Royal Weddings
The history of Royal weddings as seen through items in the Royal Collection
Decoration from the wedding gown of Queen Ena of Spain
c. 1906RCIN 54887
This wedding gown decoration in the form of a sprig of orange blossom comes from the gown of Queen Ena of Spain. Princess Victoria Eugenie, known by her last name of Ena, was the daughter of Queen Victoria's youngest child, Princess Beatrice.
Ena married King Alfonso XIII of Spain on 31 May 1906 at the Church of San Jeronimo el Real in Madrid. According to contemporary newspaper reports there was significant Spanish interest in the wedding gown as, aside from the Brussels lace, the dress was made in Spain. The silk was overlaid with silver embroidery and the Brussels lace, with orange blossoms used to decorate the corsage and train.