George Boyle
On Friday, 29 April 2011, Prince William married Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The couple had been in a relationship since 2003 and first met in 2001 while studying at the University of St Andrews. Their engagement, which took place in October 2010, was announced on 16 November 2010. The wedding was a grand affair, with about 1,900 guests in attendance, including foreign royalty, diplomats, politicians, and celebrities. The ceremony was also watched by tens of millions of people around the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 29 April 2011 |
| Day | Friday |
| Time | 11:00 |
| Location | Westminster Abbey, London, England |
| Bride | Catherine Middleton |
| Groom | Prince William |
| Bride's attire | Lace and ivory wedding dress, Cartier Halo tiara |
| Groom's attire | Red tunic |
| Bouquet | Myrtle, lily-of-the-valley, sweet william and hyacinth |
| Wedding ring | Made from Welsh gold |
| Maid of Honour | Philippa (Catherine's sister) |
| Best Man | Prince Harry (William's brother) |
| Wedding cake | Multi-tiered traditional fruit cake |
| Guest list | 1,900 (including foreign royalty, diplomats, politicians, and celebrities) |
| Global viewership | Tens of millions (including 72 million live streams on YouTube) |
| Engagement date | 20 October 2010 |
| Engagement announcement | 16 November 2010 |
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What You'll Learn
The wedding date and location
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton took place on Friday, 29 April 2011, at 11 am in Westminster Abbey, London, England. The couple got engaged in October 2010 and announced their engagement on 16 November 2010. The wedding ceremony was attended by the bride's and groom's families, foreign royal families, diplomats, politicians, celebrities, and the couple's chosen personal guests. In total, there were about 1,900 guests at the wedding venue, with many more celebrating outside the storied church.
Westminster Abbey has been a significant venue for royal weddings for centuries, dating back to the marriage of King Henry I and Princess Matilda of Scotland in 1100. The Abbey has since been the site of sixteen royal weddings, including that of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. The choice of venue was particularly notable given Prince William's position as second in line to the throne at the time, after his father, King Charles.
Catherine Middleton's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton from Alexander McQueen, featuring lace and ivory with a blue ribbon sewn inside by Burton to represent "something blue". She accessorized her gown with the Cartier Halo tiara, loaned to her by Queen Elizabeth II. Her bouquet included myrtle, lily-of-the-valley, sweet William, and hyacinth.
Prince William wore a distinctive red tunic for his wedding outfit, which he had earned two months prior to the wedding when he was promoted to Colonel of the regiment. He proposed to Miss Middleton with his mother's engagement ring, and the wedding ring for the Duchess of Cambridge was crafted from Welsh gold given to Prince William by the Queen.
The wedding ceremony was followed by the traditional appearance of the newlywed couple on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. The wedding celebrations included an eight-tier wedding cake, which required removing a door in Buckingham Palace to accommodate its grand scale. Real trees and nearly 30,000 flowers were brought into Westminster Abbey to create an English country feel for the occasion.
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The proposal and engagement
Prince William and Catherine Middleton's love story began when they first met during their student days at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. Their relationship progressed over the years, and by 2010, they were already living together and had faced the media's intense speculation about a possible engagement. William was determined to propose when the time was right and wanted to ensure that their relationship was strong and ready for the commitment that lay ahead.
In October 2010, while on a romantic getaway to Kenya, William finally popped the question. He presented Catherine with his late mother, Princess Diana's sapphire and diamond engagement ring, which held immense sentimental value. The prince later shared that he had carried the ring in his rucksack for three weeks before proposing, waiting for the perfect moment. He wanted to propose in a place that held special meaning for them, and Kenya, where they had spent time early on in their relationship, was an ideal choice.
The engagement itself was a private and intimate moment between the couple. William proposed during a morning walk, and the moment was described as a "very special moment" for both of them. Catherine was reportedly "very surprised," and the prince later shared that he had been nervous about the proposal, despite being certain that he wanted to marry Catherine.
Following the proposal, the couple kept the news private for a few weeks before sharing their engagement with the world. On November 16, 2010, their engagement was officially announced by Clarence House, the official residence of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. The announcement was met with worldwide excitement and sparked intense media interest, with the couple giving an exclusive interview about the engagement to ITV News.
The world celebrated the happy news, and the couple's engagement photos, taken by renowned photographer Mario Testino, only added to the excitement. The images, which included a mix of formal and casual portraits, showcased the couple's love and happiness. Catherine's engagement ring, which featured a 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds, became iconic and sparked trends in jewelry design.
The engagement period also saw the couple embark on various official engagements and royal duties, offering the public a glimpse into their lives and the responsibilities they would undertake as a married couple. The world eagerly awaited their wedding, which promised to be a grand and memorable affair, solidifying their place in the hearts of people worldwide.
