Lyla Dejesus
On 29 April 2011, Prince William married Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The couple had been in a relationship since 2003 and got engaged in October 2010 while on a private holiday in Kenya. The wedding was a grand affair with about 1,900 guests in attendance, including members of foreign royal families, diplomats, and the couple's chosen personal guests. The ceremony was also watched by an estimated billion people around the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 29 April 2011 |
| Venue | Westminster Abbey, London, England |
| Bride | Catherine Middleton |
| Groom | Prince William |
| Bride's attire | Ivory and lace dress with a nine-foot train, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The gown featured hand-cut lace roses, daffodils, thistles, and shamrocks, and a blue ribbon sewn inside. Middleton accessorized with the Cartier Halo tiara, lent to her by Queen Elizabeth II. |
| Groom's attire | Red tunic, which he earned when promoted to Colonel of the regiment two months prior to the wedding. |
| Officiant | Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Best Man | James Meade and Thomas van Straubenzee |
| Maid of Honour | Pippa Middleton |
| Guests | 1,900 guests, including the couple's families, foreign royalty, diplomats, and personal guests. |
| Cost | £23.7 million |
| Honeymoon location | Isle of Anglesey, Wales |
| Anniversary | 14th anniversary in 2025 |
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What You'll Learn
Wedding venue
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton took place on Friday, 29 April 2011, at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The choice of venue was not a surprise, as it has been the venue for most royal weddings over the last century. The guest list included about 1,900 people, while thousands more celebrated outside the church and throughout the UK. The ceremony was attended by the bride's and groom's families, foreign royal families, diplomats, and the couple's chosen personal guests.
Westminster Abbey, founded in AD 960, has a particular status and is known as a Royal Peculiar. The abbey, which has a usual seating capacity of 2,000, has been the venue for most royal weddings in the last century, including those of William's grandparents (Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip) in 1947, William's great-aunt Princess Margaret in 1960, William's first cousin twice removed Princess Alexandra in 1963, William's aunt Princess Anne in 1973, and William's uncle Prince Andrew in 1986.
The wedding was followed by two receptions. The first was hosted by Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace, and the second was a more intimate gathering of 300 hosted by King Charles. The couple made the traditional appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, sharing two kisses to enormous cheers from the well-wishers gathered below.
To mark their 14th wedding anniversary, the couple returned to Westminster Abbey, their wedding venue, which shared a fairy tale throwback video in honour of the occasion.
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Wedding dress
The wedding dress of Catherine, Princess of Wales (then Kate Middleton) was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The dress embodied the modest, ladylike style she has become known for during her time in the royal family. The Victorian-inspired dress featured an ivory lace bodice with a high lace collar and long lace sleeves. The satin skirt featured a nine-foot train, which was carried by her sister and maid of honour, Pippa Middleton. The bodice and skirt were designed from hand-cut English lace and French Chantilly lace. The dress was appliquéd with individual flowers that were hand-cut from the lace.
The dress was designed with extreme measures taken to keep its design a secret. The decision to choose Burton was kept under wraps for three months. The seamstresses working on the dress had to wash their hands regularly to keep the lace and threads pristine, and the needles were renewed often to ensure they were sharp and clean.
The dress broke royal records when it was displayed at Buckingham Palace for four months in the summer of 2011. Burton said in a statement:
> "It has been the experience of a lifetime to work with Catherine Middleton to create her wedding dress, and I have enjoyed every moment of it... It was such an incredible honour to be asked, and I am so proud of what we and the Alexander McQueen team have created."
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Wedding vows
When Prince William and Catherine Middleton wedded on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey, they exchanged traditional wedding vows from the Book of Common Prayer, with one slight change. They removed the word "obey", following in the footsteps of Princess Diana when she married into the royal family.
