Junior Rasmussen
The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton was a grand affair, with the world watching as the couple exchanged vows at Westminster Abbey. The ceremony was followed by a procession of five coaches, including the 1902 State Landau carriage, drawn by four white horses, carrying the newlyweds to Buckingham Palace. The open-topped carriage, built for King Edward VII, offered well-wishers a glimpse of the happy couple as they made their way to the palace, where they shared a kiss on the balcony, adhering to royal tradition. The wedding, a public holiday in the United Kingdom, attracted much media attention and featured ceremonial aspects, including the use of state carriages, with events held across the Commonwealth to mark the occasion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Carriage Type | 1902 State Landau |
| Carriage Age | 109 years old |
| Carriage Colour | Red and Gold |
| Carriage Roof | Open-topped |
| No. of Horses | 4 |
| Horse Colour | White |
| Carriage Route | Between Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace |
| Carriage Occupants | Prince William and Kate Middleton |
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What You'll Learn
The 1902 State Landau carriage
The 1902 State Landau is one of several state landaus in regular use by the Royal Mews, dating from between 1838 to 1872. These carriages are large, pulled by a team of four or six horses, and are used on ceremonial occasions, such as state visits and the State Opening of Parliament, in addition to royal weddings. The low shell of the landau provides maximum visibility of the occupants, making it a popular choice for such events.
The 1902 State Landau was the carriage chosen to transport Prince William and Kate Middleton from Westminster Abbey after their wedding ceremony. As their wedding carriage, it led a procession of five coaches carrying the bridal party and their families, including the Maid of Honour, Best Man, bridesmaids, and pages. The procession returned along the same route the wedding party had taken to the ceremony, passing through The Mall, Horse Guards Parade, and Whitehall to Buckingham Palace.
The use of the 1902 State Landau for William and Kate's wedding was in keeping with the tradition of royal brides arriving at their weddings by carriage. The choice of this particular carriage, however, was a special one, as it is the same carriage used by Queen Elizabeth when entertaining visiting heads of state. The open-topped design of the carriage also allowed well-wishers to catch a glimpse of the happy couple as they made their way to the palace for their wedding celebrations.
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The procession
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton was a grand affair, with the procession being one of the most memorable parts of the day. The ceremony, which took place at Westminster Abbey, lasted about an hour. After the signing of the registers, William and Catherine walked down the aisle, bowing and curtseying to the Queen before exiting the church.
The newlyweds then entered a 1902 State Landau carriage, drawn by four white horses with postilions and footmen, and guarded by a mounted escort. The carriage was built for the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandria and was the same one used by Princess Diana on her wedding day. The procession was led by William and Catherine, followed by four other horse-drawn coaches carrying the wedding party, including the Maid of Honour, Pippa Middleton, and the Best Man, Prince Harry. The carriages were open-topped, allowing well-wishers a good view of the happy couple as they made their way to Buckingham Palace.
The Queen and other members of the Royal Family followed in coaches drawn by Cleveland Bay horses and in state cars. The procession made its way along The Mall, through Horse Guards Parade, and down Whitehall to the abbey. Roads in and around the processional route were closed to traffic, with travel advice and information issued to the public.
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The route
The wedding ceremony of Prince William and Catherine Middleton took place on April 29 at 11 am at Westminster Abbey. The Archbishop of Canterbury married the couple, and the Bishop of London gave the address. After the ceremony, which lasted about an hour, William and Catherine walked down the aisle and passed through a guard of honour outside the Abbey.
The bridal couple then entered the 1902 State Landau, a 109-year-old open-topped carriage usually used by Queen Elizabeth when entertaining visiting heads of state. The carriage was drawn by four white horses with postilions and attended by footmen, and guarded by a mounted escort of the Life Guard. The newlyweds were followed by a procession of five coaches carrying the Maid of Honour, the Best Man, Prince Harry, the young pages, and bridesmaids. The procession continued with another coach carrying Kate's parents, Carole and Michael, and Prince Charles and Camilla. The final coach seated the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
The procession made its way back to Buckingham Palace, where the couple shared a kiss on the balcony in front of thousands of people, adhering to the royal tradition started by Prince Charles and Princess Diana. The procession route from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace was as follows: through Horse Guards Parade, down Whitehall, passing Clarence House, by Horse Guards Road, Horse Guards Arch, the south side of Parliament Square, Broad Sanctuary, and finally, The Mall. The roads in and around the processional route were closed to traffic from 6 am on the day of the wedding.
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The Queen's reception
The Queen hosted the lunchtime reception, which began after the couple's arrival. The wedding bouquet was returned to Westminster Abbey and placed on the tomb of the Unknown Warrior by a royal official. The newlyweds celebrated with their guests, including the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, and Camilla. The couple also stepped out from the reception to drive around Buckingham Palace in an Aston Martin convertible, with Kate smiling and waving while William drove.
The celebrations continued into the evening, with a gala dinner organised by the Queen's cousin, Lady Elizabeth Shakerley, and a performance from Ellie Goulding. There were also fireworks, and William and Kate surprised their guests with an unexpected dance number, performing "You're the One That I Want" from Grease. The couple then shared a kiss on the balcony, adhering to the royal tradition started by Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
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The couple's attire
Prince William and his best man, Prince Harry, wore military uniforms as they made their way to the ceremony. The uniform worn by Prince William was a red Irish Guards Mounted Officer's uniform, with a gold and crimson sash, and a forage cap. The uniform was a nod to his position as Colonel of the Irish Guards.
After the ceremony, the newlyweds rode in their wedding carriage to Buckingham Palace, where they shared a kiss on the balcony, adhering to the royal tradition started by Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Kate changed into a strapless satin gown with diamante detailing, also designed by Alexander McQueen, for the evening festivities.
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Frequently asked questions
The newlyweds rode in a 109-year-old State Landau carriage, originally built for the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandria in 1902.
The bridal party, escorted by the Blues and Royals, rode in a similar open carriage. The Queen and other members of the Royal Family followed in coaches drawn by the Queen's Cleveland Bay horses.
The procession of carriages travelled from Westminster Abbey, where the ceremony was held, to Buckingham Palace, where the reception was held.
