Lyla Dejesus
On 23 July 1986, Prince Andrew, Duke of York and second son of Queen Elizabeth II, married Sarah Ferguson at Westminster Abbey in London. The ceremony lasted 45 minutes and was conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Robert Runcie. The couple's wedding was attended by 2,000 guests, including members of foreign royal families and US First Lady Nancy Reagan, and was watched by an estimated worldwide television audience of 500 million people.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 23 July 1986 |
| Time | 11:30 a.m. |
| Location | Westminster Abbey, London, England |
| Bride | Sarah Ferguson |
| Groom | Prince Andrew |
| Bride's Title | Duchess of York |
| Groom's Title | Duke of York |
| Bride's Dress | Ivory duchesse satin with a 17-foot train |
| Groom's Attire | Ceremonial day dress of a naval lieutenant |
| Guest List | 2,000 guests, including US First Lady Nancy Reagan, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and 17 members of foreign royal families |
| Worldwide Audience | 500 million viewers |
| Honeymoon Destination | Azores Islands, followed by a 5-day trip aboard the royal yacht Britannia in the Atlantic |
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What You'll Learn
Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's wedding ceremony
The wedding ceremony of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson took place on 23 July 1986 at 11:30 a.m. at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie, conducted the 45-minute ceremony.
Sarah arrived at the church with her father, Ronald Ferguson, in the Glass Coach, wearing an overgrown flower crown full of Andrew's favourite flower, gardenias. Her ivory duchesse satin bridal gown was designed by Lindka Cierach and featured intricate detailing, including shapes of hearts, anchors, waves, thistles, and bumblebees, which were taken from the Ferguson family crest. She carried a bouquet of flowers and wore a veil with the couple's initials intertwined in silver beads.
Prince Andrew's younger brother, Prince Edward, served as his best man, and Prince Charles gave a reading during the ceremony. The rest of the wedding party consisted of four bridesmaids and four page boys, including Prince William, who was only four years old at the time, Princess Anne's children, Peter and Zara Phillips, and Princess Diana's niece, Laura Fellowes. The page boys wore sailor outfits to honour Prince Andrew's career in the navy, while the bridesmaids wore puffy peach dresses with lace ruffled trim.
The ceremony included many traditional aspects, such as the use of state carriages and roles for the Household Cavalry. The wedding rings, in keeping with tradition, were crafted from Welsh gold. Unlike the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana, Sarah chose to include the word "obey" in her vow, promising "to love, cherish and obey". During the ceremony, Sarah mistakenly repeated Andrew's middle name, Christian, when exchanging vows.
After the ceremony, the newlyweds rode through the streets of London in the 1902 State Landau carriage, before returning to Buckingham Palace, where they shared their first kiss as a married couple on the balcony. An estimated crowd of 100,000 people gathered to witness this moment, and approximately 500 million television viewers tuned in worldwide to watch the wedding festivities.
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The bride's dress and the cake
The wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson took place on 23 July 1986 at Westminster Abbey. The bride's dress was designed by Lindka Cierach and was made of ivory duchesse satin with heavy beading. The beadwork included various symbols such as hearts, anchors, waves, bumblebees, and thistles. The anchors and waves represented Prince Andrew's sailing background, while the bumblebees and thistles were taken from Sarah Ferguson's family heraldry. The dress also featured a 17-foot-long train with the intertwined initials of the couple, "A" and "S", sewn in silver beads.
Sarah Ferguson wore a floral crown instead of a traditional diamond tiara for the ceremony, which was a tribute to her husband as gardenias were his favourite flower. She also carried a bouquet of gardenias, which matched her headpiece. After the ceremony, she removed the floral crown and revealed the York Diamond Tiara, which had been commissioned by the Queen specifically for the wedding.
The wedding cake was a 5-foot-6-inch rum-soaked cake prepared by the navy supply school HMS Raleigh. It was a departure from the traditional fruit cake served at royal weddings. The towering cake cut up into 2,000 slices.
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The wedding reception
The wedding ceremony, which took place on 23 July 1986 at 11:30 am, was attended by 2,000 guests at Westminster Abbey. The bride, Sarah Ferguson, wore an ivory silk gown with a 17-foot train and a 20-foot-long veil, while the groom, Prince Andrew, wore the ceremonial dress of a naval lieutenant. The bride's bouquet featured lily of the valley and a sprig of myrtle, and the abbey was decorated with 30,000 flowers.
The wedding party included four bridesmaids and four page boys, with Prince Andrew's niece, Zara, and nephew, Peter, among them. The page boys wore sailor outfits as a nod to Prince Andrew's naval career, while the bridesmaids wore peach satin dresses with matching floral headpieces.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Robert Runcie, conducted the 45-minute ceremony, during which Sarah mistakenly repeated Prince Andrew's middle name, Christian, in her vows. Prince Andrew's brother, Prince Edward, served as best man, and Prince Charles gave a reading.
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The honeymoon
The newlyweds made their way to Heathrow Airport in an open carriage, with a paper mache satellite dish and a sign attached reading "Phone Home" put there as a practical joke by Prince Edward. Princess Margaret's son, Viscount Linley, placed a king-sized teddy bear inside the coach. The couple then boarded a royal jet, emblazoned with "Just Married" on the rear door, for the Azores Islands.
The royal yacht Britannia, on which the couple honeymooned, was launched in 1953 and served the Royal Family for over 40 years. It was the last Royal Yacht and was decommissioned in 1997. The yacht is now a five-star visitor attraction and exclusive events venue, berthed in Edinburgh, Scotland.
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The guests
The wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson took place on 23 July 1986 at Westminster Abbey in London. The ceremony was conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Robert Runcie. The guest list, which was organised by the Lord Chamberlain's office, included 2,000 guests.
The guest list included members of foreign royal families, as well as US First Lady Nancy Reagan, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and 17 members of foreign royal families. Elton John and his then-wife Renate Blauel were also in attendance.
The wedding party was made up of four bridesmaids and four page boys, including Prince Andrew's niece, Zara, and his nephew, Peter—Princess Anne's children. Princess Diana's niece, Laura Fellowes, was also a bridesmaid. The page boys wore sailor outfits, a nod to Prince Andrew's career in the navy.
The newlyweds greeted thousands of well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace before celebrating with a traditional wedding breakfast.
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Frequently asked questions
The wedding ceremony lasted 45 minutes.
The train on Sarah Ferguson's wedding dress was 17 feet long.
Sarah Ferguson's veil was 20 feet long.
The couple got engaged in February 1986 and were married in July of the same year, so the wedding was planned in about five months.
The couple officially separated in 1992, so their marriage lasted about six years.
