Etiquette for the “Windsor Widows”

 

1887 Jubilee postcard featuring Queen Victoria — Any of her daughters who were widowed had to remain single while Victoria was still in mourning from losing Prince Albert — “... all the widows of the court will marry. It is not royal etiquette for them to take another husband while their royal mistress remains single, but the widows of the castle will become the merry wives of Windsor before the year of state mourning has passed.”

When Queen Victoria takes off her crown forever and lays aside her gold-headed cane for good, there will step into her shoes a woman who will endeavor to point all things in the same direction. But certain changes will be immediately made. For one thing, all the widows of the court will marry. It is not royal etiquette for them to take another husband while their royal mistress remains single, but the widows of the castle will become the merry wives of Windsor before the year of state mourning has passed. Victoria has never smiled upon second unions, and for that reason, her widowed daughters are all single, but that there will be a change in this custom, rumor loudly states.— Mrs. Grey-Canfield, 1896

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