The marriage of a king usually gets plenty of people excited but the wedding that took place on this day in 1832 between Belgium's new monarch and his second bride was somewhat understated. Leopold I had been a king for just over a year but while he was gaining a name for himself as boss of Belgium, he was still better known in parts of Europe as the grieving widower of a lost queen. For Leopold had first been married fifteen years earlier to Princess Charlotte of Wales, second in line to the British throne, who had died in childbirth in 1817. His new wife was 22 years his junior and not overly impressed with her groom - like many people, Louise-Marie found Leopold difficult to talk to. But marry they did and the bride made history herself - as she said 'I do' she became the first ever Queen of the Belgians. It all happened on this day, 185 years ago.....
Royal Wedding: August 9th 1832
Where: Chateau de Compiegne, France
Groom: King Leopold I of the Belgians
Bride: Louise-Marie Therese Charlotte Isabelle of Orleans
Groom's parents: Francis, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and Augusta Reuss-Ebersdorf, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.
Bride's parents: Louis-Philippe I, King of the French and Maria Amalia of the Two Sicilies.
Children: Prince Louis-Philippe, Prince Leopold, Prince Philippe and Princess Charlotte
Happy ever after: Leopold was busy being the first King of the Belgians while Louise-Marie was rather shy and preferred being at home with her children to taking on a public role. However, despite the huge age gap (he was 22 years her senior) and his extra marital relationships they seem to have got along well by all accounts. Louise-Marie died in 1850 at the very young age of 32 from tuberculosis. Leopold died in 1865 at the age of 74. The couple are buried together at the Church of Notre-Dame at Laeken.
Photos: Wiki Commons
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