamonds The Duchess of Fife.
A PEARL AND DIAMOND BRACELET Presented by the Prince of Naples her brother.
A gold chain bracelet with sapphire pendant, and a sapphire medaillon >>....from the Queen of Italy
A diamond crescent>> collection of precious stones, two black pearls, a carriage rug in white fox skin, an English pony carriage and pony, a modern Cashmere shawl, a shawl formerly belonging to the Duchess of Orleans from the Comtesse de Paris.
A Cashmere shawl from the Duchess of Montpensier's trousseau.
Sprays of pearls and diamonds with emerald pendants>> an old Japanese fan, an old French fan, a lace umbrella, Valenciennes flounce from The Infanta Marie Louise Fernande, Duchess of Montpensier
A fleur-de-lis in diamonds and rubies from The Duchess Augusta of Saxe- Coburg
A small enamelled watch, with diamonds—Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria.
A diamond bracelet from The Queen Isabelle II. and the King Don Francois of Assisi.
A chain bracelet in gold, with five stones rubies and sapphires>> - The Princess of the Asturias and the Infanta Maria Therese
Le cadeau du roi et de la reine de Portugal, arrivé en dernier lieu. C'est un superbe collier de diamants et de gros saphirs, nothing is known yet.
A Gold chain bracelet with rubies and diamonds the Count of Turin >>
A Diamond bracelet the Duke of Abruzzi >>
A Umbrella handle in aquamarine mounted in gold - Lady Randolph Churchill.
A Seal Lapis lazuli and diamonds - Baroness Gustave de Rothschild.
A Diamond Brooch in form of a royal crown>>- Baronesse Nathaniel de Rothschild.
A Mantle clasp in transparent enamel - Lady Cranborne.
A diamond Aigrette three feathers and three turquoises - Baron and Baroness Hirsch.
A bracelet of diamonds with a shamrock set with rubies in the centre- from the Queen Victoria of England.
A white ostriche feather fan mounted with "H" in and crown in diamonds an tortoise shell - Marchioness of Lorne.
A Giglio - Lily of Florence in huge brilliants to be used either as a brooch or a hair ornament from the ladies of Florence>>
A Diamond and Pearl Bracelet Bangle - Baroness Burdett Coutts
A Jewelled Watch - Duc de Luynes.
Source:THE NEW YORK HERALD; Archive Ursula Butschal;Le Figaro;'The San Francisco Call';
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