Deborah Chan
On 29 April 2011, Prince William of Wales and Catherine Middleton were married in Westminster Abbey. The wedding was a grand affair, with a guest list of about 1,900 people, including both friends and family, as well as official dignitaries. The occasion was marked by public celebrations across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, with street parties, events, and a public holiday in the UK. The overall cost of the event was estimated to be £23.7 million, with the security bill alone estimated at A$32 million. The bride's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, and she wore a Cartier 'halo' tiara lent to her by the Queen. The couple is now known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and they have since celebrated their wedding anniversary on the Isle of Mull in Scotland.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 29 April 2011 |
| Location | Westminster Abbey |
| Bride's Dress | Designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen |
| Bride's Tiara | Cartier 'halo' tiara |
| Bride's Bouquet | Myrtle, lily-of-the-valley, sweet William, ivy, myrtle and hyacinth |
| Guest List | Approximately 1,900 people |
| Cost | Estimated at £23.7 million |
| Honeymoon Destination | Isle of Mull, Scotland |
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What You'll Learn
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 announced their engagement seven months prior, on 16 November 2010, with the wedding date and location being confirmed on 23 November 2010.
Westminster Abbey has been the traditional location for coronations since 1066 and became the church of choice for royal weddings in the 20th century. It was also the venue for the weddings of William's grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, in 1947, and his aunt, Princess Anne, in 1973.
Catherine travelled by car with her father from the Goring Hotel, down The Mall to Parliament Square. Catherine's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton from Alexander McQueen, and she wore a Cartier 'halo' tiara lent to her by the Queen. The couple's wedding cake was a multi-tiered traditional fruit cake decorated with cream and white icing.
After the ceremony, the newly married couple, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, travelled in a horse-drawn carriage procession to Buckingham Palace and were greeted by members of the public. The Queen hosted a reception for the couple and their guests at Buckingham Palace, and the Prince of Wales hosted a private dinner in the evening.
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Wedding dress and tiara
The wedding dress worn by Catherine Middleton at her wedding to Prince William on 29 April 2011 was designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen. The dress featured an ivory lace bodice with a high lace collar, long lace sleeves, and a satin skirt with a nine-foot train. The design of the bodice was influenced by traditional Carrickmacross lace techniques, with floral and other designs created using various hand-needlework techniques. The dress was widely anticipated and generated much commentary in the media, with replicas being produced and sold.
Catherine's wedding tiara, known as the Cartier Halo Tiara, was made of platinum and diamonds. It was originally made for King George VI of England, who gifted it to his wife, the Queen Mother, in 1936. The tiara was then passed down to their daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, who loaned it to Catherine for her wedding. The tiara features 739 brilliant-cut diamonds and 149 baguette diamonds, set in a waving scroll design. It has been worn by other members of the royal family, including Princess Margaret and Princess Anne, and has become one of the most iconic royal wedding tiaras in history.
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Wedding procession
The wedding procession of Prince William and Catherine Middleton began with the arrival of the Queen, Prince Philip, and the clergy. Catherine Middleton, who arrived shortly after, made a three-and-a-half-minute procession down the aisle with her father, Michael, to the High Altar, carefully navigating around the Grave of the Unknown Warrior.
The wedding ceremony, which took place at Westminster Abbey, London, on 29 April 2011, was attended by the bride's and groom's families, foreign royalty, diplomats, and the couple's personal guests. Prince Harry, William's brother, was the best man, and Catherine's sister, Pippa, was the maid of honour.
After the signing of the registers, William and Catherine walked down the aisle, bowed and curtsied to the Queen, and exited the Shrine, followed by a procession of their families. The newlyweds then departed from Westminster Abbey in the 1902 State Landau, drawn by four white horses, and guarded by a mounted escort. The procession continued with the rest of the bridal party in a separate open carriage, followed by the Queen and other members of the Royal Family in coaches.
The procession route, from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace, was lined with thousands of well-wishers, and the occasion was marked by street parties across the United Kingdom.
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Wedding guests
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton took place on 29 April 2011 at 11 am in Westminster Abbey, London, in front of approximately 1,900 guests. The guest list included friends and family members of the couple, as well as official dignitaries. More than half of the guests were the couple's friends and family, but there were also many Commonwealth leaders, including governors-general representing the Queen in Commonwealth realms, prime ministers of Commonwealth realms, and heads of government of other Commonwealth countries.
Other notable invitees included members of religious organisations, the diplomatic corps, military officials, members of foreign royal families, and representatives of William's charities and other organisations he had worked with. The guest list also included descendants of the Prince's great-grandfather, King George VI, such as the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, the groom's paternal grandparents.
The night before the wedding, the Queen and other members of the royal family and foreign royals attended a gala dinner at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, organised by the Queen's cousin, Lady Elizabeth Shakerley. After the wedding, the Queen hosted a lunchtime reception at Buckingham Palace for around 600 guests. The final celebration was an evening dinner hosted by the groom's father, the Prince of Wales, for 300 of the couple's closest family and friends, including David and Victoria Beckham, and Elton John. The evening reception featured a performance by singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding, who sang "Your Song" for the couple's first dance, as well as her hit "Starry Eyed".
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Wedding costs
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton took place on Friday, 29 April 2011, at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The wedding itself was a costly affair, with the overall cost estimated to be £23.7 million. The Australian newspaper Herald Sun placed the cost of security at A$32 million and flowers at A$800,000. The costs of the wedding were shared by the Royal Family and the Middletons, while security and transport were covered by Her Majesty's Treasury.
The guest list for the wedding was extensive, with approximately 1,900 people in attendance, including friends and family members of the couple, as well as official dignitaries. The ceremony was presided over by John Hall, Dean of Westminster, with Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, conducting the marriage. The best man was Prince Harry, William's brother, and the maid of honour was Catherine's sister, Pippa.
The wedding was a grand affair, with Catherine arriving at the abbey by car, departing from the traditional carriage used by royal brides. The ceremony was followed by a luncheon reception at Buckingham Palace for 600 guests and an evening dinner for 300 guests hosted by the Prince of Wales. The wedding was also widely broadcast on television, the internet, and radio in more than 180 countries, with ITV, BBC, and CNN covering the ceremony and associated events.
In lieu of traditional wedding gifts, the couple requested donations to charities through the Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton Charitable Gift Fund, supporting causes such as the New Zealand Christchurch Earthquake Appeal and the Zoological Society of London. The wedding is estimated to have had a significant economic impact, with the cost to the economy of the extra public holiday ranging from £1.2 billion to £6 billion.
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Frequently asked questions
Prince William and Catherine Middleton got married on the 29th of April 2011.
The couple got married at Westminster Abbey.
Catherine Middleton wore a wedding dress designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen. She also wore a Cartier 'halo' tiara lent to her by the Queen.
The guest list was approximately 1,900 people long and included friends and family members of the couple, as well as official dignitaries such as Commonwealth leaders, members of foreign royal families, and representatives of William's charities.
