Lyla Dejesus
The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011 was a grand affair, with the couple surrounded by their loved ones, including the young bridesmaids and page boys who almost stole the show. One of the bridesmaids, Grace van Cutsem, Prince William's three-year-old goddaughter, went viral for her grumpy facial expressions during the wedding, including covering her ears during the couple's first kiss. In addition to Grace, the other bridesmaids were Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, Margarita Armstrong-Jones, and Eliza Lopes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 29 April 2011 |
| Location | Westminster Abbey |
| Number of bridesmaids | 4 |
| Names of bridesmaids | Grace van Cutsem, Eliza Lopes, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, Margarita Armstrong-Jones |
| Ages of bridesmaids | 3 years old (Grace van Cutsem) |
| Dresses | Custom white satin gazar dresses with pale gold sashes, designed by Nicki MacFarlane |
| Flowers | Mini replicas of the bride's bouquet, which featured myrtle, lily-of-the-valley, sweet William, ivy and hyacinth |
| Head wreaths | Made of lily-of-the-valley flowers and ivy |
| Shoes | Satin Mary Jane style shoes with a Swarovski crystal buckle designed by Devon-based Rainbow Club |
| Jewellery | Hand-embroidered into the lining of each dress was the bridesmaid's name and the date as a 'special memento' |
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What You'll Learn
The 'grumpy bridesmaid', Grace van Cutsem
Grace van Cutsem, the three-year-old bridesmaid at Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding, stole the show with her grumpy facial expressions. While the other bridesmaids eagerly watched the newlyweds share a kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, Grace stood with her hands covering her ears and a scowl on her face. Her bewildered and cranky appearance in several photos from the wedding day went viral, earning her the nicknames "Grumpy Bridesmaid" and "Frowning Flower Girl".
Grace is the daughter of Rose Astor, a journalist and entrepreneur, and Hugh van Cutsem Jr., a close friend of Prince William, who is also Grace's godfather. The Van Cutsem family is quite close with the royals, as Grace's grandfather, Hugh van Cutsem Sr., was one of Prince Charles' closest friends after the pair met at Cambridge. Grace has two younger brothers, Rafe and Charlie, and her cousin, Florence van Cutsem, was a bridesmaid at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018.
In the years following the wedding, Grace has largely kept out of the public eye. Her mother, Rose Astor, has provided some updates on her daughter's activities, including a trip to Sri Lanka when Grace was ten years old, where she was homeschooled along with her brothers for three months. Now a teenager, Grace's parents appear to be keeping her private life off social media.
Grace's memorable expressions at the royal wedding have left a lasting impression, with many hoping for her appearance at William and Kate's 10th-anniversary celebration. Her candid reactions brought a touch of humour and spontaneity to the grand occasion, showcasing the unpredictable nature of children. Grace van Cutsem's role as a grumpy bridesmaid has undoubtedly earned her a unique place in the memories of royal watchers worldwide.
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The bridal procession
The bridesmaids included Grace van Cutsem, the 3-year-old goddaughter of Prince William, who became known as the "Grumpy Bridesmaid" or "Frowning Flower Girl" due to her viral reactions to the day's events, including covering her ears during the couple's first kiss. Grace was joined by three other bridesmaids: Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, daughter of Prince Edward and Countess of Wessex; Margarita Armstrong-Jones, granddaughter of Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong-Jones; and Eliza Lopes, granddaughter of the Duchess of Cornwall. The bridesmaids wore custom white satin gazar dresses with pale gold sashes, designed by Nicki MacFarlane. Their flowers were designed by Shane Connolly and replicated the flowers in Catherine's bouquet.
The page boys, effectively 'mini Prince Williams', were William (Billy) Lowther-Pinkerton, son of Prince William's former private secretary, and Tom Pettifer, son of Tiggy Pettifer, who was a nanny to William and Harry. They wore uniforms in the style of the Foot Guards, with insignia from the Irish Guards, of which the Duke of Cambridge was made Colonel before the wedding.
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The bridesmaids' dresses
The four bridesmaids wore ivy and lily-of-the-valley wreaths in their hair, inspired by Carole Middleton's headdress at her 1981 wedding. They carried miniature replicas of Kate's bridal bouquet, which included lily-of-the-valley, sweet William, and hyacinth. The flowers were designed and made by Shane Connolly.
The young bridesmaids included Grace van Cutsem (Prince William's goddaughter), Eliza Lopes (granddaughter of the Duchess of Cornwall), Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor (daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex), and Margarita Armstrong-Jones (granddaughter of Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong-Jones). Grace van Cutsem became known as the "Grumpy Bridesmaid" or "Frowning Flower Girl" due to her viral reactions to the day's events, including covering her ears during the couple's first kiss.
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The page boys' outfits
Prince William and Kate Middleton had two page boys as part of their wedding party when they married at Westminster Abbey on 29 April 2011. The page boys were Tom Pettifer, aged eight, and William "Billy" Lowther-Pinkerton, aged ten. Tom is the son of Princes William and Harry's former nanny, Tiggy Legge-Bourke, while William is the son of the couple's former aide, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton.
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The wedding bouquet
The bridesmaids, including Grace van Cutsem, Eliza Lopes, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, and Margarita Armstrong-Jones, carried miniature replicas of the bride's bouquet. The flowers in the bridesmaids' bouquets were designed and made by Shane Connolly and replicated the flowers in Kate's bouquet. The bridesmaids' gowns echoed the bride's dress and were made with the same fabrics and button details along the back. The gowns were described as having a "ballerina-length, full, box-pleated skirt" and were hand-finished with English Cluny lace.
Grace van Cutsem, the 3-year-old daughter of William's friends, stole the show at the wedding with her amusing antics. She earned the nickname "Grumpy Bridesmaid" after photos of her appearing cranky on the wedding day went viral. While the other bridesmaids watched the newlyweds share a kiss on the balcony, Grace stood with her hands covering her ears and a scowl on her face.
After the wedding ceremony, the bouquet was returned to Westminster Abbey and placed on the tomb of the Unknown Warrior by a royal official. This was a traditional gesture and added a touch of symbolism to the already meaningful day.
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Frequently asked questions
The bridesmaids at Will and Kate's wedding were Grace van Cutsem, Eliza Lopes, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, and Margarita Armstrong-Jones.
There were four bridesmaids.
Grace van Cutsem was three years old at the time of the wedding. Margarita Armstrong-Jones was also a young bridesmaid, though her exact age is not known.
The bridesmaids wore custom white satin gazar dresses with pale gold sashes, designed by Nicki MacFarlane. They also wore head wreaths made of lily-of-the-valley flowers and ivy, echoing the bride's mother's headdress at her own wedding.
