An unexpected romance and glittering wedding that led to a very famous royal dynasty

it’s one of the most important royal weddings in history and led to the foundation of one of the most famous dynasties of all. But it began in controversy.

In July 1893, the Duke of York married Princess Mary of Teck at St. James’s Palace. However, the duke wasn’t the bride’s first royal fiance.

In December 1891,Mary had become engaged to another prince – the Duke of York’s older brother.

The then second-in-line to the throne, Prince Albert Victor, proposed to Princess Mary of Teck after a very Victorian romance. The two were second cousins once removed and were considered to be a solid match. In particular, Queen Victoria approved of the princess and thought she would make a good queen. 

However, Prince Albert Victor died only six weeks later during an influenza epidemic. 

The princess already knew Prince George, the Duke of York, who was now second-in-line to the throne. Many historians think that the pair may have bonded over their grief following Albert Victor’s death. 

It did take over a year for the new relationship to come to fruition- in May 1893, George proposed to Mary and she accepted. 

The couple married on 6 July 1893 at the Chapel Royal in St. James’s Palace.

After the wedding, the couple lived at York Cottage at Sandringham. They would have six children, including the future King Edward VIII and King George VI. They would take the throne in 1910 as King George V and Queen Mary following King Edward VII’s death. 

In 1917, King George decided to change their family name to Windsor, creating one of the most famous royal dynasties in the world.