Ring Bearer Costumes at London Society Wedding (1915)


Figure 1.--Formal weddings in the early part of the 20th Century used a wide variety of costumes for the boys who participated as ring bearers or pages and ushers. These are the Churchill children, Diana and Randolf are Winston's children. John George Spebcer Churchiil on the right is a cousin. We are unsure about their role in this 1915 society wedding.

Formal weddings in the early part of the 20th Century used a wide variety of costumes for the boys who participated as ring bearers or pages and ushers. Here are the children participating in the wedding of of Helen Violet Asquith, daughter of Prime Minister Herbert Asquith, to Sir Maurice Bonham Carter, her father's Principal Private Secretary. One of the boys here is Randolph Churchill, Winston's Churchill's son. The other two are Diana Churchill (Winston's daughter) and John George Spencer Churchill, a cousin. Interestingly, Diana and John look much more like childhood portraits of Winston as a boy than does Randoplh. Normally the children in these weddings were blood relations to the bride and groom. This was not the case here. We think that the children were pages, but it was very unusual to have a girl page. They were usually flower girls or bridesmaids. The curious thing about the full photo was the outfit of the girl, being identical to the boys. There was no blood relationship. Normally the children in these weddings were blood relations to the bride and groom. This was not the case here.

The Bride and Groom

Helen Asquith was created a Baronesss in her own right to sit as a Liberal Peer in the House of Lords (1964). She is the Grandmother of Helena Bonham Carter the Actress.

Chronology

The wedding took place on November 30, 1915, presumably in London. The fur trim seems to reflect the late fall date.

The Children

One of the boys here is Randolph Churchill, Winston's Churchill's son. The other two are Diana Churchill (Winston's daughter) and John George Spencer Churchill, a cousin. Interestingly, Diana and John look much more like childhood portraits of Winston as a boy than does Randoplh. Normally the children in these weddings were blood relations to the bride and groom. This was not the case here. There was no blood relationship. Churchill was greatly admired by Violet Asquith. She had the ear of her father and was keen for Churchill to get into government. Both Churchill and Violet were keen political animals. Churchill had people in high places, who didn't want him in government, King Edward VII for one. The King's opposition dated back to when his mother, Queen Victoria was on the throne. Violet persuaded her father that Churchill should be in government and in 1908, when Asquith was made Prime Minister, he appointed Churchill President of the Board of Trade, a Cabinet Post. Churchill and Violet were great friends, she enhancing his career early on, and he later, making her Baroness in 1946. I am not certain, but Violet may have been a God Mother to one of Churchill's children.

Children's Role

We think that the children were pages, but it was very unusual to have a girl page. They were usually flower girls or bridesmaids. The curious thing about the full photo was the outfit of the girl, being identical to the boys. HBC suspects that some other little girl was selected to be the flower girl, but they wanted her to have an important role in the wedding. Little boys like the two here could serve as ring bearers or pages. As they are two boys, pages seem more likely. What we do not understand is why they are all dressed alike. Normally girls are assigned different roles in a wedding and dressed in very different outfits. We do not yet know the details concerning the wedding here and what role the children had and why they are dressed in identical outfits.

Children's Outfits

The two page boys and the girl are dressed alike. They are wearing white, fur trimmed, wrap round coats. Randolph (the middle child) appears to be wearing whte breeches with long stockings. I would assume that his cousin is wearing the same. Diana's outfit is hidden, but I assume it would be a dress.






HBC






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Created: 6:56 PM 9/23/2008
Last updated: 5:41 PM 4/1/2009