 In February 1922 , Elizabeth was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Albert 's sister , Princess Mary , to Viscount Lascelles . The following month , Albert proposed again , but she refused him once more . Eventually , in January 1923 , Elizabeth agreed to marry Albert , despite her misgivings about royal life . Albert 's freedom in choosing Elizabeth , not a member of a royal family , though the daughter of a peer , was considered a gesture in favour of political modernisation ; previously , princes were expected to marry princesses from other royal families . They selected a platinum engagement ring featuring a Kashmir sapphire with two diamonds adorning its sides . They married on 26 April 1923 , at Westminster Abbey . Unexpectedly , Elizabeth laid her bouquet at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior on her way into the Abbey , in memory of her brother Fergus . Elizabeth became styled Her Royal Highness The Duchess of York . Following a wedding breakfast at Buckingham Palace prepared by chef Gabriel Tschumi , the new Duchess and her husband honeymooned at Polesden Lacey , a manor house in Surrey , and then went to Scotland , where she caught " unromantic " whooping cough . 
