Rhiannon Hendricks
Prince William and Kate Middleton, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary on April 29, 2025. The couple, who tied the knot at Westminster Abbey in 2011, marked the occasion with a trip to Scotland, specifically the Isle of Mull, where they first met at the University of St Andrews. Their wedding attracted worldwide attention, with tens of millions viewing the ceremony live, and the couple leaving Buckingham Palace in an Aston Martin gifted to Prince Charles on his 21st birthday.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the wedding | 29 April 2011 |
| Wedding venue | Westminster Abbey |
| Car type | Aston Martin Volante |
| Fuel type | Wine and cheese |
| Owner of the car | Prince Charles |
| Fuel blend | 85% bioethanol and 15% unleaded petrol |
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What You'll Learn
The car was lent to the couple by Prince Charles
The car that whisked Prince William and Kate Middleton away from their wedding was lent to the couple by Prince Charles. The vehicle in question was an Aston Martin Volante, which was originally gifted to Prince Charles on his 21st birthday by the Queen. The car was fuelled by a blend of 85% bioethanol and 15% unleaded petrol—a fuel source that is created by fermenting the sugar and starch components of plant byproducts.
Prince Charles had been driving the car for over five decades when he lent it to the happy couple. In 2008, he decided to seek a more sustainable fuel source and asked Aston Martin to make the change. Engineers were convinced that the car would be "ruined" with bioethanol fuel, but Prince Charles persisted.
The car was used to drive William and his bride back to Clarence House, where the newlyweds temporarily had a London apartment. The royal couple tied the knot at Westminster Abbey in 2011, and the build-up to the wedding and the occasion itself attracted much media attention. The day was made a public holiday in the United Kingdom, and about a million people lined the route between the wedding venue and Buckingham Palace.
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The car was powered by wine and cheese
The car that whisked Prince William and Kate Middleton away from their wedding was no ordinary car. It was an Aston Martin Volante, lent to the happy couple by Prince Charles, and it ran on a unique fuel blend of 85% bioethanol and 15% unleaded petrol. This bioethanol fuel was made by fermenting the sugar and starch components of plant byproducts—namely, wine and cheese.
Prince Charles has been an avid driver of his beloved Aston Martin for over five decades. In 2008, he decided to make a change to a more sustainable fuel source. He approached Aston Martin himself to make the change, but engineers were convinced that the car would be "ruined" with bioethanol fuel. However, Prince Charles persisted, and his unique charcuterie-inspired car came to be.
The royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton took place in 2011, and the couple has since celebrated 14 years of marriage. Their wedding attracted much media attention, with tens of millions viewing the ceremony live worldwide, including 72 million live streams on YouTube alone. The wedding day was made a public holiday in the United Kingdom, and it featured many ceremonial aspects, including the use of state carriages and roles for the Foot Guards and Household Cavalry.
The wedding car, powered by wine and cheese, is certainly one of the more unique aspects of their royal wedding. It is not every day that one hears of a car fuelled by such a blend, and it is a testament to Prince Charles's commitment to sustainability that he chose to make this change to his beloved car. The car, gifted to him by the Queen on his 21st birthday, holds a special place in his heart, and it played a unique role in Prince William and Kate Middleton's special day.
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The vehicle now runs on a blend of bioethanol and petrol
The car used by Prince William and Kate Middleton on their wedding day was lent to them by Prince Charles. The vehicle in question is an Aston Martin Volante, which Prince Charles has been driving for over five decades. In 2008, Prince Charles requested that Aston Martin modify the car to run on a blend of bioethanol and petrol, rather than solely on petrol. This was done in an attempt to be more environmentally conscious.
The unique fuel blend used by the car is made up of 85% bioethanol and 15% unleaded petrol. Interestingly, the bioethanol used is created by fermenting the sugar and starch components of plant byproducts. This gives the fuel blend an unusual origin, as it is effectively made from wine and cheese.
Despite initial resistance from engineers, who were convinced that the car would be "ruined" with bioethanol fuel, the vehicle has proven to be a success. Not only has it provided a more sustainable mode of transport for the royal family, but it has also become a talking point due to its quirky fuel source.
The use of an eco-friendly fuel blend in the royal wedding car reflects a broader trend towards sustainability within the royal family. For example, Prince William and Kate Middleton have been known to opt for sustainable farming and hospitality during their trips, demonstrating their commitment to environmental consciousness.
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The route planned for the wedding procession
The wedding procession of Prince William and Kate Middleton took place on April 29, 2011, and attracted much media attention. The procession route was carefully planned, with certain roads in central London being closed to accommodate the event.
The procession began at Buckingham Palace, where the royal couple temporarily resided at Clarence House. They left the palace in an Aston Martin Volante, lent to them by Prince Charles, which ran on a unique fuel blend of 85% bioethanol and 15% unleaded petrol, derived from cheese and wine.
The route proceeded along The Mall, a prominent thoroughfare in central London, providing a grand setting for the procession. From there, the procession continued through Horse Guards Parade, a historic parade ground and ceremonial space, adding a sense of tradition and pageantry to the occasion.
The procession then turned down Whitehall, a significant road in the heart of London's government district. This part of the route may have offered a visual contrast between the royal procession and the surrounding political and administrative buildings. The procession culminated as it arrived at Westminster Abbey, a majestic and historic setting for the royal wedding ceremony.
The procession route, with its progression through iconic London landmarks, provided a fitting backdrop for the royal wedding. The combination of Buckingham Palace, The Mall, Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, and Westminster Abbey created a ceremonial journey befitting the occasion, allowing well-wishers to line the streets and celebrate the union of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
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The couple's wedding anniversary
Prince William and Kate Middleton celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary on 29 April 2025. The couple travelled to Scotland, marking their first away tour since Kate's cancer diagnosis. They chose to visit the Isle of Mull, where they spent time at a community hub in Tobermory, an area famous for its colourful buildings, and visited a popular artisan market. The couple were greeted by a crowd of around 300 cheering locals and tourists.
The trip was a poignant reminder of how important the country is to the couple, who also hold the Scottish titles the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay. They first met at the University of St Andrews in Scotland more than two decades ago.
On their wedding anniversary, the couple shared an intimate photo taken during their day on the Isle of Mull on social media. The snap showed William, 42, and Kate, 43, from a distance, turned away from the camera, with their arms wrapped around each other, taking in the beautiful landscape. They captioned the image: "Wonderful to be back on the Isle of Mull. Thank you to everyone for such a warm welcome." They signed off with a red heart emoji and their initials, "W & C".
The couple also sampled whisky and cooked haggis during their visit to Scotland. Kate paid tribute to her husband with a subtle detail – a Cartier watch thought to have been a gift for their third wedding anniversary.
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Frequently asked questions
Prince William drove the car at his wedding to Kate Middleton.
The car was gifted to Prince Charles on his 21st birthday by the Queen. It was lent to Prince William on his wedding day.
The car was an Aston Martin Volante.
The car ran on a blend of 85% bioethanol and 15% unleaded petrol. The bioethanol was made by fermenting the sugar and starch components of plant byproducts.
The newlyweds drove from Buckingham Palace to Clarence House, where they had a temporary London apartment.
