Lyla Dejesus
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, also known as Kate, took place on Friday, 29 April 2011, at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The ceremony was attended by the couple's family and members of foreign royal families, diplomats, and their chosen personal guests. The wedding was one of the most-viewed events in history, with an estimated audience of up to two billion people.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Wedding | 29 April 2011 |
| Location | Westminster Abbey, London, England |
| Bride | Catherine Elizabeth Middleton |
| Groom | William Arthur Philip Louis |
| Bride's Dress | Designed by Sarah Burton from Alexander McQueen |
| Bride's Bouquet | Myrtle, lily-of-the-valley, sweet william and hyacinth |
| Groom's Outfit | Red Irish Guards Mounted Officer's Uniform |
| Best Man | Prince Harry |
| Maid of Honour | Pippa Middleton |
| Archbishop of Canterbury | Rowan Williams |
| Dean of Westminster | John Hall |
| Bishop of London | Richard Chartres |
| Wedding Ring Bearer | Prince Harry |
| Wedding China Designer | Russell Kashket |
| Honeymoon Location | Seychelles, East Africa |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding ceremony
The wedding ceremony of Prince William and Kate Middleton took place on Friday, 29 April 2011, at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The couple had been in a relationship since 2003, meeting at the University of St Andrews. The ceremony was a grand affair, with approximately a million people lining the route between Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace, and tens of millions more watching the live broadcast around the world.
The bridal party left for the ceremony in the former number one state Rolls-Royce Phantom VI, arriving at the abbey at 10:52 am. The service began at 11:00 am, with Kate Middleton walking down the aisle on the arm of her father, Michael Middleton. The aisle was lined with eight 20-foot-high trees, and Kate carried a bouquet of myrtle, lily-of-the-valley, sweet William, ivy, myrtle, and hyacinth. The ceremony was conducted by the Dean of Westminster, John Hall, with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, marrying the couple, and the Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, giving the address. A reading was also given by Kate's brother, James Middleton.
The ceremony lasted until 12:15 pm, after which the newlyweds, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, travelled to Buckingham Palace in the 1902 State Landau, a carriage with historical significance. The procession included five horse-drawn carriages and was greeted by members of the public along the route. The couple then made their traditional appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, with the Queen hosting a reception for their guests.
Growing Hair for Your Wedding: Timeline and Tips
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The wedding dress and attire
The wedding dress of Kate Middleton, now known as the Princess of Wales, has been described as "iconic" and "unforgettable". Designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, the dress was a fitted white V-neck gown with a long-sleeved lace overlay. The dress was designed to combine tradition and modernity, with a nod to McQueen's fascination with Victorian corsetry. The bodice narrowed at the waist and was minimally padded at the hips, creating a clean, flowy silhouette. The skirt was designed to resemble a flower in bloom and led to a 9-foot-long train at the back. The fabrics used, except for the French Chantilly lace, were all British in origin. The dress was adorned with hidden details requested by the Princess, including special nods to her family, her new husband, and her late grandmother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II. It is believed to have cost £250,000.
Kate's "something borrowed" was the Cartier "halo" tiara, which was purchased by King George VI in 1936 and later given to Queen Elizabeth II on her 18th birthday. The tiara was a symbol of acceptance and welcome into the Royal Family. To hold her 16.5-foot-long silk tulle veil in place, Kate also borrowed a diamond bracelet from her grandmother-in-law. Her "something blue" was a blue ribbon sewn into the interior of the dress.
Kate's second wedding dress, also designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, was a white strapless satin gown with detailing around the waist. She wore this to the evening wedding reception at Buckingham Palace, along with a white shrug.
Kate's wedding fashion choices have continued to be praised by fans and the fashion press. For instance, in 2023, she attended the royal wedding of Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan in a floor-length gown in layered blush-pink chiffon, with a high neckline and long sleeves, designed by Lebanese fashion designer Elie Saab.
