Deborah Chan
Prince William and Princess Kate's wedding reception was held at Buckingham Palace, hosted by the Queen and King Charles III. The evening reception was hosted by the then Prince Charles at Clarence House. The wedding ceremony, which took place on 29 April 2011, was held at Westminster Abbey, and the newlyweds were then driven to Buckingham Palace in a horse-drawn carriage. The couple also threw a secret Caribbean-themed after-party at the Goring Hotel, hosted by Kate's parents.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 29 April 2011 |
| Location | Buckingham Palace |
| Host | Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III |
| Number of Guests | 600 |
| Menu | South Uist salmon, Lyme Bay crab, Hebridean langoustines, North Highland organic lamb, etc. |
| Cake | An eight-tier fruit cake decorated with Lambeth-piped sugar paste flowers |
| Gown | Designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen |
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What You'll Learn
The wedding reception menu
Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding reception was held at Buckingham Palace, hosted by Queen Elizabeth. The couple celebrated with two receptions after their nuptials: the first, a grand affair at Buckingham Palace for 600 guests, and the second, a more intimate dinner and dance organised by Prince Charles at Clarence House.
The wedding menu remained a secret for several years, but here is what we know about it now.
The Starter
For starters, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge offered "Marinated South Uist salmon, Lyme Bay crab and wild Hebridean langoustines, fresh herb salad". This was accompanied by a glass of "Meursault, Domaine Guyot-Javillier 2009" wine.
The Main Course
The main course consisted of "Saddle of North Highland Mey Select organic lamb, Highgrove spring vegetables, English asparagus, Jersey Royal potatoes and sauce Windsor". The vegetables were harvested directly from Prince Charles's Highgrove estate in Scotland. The wine chosen to complement the food was "L'Hospitalet de Gazin, Pomerol 2004".
Dessert
To conclude the feast, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge opted for "a trio of Berkshire honey ice cream, sherry trifle and chocolate parfait", of which guests could select their preference. The third and final wine served was "Laurent Perrier Rosé". A selection of coffee and fresh mint tea was also provided once all three courses had been devoured by their guests.
In addition to the three-course meal, William and Kate had two cakes made for their wedding. The first was an eight-tiered iced fruit cake featuring the "language of flowers", made by Leicestershire baker Fiona Cairns. The second cake was William's childhood favourite: an unbaked chocolate biscuit cake made from a Royal Family recipe.
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The evening reception at Buckingham Palace
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton was a quintessential display of royal pomp and circumstance. The couple, who first met as students at St. Andrews in 2003, exchanged vows before a congregation of 1,900 guests at Westminster Abbey in London. The wedding was televised and viewed by more than 23 million people worldwide.
Following the ceremony, the newlyweds attended a luncheon hosted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace, with 600 guests in attendance. The menu for the reception remained a closely guarded secret for several years. However, it was eventually revealed that the guests dined on a sumptuous feast, including South Uist salmon, Lyme Bay crab, and North Highland organic lamb from Prince Charles's organic farm.
As the evening drew near, the couple made their way to the Throne Room of Buckingham Palace for an intimate reception with 300 of their closest friends and family. The priceless chandeliers in the throne room were replaced with strobe lights and glitter balls, creating a festive atmosphere. The dais, usually occupied by thrones, was transformed into a disco booth and a cocktail bar.
The evening reception was a time for celebration and surprise performances. The newlyweds, now known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, delighted their guests by performing a dance routine from the musical "Grease." They danced to the song "You're the One That I Want," bringing the house down with their playful routine.
The evening's festivities continued with a secret Caribbean-themed after-party at the Goring Hotel, hosted by the Middleton family. It was a day filled with love, joy, and unforgettable moments that marked the beginning of a new chapter for the royal couple.
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The secret Caribbean-themed after-party
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton took place on April 29, 2011, at Westminster Abbey. The ceremony was televised and watched by over 160 million viewers worldwide. The reception was hosted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace, with 600 guests in attendance.
The royal couple and 300 of their invitees then continued the wedding festivities with an evening dinner. The night ended with a secret Caribbean-themed after-party at the Goring Hotel, hosted by the Middletons.
