Williams' Wedding Suit: A Style Statement And Its Significance

Prince William's wedding suit was a military uniform, specifically the red tunic of the Irish Guards. He holds the honorary rank of Colonel of the Irish Guards and wore the uniform with the highest rank. The uniform was made from scratch from pure wool melton, with real gold spun on to the material. It featured the Irish Guards' distinctive arrangement of buttons in groups of four.

Prince William's wedding suit was made from a special heat-absorbing material

To prevent this, the prince commissioned military tailors Kashket and Partners to make adjustments to his uniform. The company added sweat pads under the arms, used material to absorb heat, and reduced the padding.

"He said he didn't want to faint, so we made some minor adjustments to ensure his comfort and save his blushes,' said Kashket and Partners chairman Russell Kashket. "Everybody worries about what the bride will wear, but no one seems to think that the groom also wants to look his best on the day. Men can get just as emotional as girls."

William's brother and best man, Prince Harry, wore the Blues and Royals frockcoat uniform of the unit he served with in Iraq. Harry also wore a Pilot's Wing badge for serving in the Army Air Corps, where he flew Apache helicopters.

Both brothers wore official uniforms to the ceremony and changed into tuxedos for the reception.

The Duke of Cambridge wore the red uniform of the Colonel of the Irish Guards

The Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, wore a red uniform on his wedding day. This was the uniform of the Colonel of the Irish Guards, a position he had been appointed to by the Queen in 2011.

The uniform included a scarlet tunic, gold and crimson sash, gold sword slings, a Garter Sash, a Garter Star, the Wings of the Royal Air Force, and a Forage Cap. The tunic's buttons were arranged in an order significant to the Irish Guards, denoting their position in the Order of Battle as the Fourth Regiment of Foot Guards. Each button featured the Harp of Ireland surmounted by the Crown Imperial. The cap bore the motto of the Irish Guards, 'Quis Separabit', meaning 'Who Shall Separate Us'.

Prince William chose to wear this uniform as it was his highest-ranking appointment, and it was an honour to his new appointment as Colonel of the Irish Guards. The Queen herself insisted that he wear it, and it was created from scratch by Russell Kashket, a military tailor who has worked with the Royal Household for decades. Kashket worked closely with William to ensure the uniform was comfortable and that he wouldn't be bothered by the heat on his wedding day.

The Duke of Cambridge's uniform stood in contrast to the Blues and Royals uniform worn by his brother, Prince Harry, at his wedding.

Prince William's suit differed from Prince Harry's

At their respective weddings, both Prince William and Prince Harry wore official military uniforms. However, there were some differences between the two brothers' outfits.

Prince William wore the red tunic of the Irish Guards, a regiment in which he holds the honorary rank of Colonel. This stood in contrast to the more subtle blue uniform of the Royal Air Force, in which he served as a Lieutenant. According to the Gentleman's Gazette, William chose the Irish Guards uniform because it is his uniform with the highest rank.

Prince Harry wore the frockcoat uniform of the Blues and Royals, the unit he served with in Iraq. This single-breasted uniform is made of blue doeskin and features a white buckskin belt with sword slings. Notably, Harry did not bring a sword to his wedding.

Another difference between the brothers' uniforms was the presence of the late monarch's initials, 'ER', on the shoulder and hat of Prince William's uniform, which were absent from Prince Harry's.

In addition to the uniform, Prince William also paid tribute to the Royal Air Force by displaying their famous wings on his light blue Garter Sash, along with the Garter Star and the Golden Jubilee Medal.

At Prince William's wedding, Prince Harry wore the Blues and Royals uniform, which is the "ceremony uniform rather than the day-to-day uniform that they wear while serving," according to Joseph Waving, military manager at Savile Row tailor Gieves & Hawkes.

The brothers wore matching uniforms at Harry's wedding

At Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle, his brother Prince William, the best man, wore a matching uniform. The two princes wore the frockcoat uniform of the Blues and Royals, with the Duke of Cambridge's outfit topped off with elaborate gold braiding from the Regimental pattern and the Garter Star. Prince William also wore ropes on his uniform.

The Blues and Royals uniform is a single-breasted uniform made of blue doeskin, with a white buckskin belt with sword slings. The brothers' ensembles included traditional hats, too.

Prince Harry and Prince William also wore matching military uniforms at Prince William's wedding to Kate Middleton in 2011. At this wedding, Prince William wore the red uniform of the Colonel of the Irish Guards, while Prince Harry wore the Blues and Royals uniform.

Prince William wore the Blues and Royals uniform at Harry's wedding

Prince William wore a military uniform as his brother Prince Harry's best man at Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018. The uniform was that of the Blues and Royals regiment of the British Army, the same as that worn by the groom, though William's uniform was "topped off with elaborate gold braiding from the Regimental pattern and the Garter Star".

The Blues and Royals uniform is single-breasted and made of blue doeskin, with a white buckskin belt and sword slings. The frock coats worn by the royal brothers were tailored at Dege & Skinner on Savile Row.

Prince William's choice of military attire at his brother's wedding was not unexpected. It is traditional for princes to wear military uniforms with their military medals when they walk down the aisle. William and Harry had previously worn military uniforms at William's wedding to Kate Middleton in 2011, though on that occasion, William wore the red uniform of the Colonel of the Irish Guards, while Harry wore the Blues and Royals uniform.

William's decision to wear the Blues and Royals uniform at Harry's wedding was in keeping with his role as his brother's best man. The two princes were twinning in their matching uniforms, though William's gold braiding and aiguillette—worn because he was bestowed as an Aide-de-Camp to the Queen in 2013—added a distinctive touch.

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