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The guest list
The royal family was, of course, well represented at the wedding, with William's father, Prince Charles, and his wife, Camilla, in attendance, as well as Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip. William's brother, Prince Harry, served as his best man, and their cousin, Zara Phillips, was also on the guest list. Other royal guests included foreign monarchs and members of royal families from across Europe and the Middle East. For example, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, King Harald V of Norway, and King Abdullah II of Jordan.
Besides, a number of politicians and diplomats were also invited, including British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife, Samantha, as well as former prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. The guest list also included a number of celebrities, such as Elton John, who performed at the wedding reception, and David and Victoria Beckham.
Kate Middleton's family and friends were also prominently featured on the guest list. Her parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, and her siblings, Pippa and James, were of course in attendance. Kate's close friends from her school and university days were also invited, as well as members of her extended family. William also invited a number of his friends from his time in the military, as well as colleagues from his charity work and other members of his social circle.
The couple also invited a number of charity workers and volunteers to the wedding as a way of recognizing their contribution to society. Around 50 individuals who had made a significant impact through their charitable efforts were invited to join the celebrations. Overall, the guest list for William and Kate's wedding was a carefully considered mix of royalty, politics, celebrity, and personal connections, reflecting the couple's diverse interests and backgrounds.
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The wedding outfits
On April 29, 2011, Prince William and Kate Middleton exchanged vows in a beautiful and highly anticipated wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London. The wedding was a spectacular event that captured the world's attention, with millions of people tuning in to watch the live broadcast. One of the most talked-about aspects of any royal wedding is the bridal gown, and Kate's dress did not disappoint.
Kate's wedding gown was designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director of the renowned fashion house Alexander McQueen. The elegant and sophisticated dress reflected the tradition and pageantry of the royal wedding while also showcasing Kate's own sense of style. The ivory satin bodice featured a form-fitting V-neck and long lace sleeves, with the lace appliqué extending down the length of the dress. The skirt featured delicate pleats and folds that gave it a full, elegant shape, and the train measured just under 9 feet long. The lace on the dress was a delicate combination of handmade Irish Carrickmacross lace and French Chantilly lace, with individual flower motifs carefully hand-cut and sewn onto ivory silk tulle. The bodice and skirt were trimmed with lace, adding a soft and romantic touch.
Underneath the dress, Kate wore a pair of satin pumps by Alexander McQueen, which were dyed a custom shade of ivory to match the dress perfectly. On her head, she wore the Cartier Halo Tiara, loaned to her by the Queen. The tiara, made in 1936 and purchased by the Duke of York (later King George VI) for his wife, was a stunning example of diamond and platinum art deco design. Kate also wore diamond earrings by Robinson Pelham, a gift from her parents, which were inspired by the Middleton family's new coat of arms and featured oak and acorn motifs.
Prince William, meanwhile, wore the traditional red tunic of the Irish Guards, of which he is Colonel. The uniform was tailored by Kashket & Partners and featured a red jacket with blue sleeves and gold braiding, along with matching trousers and a tall, stiff collar. On his head, he wore a red cap with a tall, sloping peak and a brass badge on the front. William also wore his RAF wings, which he had earned as a qualified pilot, and the Golden Jubilee medal, awarded to him by the Queen.
The bridal party's outfits also deserve a mention. Pippa Middleton, Kate's sister and maid of honor, wore a simple and elegant ivory gown designed by Sarah Burton, which featured a cowl neck and capped sleeves. The flower girls, including Prince William's cousin, Lady Louise Windsor, and Kate's niece, Grace van Cutsem, wore delicate, ivory dresses with full skirts and satin sashes, designed by Nicki Macfarlane. The pageboys, including Prince William's godson, Thomas Pettifer, wore military-style outfits with red breeches and brass buttons.
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The wedding cake
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton took place on Friday, 29 April 2011, at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The wedding cake was made by Fiona Cairns, a renowned cake baker and designer based in England.
Cairns described the process of creating the cake as an "architectural project", and it certainly lived up to that description. The cake was a grand eight-tiered traditional fruit cake, standing at an impressive three feet tall and weighing 220 pounds. It was decorated with cream and white icing in the Joseph Lambeth style. The intricate design featured the bride and groom's monogram and 17 types of flowers symbolising England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, including the lily of the valley, which symbolised "sweetness and humility".
The cake took a team of six people three days to assemble, and it was displayed in the picture gallery of Buckingham Palace, where the newlyweds made their traditional appearance on the balcony. The cake was intentionally more modest in size compared to other royal wedding cakes, as Catherine did not want an overly tall cake. However, it still made a grand statement and was a labour of love, with Cairns sharing that the couple's vision for their cake was "low-maintenance".
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Frequently asked questions
Prince William and Kate Middleton got married on 29 April 2011.
The wedding ceremony took place at Westminster Abbey in London, England.
There were 1,900 guests at the wedding.