James Middleton, the sister of the Princess of Wales, revealed details of the private party in his autobiography, "Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life". He described the "bustling" yet "calm" atmosphere at the hotel, where he stayed with his family during the wedding.
James also recounted how he stumbled upon a replica of Basil's Bar in the hotel's garden while walking his dog, Ella. The original Basil's Bar is a small, unassuming venue on the water's edge in Mustique, a private island in the Grenadines frequently visited by the Middleton family. The replica was built so that wedding guests could "imagine themselves on the edge of the Caribbean while actually in the middle of a London garden".
The Caribbean-themed party paid tribute to the Middletons' family holidays, and even included an appearance by Basil, the owner of the original bar, who was one of the wedding guests.
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The royal wedding dance routine
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton was a grand affair, with the ceremony taking place at Westminster Abbey in front of 1,900 guests and over 23 million viewers worldwide. The royal couple then went on to have not one, but two wedding receptions, hosted by the Queen and King Charles III. The first reception was a luncheon at Buckingham Palace for 600 guests, followed by an evening dinner for 300 close family and friends at the Throne Room in the same palace.
The Throne Room at Buckingham Palace was transformed for the evening reception, with the priceless chandeliers covered and replaced by strobe lights, glitter balls, and a giant dance floor. Charles and Camilla also joined the newlyweds on the dance floor when Ellie Goulding performed Elton John's "Your Song".
The wedding celebrations continued with a secret Caribbean-themed after-party at the Goring Hotel, hosted by the Middleton family. It was a special touch that added to the joy and festivity of the occasion.
The royal wedding of Prince William and Princess Kate was a spectacular event filled with love, joy, and memorable moments that were shared and cherished by the couple, their families, and well-wishers from around the world. The dance routine at the reception remains a delightful highlight of the day.
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The wedding decorations
The wedding breakfast, hosted by the Queen, took place at Buckingham Palace, with 600 guests in attendance. The Palace's Throne Room was transformed for the evening reception, hosted by the then Prince of Wales, with the priceless chandeliers covered and replaced by strobe lights, glitter balls, and a giant dance floor. The dais, typically home to the thrones, was reimagined as a disco booth and cocktail bar, creating a lively atmosphere for guests to celebrate the newlyweds.
The wedding breakfast menu, kept secret for several years, was eventually revealed: South Uist salmon, Lyme Bay crab, Hebridean langoustines, and a fresh herb salad. The main course was North Highland organic lamb from Prince Charles's organic farm, served with spring vegetables, English asparagus, Jersey Royal potatoes, and sauce Windsor. The dessert was a trio of Berkshire honey ice cream, sherry trifle, and chocolate parfait, accompanied by Laurent-Perrier Rosé champagne.
The wedding cake, an eight-tier fruit cake, was a masterpiece adorned with Lambeth-pipped sugar paste flowers, crafted by cake designer Fiona Cairns. In addition, a special request was made by Prince William for a chocolate biscuit groom's cake, made from a Royal Family recipe.
The wedding celebrations extended beyond the official receptions, with a secret Caribbean-themed after-party at the Goring Hotel, hosted by the Middletons. This intimate gathering of 100 guests included a surprise performance by the newlyweds, who danced to "You're the One That I Want" from the musical "Grease," a delightful conclusion to a day filled with love and joy.
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Frequently asked questions
Prince William and Kate had two wedding receptions. The first was hosted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace, and the second was hosted by Prince Charles at Clarence House.
The menu for the reception remained a secret for several years. However, it was later revealed that the guests were served South Uist salmon, Lyme Bay crab, Hebridean langoustines, North Highland organic lamb, and a trio of miniature trifle, chocolate fondant, and homemade ice cream.
For the evening reception, Kate changed into a second dress, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The dress was white, with a strapless neckline and a shorter train, better suited for the more relaxed atmosphere of the evening festivities.
Kate and William performed a dance routine from the musical "Grease". They also cut an eight-tier fruit cake decorated with Lambeth-piped sugar paste flowers.
Yes, Kate and William had a secret Caribbean-themed after-party at the Goring Hotel, hosted by Kate's parents.
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