Prince William's vows
> I, William Arthur Philip Louis, take thee, Catherine Elizabeth, to my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy law; and thereto I give thee my troth. With this ring, I thee wed; with my body, I thee honour; and all my worldly goods with thee I share: in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Catherine's vows
> I, Catherine Elizabeth, take thee, William Arthur Philip Louis, to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy law; and thereto I give thee my troth.
Archbishop's blessing
> Bless, O Lord, this ring, and grant that he who gives it and she who shall wear it may remain faithful to each other, and abide in thy peace and favour, and live together in love until their lives' end. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Archbishop's prayer
> Let us pray. O Eternal God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, giver of all spiritual grace, the author of everlasting life: send thy blessing upon these thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in thy name; that, living faithfully together, they may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, whereof this ring given and received is a token and pledge; and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.
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Wedding rings
Kate's wedding band is a traditional Welsh gold ring from Clogau, featuring 19 brilliant-cut diamonds totalling 0.24 carats and 19 brilliant-cut sapphires totalling 0.34 carats. The exquisite piece is valued at £4,700. The use of Welsh gold in British royal wedding bands is a tradition that dates back over 100 years. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, started this trend when she married the future King George VI in 1923, using gold from the Clogau mine.
Prince William also had his wedding band made from this rare Welsh gold, given to the royal family generations ago. The gold was nearly exhausted by the time of his wedding, and there was just enough left to create a band for his wife. The decision to use this gold may have been a thoughtful nod to history and a way to connect their wedding to the rich heritage of the royal family.
Kate Middleton's engagement ring, a 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds and set in 18-karat white gold, was a heirloom passed down from Prince William's late mother, Princess Diana. The ring, valued at £390,000, has become one of Kate's most iconic pieces of jewellery. However, she has been spotted without it on several occasions, opting instead for eternity bands or going completely ring-free. This choice has been interpreted as a thoughtful and symbolic decision, influenced by factors ranging from practicality to personal preference.
In conclusion, the wedding rings chosen by Prince William and Kate Middleton hold significant sentimental value and are steeped in tradition. The use of Welsh gold connects them to the royal family's history, while Kate's engagement ring, passed down from Princess Diana, adds a layer of sentiment and symbolism to their union.
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Wedding guests
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton took place on Friday, 29 April 2011, at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The guest list for the wedding included about 1,900 people, with more than half being family and friends of the couple. The ceremony was attended by the bride's and groom's families, as well as members of foreign royal families, diplomats, politicians, and the couple's chosen personal guests.
The guest list also included several notable celebrities, such as David and Victoria Beckham, Sir Elton John and his partner, David Furnish, actor Rowan Atkinson, and director Guy Ritchie. The wedding was a public holiday in the United Kingdom and featured many ceremonial aspects, including the use of state carriages and roles for the Foot Guards and Household Cavalry.
The day began with the arrival of members of the Royal Family, including The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, who joined the guests at 10:42 am. This was followed by the arrival of Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh at 10:45 am, with a fanfare sounded by the State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry. The bridal party arrived soon afterward, with Catherine Middleton stepping out of her car to reveal her beautiful lace and ivory wedding dress designed by Sarah Burton from Alexander McQueen.
The wedding ceremony was presided over by John Hall, Dean of Westminster, with Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, conducting the marriage. Richard Chartres, Bishop of London, preached the sermon, and a reading was given by Catherine's brother, James. The ceremony included musical performances by the Choir of Westminster Abbey, the Choir of Her Majesty's Chapel Royal, and the London Chamber Orchestra. The bells of Westminster Abbey rang a full peal as the newly married couple and guests left the church, with the ten bells ringing a peal called "Spliced Surprise Royal," consisting of 5,040 changes and taking more than three hours to complete.
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Frequently asked questions
Will and Kate got married on 29 April 2011.
Will and Kate got married at Westminster Abbey in London, England.
The costs of the wedding itself were borne by the Royal Family and the Middletons, while the costs of security and transport were covered by Her Majesty's Treasury.
