The Queen's Royal Wedding Attendance: A Royal Affair

The Queen's attendance at a royal wedding is not always a given, even when it is her grandson getting married. Queen Elizabeth II's presence at Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle was in doubt due to her role as the Head of the Church of England and its views on divorce. However, on that occasion, the Queen did attend, arriving last before the bride as per royal protocol. In a rare occurrence, the Queen has also previously accepted an invitation to a wedding from a member of the public, surprising a couple during their ceremony at Manchester Town Hall in 2012.

The Queen's attendance at royal weddings is not always a given

Another reason is the Queen's role as the Head of the Church of England, Defender of the Faith, or "fidei defensatrix". This position entails upholding the Church's values and views on divorce. In the past, when one half of a couple was divorced, it caused widespread scandal, as seen in the cases of Wallis Simpson and the Duke of Windsor, and Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend. While the royals may now be more liberal in their attitudes towards divorce, the Queen still takes her duty as Defender of the Faith very seriously. For example, she did not attend the first half of her eldest son Prince Charles' wedding to Camilla Parker-Bowles, as they were both divorced.

Furthermore, the Queen's attendance at a wedding depends on her relationship with the couple. In 2012, she surprised a couple, Frances and John Canning, by accepting their invitation to their wedding at Manchester Town Hall. This was the only known record of a member of the royal family accepting an invitation to a wedding from a member of the public.

Lastly, the Queen's attendance may be influenced by her position in the line of succession. For instance, Prince Harry is the "spare" to Prince William's "heir", which takes some pressure off and may have contributed to the Queen's decision to attend his wedding.

The Queen's outfit at royal weddings

Queen Elizabeth II is known for her vibrant and colourful outfits at royal weddings. She has worn a variety of bright colours to the weddings of her grandchildren, including lime green, yellow, sky blue, and turquoise.

At Princess Eugenie's wedding, the Queen wore a pale blue coat and matching hat decorated with cream flowers, designed by Angela Kelly. She also carried one of her beloved Launer handbags and a diamond brooch from her personal collection.

The Queen wore a bright, sunny yellow outfit to Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011. William, meanwhile, wore a red military uniform as Colonel of the Irish Guards, which was reportedly chosen by the Queen herself. William had originally wanted to wear his Irish Guards frock coat, which he had worn during previous royal engagements. However, the Queen did not budge on this matter, and William later admitted, "What she says goes."

The Queen wore a lime green ensemble by Stewart Parvin to her grandson Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018. Meghan's dress, meanwhile, was reportedly thought to be too white by the Queen for a divorced bride.

The Queen's colourful outfits are chosen for a specific purpose. In the documentary "The Queen at 90", Sophie, Countess of Wessex, explained:

> She needs to stand out for people to be able to say 'I saw the Queen.' Don't forget that when she turns up somewhere, the crowds are two, three, four, 10, 15 deep, and someone wants to be able to say they saw a bit of the Queen's hat as she went past.

The Queen has also been quoted as saying, "I can never wear beige because nobody will know who I am."

The Queen's arrival time and seating at royal weddings

The Queen's attendance at royal weddings is steeped in tradition and protocol. As the most senior member of the royal family, her arrival time and seating arrangements are carefully considered and planned.

Arrival Time

The Queen usually arrives last at weddings, just before the bride. This is in keeping with the general royal protocol that dictates that the royals are the last to arrive at formal events. However, exceptions are made for weddings, with the Queen arriving after other members of the royal family, such as Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and so on.

At Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, the Queen did arrive after Prince Charles and Camilla. However, the bridesmaids and page boys arrived after her, accompanying Meghan down the aisle.

Seating Arrangements

At St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding took place, the seating is divided into three main sections: the left choir, the right choir, and the nave seating alongside the aisle. The royal family typically sits in the choir sections, closest to the altar. At Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, the Queen and her husband, Prince Philip, were seated on the right side of the choir, with the rest of the royal family.

It is customary for the seat in front of the Queen to be left empty, ensuring she has an unobstructed view of the ceremony. This is in accordance with royal protocol and is not, as some may assume, a tribute to the late Princess Diana.

The Queen's behaviour at royal weddings, e.g. not singing 'God Save the Queen'

Queen Elizabeth II's attendance at royal weddings has been the subject of much interest and speculation. As the most senior member of the royal family, the Queen's arrival and departure from events are usually afforded a certain level of ceremony and protocol. For instance, the Queen typically arrives last at events and engagements, but for weddings, an exception is made, and she arrives just before the bride.

The Queen's choice of attire for these occasions is also noteworthy. She is known for wearing vibrant colours, particularly bright green, which has been described as an "ultimate power move". Her mother-in-law, the Queen Mother, explained this penchant for rainbow shades in the documentary "The Queen at 90", saying, "She needs to stand out for people to be able to say 'I saw the Queen'". The Queen herself has been quoted as saying, "I can never wear beige because nobody will know who I am."

The seating arrangements at royal weddings are also carefully considered, with the seat in front of the Queen always left empty to provide her with the best view. This particular seat is said to be the Queen's favourite.

One notable aspect of the Queen's behaviour at royal weddings is her role during the singing of the National Anthem, "God Save the Queen". While the anthem is always included in the ceremony, with the congregation standing, the Queen herself does not traditionally sing the words, likely due to the strangeness of singing about oneself in the third person.

The Queen's dining etiquette at royal weddings is also noteworthy. It is an unspoken rule that once the Queen takes her last bite, everyone else is expected to have finished eating as well.

The Queen's attendance at non-royal weddings

The Queen's attendance at weddings, whether royal or non-royal, often involves specific traditions and protocols. For instance, as the most senior member of the royal family, she typically arrives last at events and engagements, except in the case of weddings, where she arrives just before the bride. The Queen also tends to wear vibrant colours to stand out, ensuring that she is visible to those in attendance.

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