‘The Royal Wives of Windsor – the Queen Consorts from 1070 to 1952’ by Graham Horn
Graham gave us a very interesting, illustrated, presentation on the wives of the Kings of England from William I to George IV. Describing some of their attributes or otherwise and the influence they had on the monarch. In this report I have only mentioned consorts of note!
In the reign of William I Windsor was only a defensive Castle and was not inhabited. He married Matilda of Flanders; she was very short, only 4ft 10in, and considered too short to be consort! In those days marriages were usually for dynastic reasons and rarely for love.
Henry I married Matilda of Scotland who was responsible for developing Windsor Castle. She died without leaving an heir and Henry married again at Windsor Castle in 1121.
Steven married Matilda of Boulogne but she never visited Windsor. It was during the reign of William II that Christmases at Windsor became a tradition. It was during Henry III reign that Windsor became established as a Royal ‘home’. He married Eleanor of Provence.
Edward I married Eleanor of Castile. Although this was a dynastic marriage they did love each other and she travelled with him. This is evidence by the presence of Eleanor Crosses in towns they visited, some of which remain to this day.
Edward II married for love and their first child was born at Windsor, Edward insisting on being at being at the Castle in time for the birth.
The Plantagenet monarchs mainly married for dynastic reasons.
Henry VII married Elizabeth of York which united the houses of York and Lancaster. St George’s Chapel was built during his reign. Henry VIII first wife, Catherine of Aragon spent much time at Windsor, as also did Anne Boleyn. Many of the Tudor marriages were not happy matches.
Charles II married Catherine of Braganza, again not very happy and he had many mistresses. She spent much time at Windsor and was responsible for introducing ‘Afternoon Tea’ to this country. She continued the restoration of Windsor.
In the Hanoverian era, George II’s wife took a keen interest in politics and worked closely with Walpole and was known as the 1st Prime Minister! She was very politically astute. During George III’s reign much renovation work was carried out on Windsor as it had become very rundown. George IV married Caroline of Brunswick, again not a happy match, but she was determined to be recognised as queen consort and tried to gain access to the Abbey for the coronation.
George V married Mary of Teck at St Georges Chapel, the first wedding to be held there since the 14 Century, but there were complaints that the Chapel was too small. Although Mary was from Teck in Germany she was very Anglicised. Cunard named one of their liners after her, thus The Queen Mary. George VI brings us up-to-date with his marriage to Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon