Royals at Christmas: December 4th, Christmas brides

OK, she wasn't quite a Christmas bride but getting married three weeks before the big day is about as good as it's going to get for festive royal weddings. On this day in 1999 Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz married Philippe of the Belgians, setting her on a course that would make her the country's first homeborn queen consort ever. Her dress is pretty special too so in honour of this royal anniversary, here are five royal brides of December.

Mathilde and Philippe on their wedding day, December 4th 1999

The Princess Royal was another who went for a December wedding. Her second marriage, to Tim Laurence, took place on December 12th 1992 at Crathie Kirk in Scotland. The bride wore cream and everyone else wore big coats.

Marie de Medici, Queen of France, is said to have wed Henri IV of France on December 17th 1600, becoming his second queen. She would go on to act as regent for their son, Louis XIII, and gain a reputation for political intrigue

Anne of Brittany, one of the most sought after heiresses of the 15th century, married Charles VII of France in December at the Chateau de Langeais and became a queen. She would go on to be a well respected ruled of Brittany

Frederica of Mecklenberg-Strelitz was a three times royal bride but her first wedding took place on December 26th 1793. Her husband, Prince Ludwig Frederick of Prussia, is said to have neglected his young wife. He died of diptheria in 1797 and Frederica took a fancy to a son of George III but she eventually ended up, many years later, making his brother husband number three. She picked well - her last wedding would lead to her becoming Queen of Hanover.