Farewell to Austria

The spring of 1770 brought Marie Antoinette's childhood to an abrupt end. On April 19, she was formally married by proxy in the Augustinian Church in Vienna, with her brother Ferdinand standing in for the absent dauphin. The ceremony, conducted with full Habsburg pomp, was both a celebration and a farewell. Thousands of Viennese crowded the streets to catch a glimpse of their young archduchess, many weeping openly at the thought of her departure.

Two days later, Marie Antoinette began her journey to France. Her cortege was immense—nearly 60 carriages carrying her retinue, trousseau, and gifts. The procession moved slowly westward, stopping at monasteries and noble houses along the way. At each stop, local dignitaries presented addresses and gifts while common people gathered to see the future Queen of France.

The journey was meticulously documented by Count Khevenhüller-Metsch, who accompanied the bride. His journal entries capture both the grandeur and the human drama of the procession. He noted Marie Antoinette's tears when she had to say farewell to her Austrian ladies at the border, her brave attempts to speak French with local officials, and her obvious anxiety about meeting her new husband.

Perhaps the most poignant account comes from Marie Antoinette's childhood friend, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (later Queen of England), who wrote years later about their final meeting. She described how they had promised to write regularly, how they had exchanged miniature portraits, and how both had wept knowing they would likely never meet again. It was a reminder that beneath the political calculations and diplomatic maneuvering, real human relationships were being severed.