Piece of Queen Victoria’s trendsetting white wedding dress expected to fetch thousands at auction

By Athena Stavrou via SWNS

Part of Queen Victoria's wedding dress which began the trend of a "white wedding" is expected to fetch thousands of dollars at auction.

The 50cm satin panel is believed to have been taken from the Queen's dress she wore to her wedding to Prince Albert in St James's Palace, London, on February 10, 1840.

It is accompanied by period letters that state it was given by Queen Victoria to Thomas Powys, Third Baron Lilford, and then passed down throughout his family.

Not only did the outfit belong to Queen Victoria - it is also thought to be the first traditionally white wedding dress.

Section of the dress. (East Bristol Auctions via SWNS)

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Prior to the event, it was royal tradition to wear a red robe, but when she opted for a white gown, she began the trend of a "white wedding."

When writing of her wedding in her journal, Queen Victoria described her outfit: "I wore a white satin dress, with a deep flounce of Honiton lace, an imitation of an old design.

''My jewels were my Turkish diamond necklace and earrings and dear Albert's beautiful sapphire broach."

East Bristol Auctions' Valuer Lucy McCourt said: "Various items of Queen Victoria's wardrobe have been known to come up for auction over the years, but never something as important as this.

"Queen Victoria broke with Royal tradition on her wedding day and wore white instead of the then traditional red robe.

"She is almost single-handedly credited with starting the trend of a 'white wedding,' and this panel is effectively a piece of the first ever 'white wedding' dress."

The section is estimated to sell for one to two-thousand pounds when it goes under the hammer at East Bristol Auctions on December 19.

The catalogue can be viewed on their website.