Rhiannon Hendricks
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton took place on Friday, 29 April 2011, at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The day was declared a public holiday in the UK, with events held across the Commonwealth to mark the occasion. The ceremony was attended by the couple's families, foreign royalty, diplomats, and their chosen personal guests. The newlyweds then travelled in a carriage procession to Buckingham Palace, where they appeared on the balcony to the cheers of the public. The wedding was the culmination of a nearly 10-year relationship that began when the couple first met at the University of St Andrews in 2001.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Wedding | 29 April 2011 |
| Time of Wedding | 11:00 BST |
| Location | Westminster Abbey |
| Bride | Catherine Middleton |
| Groom | Prince William of Wales |
| Bride's Dress | Alexander McQueen |
| Bride's Bouquet | Myrtle, lily-of-the-valley, sweet William, hyacinth, ivy, and myrtle |
| Bride's Ring | 18-karat white gold ring with a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire and 14 round diamonds |
| Groom's Suit | Military dress uniform |
| Guests | 2,000 |
| Bells Rung | 5,000 changes lasting three hours |
| Wedding Cake | Made by Fiona Cairns |
| Honeymoon | N/A |
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What You'll Learn
Prince William and Catherine Middleton's wedding date and location
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton took place on Friday, 29 April 2011, at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The date was declared a bank holiday throughout the United Kingdom by Prime Minister David Cameron, allowing most people to celebrate the occasion. The ceremony started at 11:00 BST, with Catherine arriving at the abbey by car, accompanied by her father, Michael Middleton. The route travelled by the bridal party went along The Mall, through Horse Guards Parade, and down Whitehall to the abbey.
Westminster Abbey, founded in AD 960, has been the traditional location for coronations since 1066. However, it was not until the 20th century that it became the preferred church for royal weddings. Prior to 1918, most royal weddings took place in the royal chapels, such as the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace and St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Westminster Abbey has been the venue for most royal weddings in the last century, including those of William's grandparents, great-aunt, first cousin twice removed, aunt, and uncle. It was also the setting for the funeral of Princess Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997.
The guest list for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton was approximately 1,900 people long, including friends, family members, and official dignitaries. Notable guests included Sir Francis and Lady Paxton, family friends of Prince William; Tom Bradby, ITN political editor; and Claudia Bradby, a jewellery designer who worked with Middleton at Jigsaw. The groom's father, Charles, Prince of Wales, served as the official cadre of bridesmaids, pages, and the overall makeup of the wedding party. The bridesmaids included Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, aged 7, the first cousin of Prince William, and Thomas Pettifer, aged 8, the godson of Prince William.
The wedding ceremony was officiated by the Dean of Westminster, John Hall, with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, as the celebrant of the marriage, and the Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, preaching the sermon. The couple's wedding cake was a multi-tiered traditional fruit cake decorated with cream and white icing in the Joseph Lambeth technique. It was made by Fiona Cairns.
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The wedding ceremony
On Friday, 29 April 2011, Prince William of Wales and Catherine Middleton were married in a lavish ceremony at Westminster Abbey, London. The wedding date was a public holiday throughout the United Kingdom, allowing most people to celebrate the occasion.
The ceremony began at 11 am, with the bridal party arriving at the abbey by car, soon after the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, who were greeted by the Dean at the Great West Door. Catherine's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, and her bouquet included myrtle, lily-of-the-valley, sweet William, and hyacinth. The aisle was lined with eight 20-foot-high trees, reflecting the couple's love for the English countryside. The choir sang 'I was Glad' by Charles Hubert Hastings Parry as Catherine walked through the Quire with Prince William and Prince Harry, waiting at the High Altar.
The Dean of Westminster, John Hall, officiated most of the service, with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, marrying the couple, and the Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, giving the address. After the ceremony, the newlyweds, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, travelled in a horse-drawn carriage procession to Buckingham Palace, where the Queen hosted a reception. The couple also held a second, more intimate reception with 300 of their closest family members and friends, hosted by King Charles.
The wedding cake was an eight-tier creation, requiring the removal of a door in Buckingham Palace. The couple's exit from Westminster Abbey was marked by the ringing of the Abbey bells for three hours, a practice reserved for special occasions.
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The receptions
The wedding ceremony of Prince William and Catherine Middleton took place at Westminster Abbey on Friday, 29 April 2011, at 11 am. The couple's wedding reception was hosted by Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace. The newlyweds, now officially known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, arrived at the palace in a horse-drawn carriage procession, cheered on by thousands of well-wishers who lined the streets.
During the carriage ride, William remarked to his bride, "I think you should just bow your head, okay?". He also commented on the size of the crowds, exclaiming, "I hope I remember... It's mad, it's mad!". Middleton reciprocated the sentiment, noting how happy her new husband looked. She said, "You look happy," to which William replied, "Oh my goodness it ... really loudly here... these people are clapping."
Upon their arrival at Buckingham Palace, the couple shared a kiss on the balcony, adhering to the royal tradition started by Prince Charles and Princess Diana. However, William surprised onlookers by asking for a second kiss, which Middleton received with a laugh. The RAF performed a flypast during this appearance.
The wedding cake was made by Fiona Cairns. The Middletons also hosted a private after-party for 100 guests at the Goring Hotel, which included a replica of Basil's Bar, a family favourite spot in Mustique, an island in the Grenadines. The after-party featured Caribbean-inspired elements, transforming an English garden into a tropical gathering.
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The wedding cake
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton took place on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London. The day was declared a public holiday in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland by the Prime Minister, David Cameron. The wedding cake is an important part of any wedding celebration, and Prince William and Catherine's wedding cake was no exception.
The chocolate biscuit cake was served as the groom's cake at the wedding, alongside a famous white tiered fruitcake. The groom's cake was prepared using a simple recipe: a metal cake ring was lined with butter and baking paper, and then filled with a mixture of broken biscuit pieces and chocolate. The cake was then covered with a ganache made from chocolate and whipping cream. The cake was then placed in the fridge to chill until the chocolate became firm.
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The wedding dress
Catherine Middleton's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The dress was made of English Cluny lace and French Chantilly lace, with a 9-foot-long train and padded hips designed to look like an opening flower. The long-sleeved gown also included a small piece of blue fabric sewn inside—her "something blue". The dress featured four plant motifs on the skirt to represent England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.
The dress was revealed as Catherine stepped out of her car at Westminster Abbey, having travelled there from the nearby Goring Hotel. The dress was described as "beautiful lace and ivory" and was Catherine's first of two gowns on her wedding day.
The dress proved extremely popular, and when it was put on display for the public after the wedding, it broke royal visitation records, attracting over 600,000 people.
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Frequently asked questions
The wedding ceremony started at 11 am and was followed by two receptions, one of which lasted until 3 am.
Catherine Middleton walked 97 metres down the Westminster Abbey Nave to the High Altar.
Prince William and Catherine Middleton were engaged for seven months.
The Abbey bells rang for three hours after the wedding.