Drying Wedding Bouquets: How Long Does It Take?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The wedding procession
Inside Westminster Abbey, the bridal procession, including Kate, her father, Michael Middleton, and bridesmaids, walked down the aisle to the High Altar, carefully navigating around the Grave of the Unknown Warrior. This procession, accompanied by the choir singing "I Was Glad", an anthem by Sir Hubert Parry, took nearly four minutes to reach the altar.
After the ceremony, the newlyweds, Prince William and Princess Kate, departed Westminster Abbey in a carriage procession, making their way towards Buckingham Palace. They rode in the 1902 State Landau, the largest and most splendid horse-drawn carriage used by the sovereign, drawn by four to six white horses. The procession was greeted by cheers from the crowds and passed through a guard of honour of carefully selected men and women from various military services.
The Queen, along with other members of the Royal Family, followed in separate coaches drawn by Cleveland Bay horses and state cars. The procession continued as the newlyweds arrived at Buckingham Palace, where they made their first appearance together on the famous balcony, delighting the crowds with their kisses. The page boys, bridesmaids, and other members of the royal family joined them on the balcony.
Veere Di Wedding: A Lengthy Celebration of Sisterhood
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$9.9
The wedding reception
The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton was a lavish affair watched by an estimated global audience of over 160 million, with 23 million viewers tuning in worldwide. The couple held two wedding receptions. The first was hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, with 600 to 650 guests in attendance. The second was a more intimate gathering of 300 guests hosted by King Charles III at the same venue.
The newlyweds made their way to the receptions in a dark-blue Aston Martin DB6, decorated with balloons and a back license plate reading "Just Wed". For the evening reception, Kate changed into a second wedding dress, also designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The dress was made of ivory or white satin with a strapless or sweetheart neckline, a circle skirt, and a diamante belt. She also wore a white shrug or angora bolero and let her hair down for a more casual look. William changed as well, swapping his red military uniform for a sleek black tuxedo with a classic bow tie.
The menu for the reception was kept secret for several years. However, it was eventually revealed that the guests enjoyed a salad of South Uist salmon, Lyme Bay crab, and Hebridean langoustines, followed by a main course of North Highland organic lamb with spring vegetables, English asparagus, and Jersey Royal potatoes. A trio of desserts, including Berkshire honey ice cream, sherry trifle, and chocolate parfait, completed the meal. The couple also had a grand wedding cake designed by UK-based baker Fiona Cairns. It was an eight-tier fruit cake decorated with Lambeth-piped sugar paste flowers. In addition, McVitie's made a chocolate biscuit groom's cake from a Royal Family recipe specially requested by William.
The couple shared their first dance to "Your Song" by Elton John, performed live by Ellie Goulding. Goulding also sang several other songs, including "Starry Eyed" and "Mr. Brightside". William and Kate even surprised their guests with a lip-synched performance of "You're the One That I Want" from the musical Grease.
Makeup Trials for Brides: How Long Should You Expect?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The honeymoon
For their honeymoon, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, now known as the Prince and Princess of Wales, jetted off to the Seychelles in East Africa. They stayed at an exclusive location, the North Island, which has 11 luxurious villas. This choice of destination was not what broke tradition, as many royal couples have honeymooned in the UK, but it was their decision to stay overnight in the UK before leaving that went against royal protocol.
The couple married on 29 April 2011 and waited 10 days before departing for their honeymoon. Their wedding at Westminster Abbey was one of the most-viewed events in history, with an estimated audience of up to two billion people.
The new princess, formerly known as Kate Middleton, wore a gown designed by Sarah Burton with lengthy sleeves and a long train. The couple's first dance was to Ellie Goulding's cover of "Your Song".
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's first official royal home as a married couple was a two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment in Kensington Palace. They moved in during July 2011, a few months before moving into a larger apartment in the same palace.
Theatrical Run of My Big Fat Greek Wedding
You may want to see also
