Franklin Dean
The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, which took place on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London, was an event to remember. The occasion was marked by a public holiday in the United Kingdom, with events held across the Commonwealth. The ceremony was attended by the couple's families, foreign royalty, diplomats, and personal guests. The Royal Wedding was broadcast on television and is also available on DVD for those who want to relive the magic of the occasion and the fairy-tale love story of the couple.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Wedding | 29 April 2011 |
| Wedding Location | Westminster Abbey, London, England |
| Bride and Groom | Catherine (Kate) Middleton and Prince William of Wales |
| Officiant | Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Best Man | Prince Harry |
| Maid of Honour | Pippa Middleton |
| DVD Producer | BBC |
| DVD Distributor | Amazon |
| DVD Special Features | Mini-documentary about the couple's relationship, William and Kate: A Royal Engagement |
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What You'll Learn
The Royal Wedding: William & Catherine
The Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton was a spectacular event that took place on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The couple's relationship began in 2001, and they got engaged on 20 October 2010, announcing it publicly on 16 November 2010. The wedding ceremony was presided over by John Hall, the Dean of Westminster, and conducted by Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, preached the sermon, and the bride's brother, James, gave a reading. Prince Harry served as William's best man, and the maid of honour was Catherine's sister, Pippa. The wedding was not a full state occasion, but it still included ceremonial aspects, such as the use of state carriages and roles for the Foot Guards and Household Cavalry. The event attracted worldwide media attention and was compared to the wedding of William's parents in 1981.
The official commemorative DVD, "The Royal Wedding: William & Catherine," was released by BBC Video just four weeks after the event. The two-disc collector's set includes the complete ceremony, from the bride's departure in the car to the famous balcony kiss, as well as highlights from the BBC's pre- and post-wedding coverage. The BBC's expert narration and sparing use of commentary have been praised, providing just the right amount of information without being intrusive. The DVD also features a mini-documentary, "William and Kate: A Royal Engagement," which offers insight into the couple's courtship and engagement.
The Royal Wedding DVD has been well-received by those who purchased it, with many expressing their enjoyment of reliving the magic and pomp of the occasion. Some reviewers noted that they would have preferred longer, unedited footage, as well as the inclusion of certain moments that were not captured on the DVD, such as the arrival of Kate's mother and brother at Westminster. However, the DVD has been praised for its top-notch quality, beautiful music, and spectacular setting. It is considered a wonderful keepsake for royal fans, providing a permanent reminder of a fabulous day in royal history.
The cost of the wedding itself was borne by the Royal Family and the Middletons, while security and transport costs were covered by Her Majesty's Treasury. The couple also established a charitable gift fund, encouraging donations to various charities instead of traditional wedding gifts. The overall cost of the event was estimated to be around £23.7 million, with additional costs for security and flowers. The wedding day was marked by celebrations across the Commonwealth, including over 5,000 street parties in the United Kingdom, showcasing the joy and excitement surrounding this historic royal wedding.
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William and Kate: A Royal Engagement
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton took place on Friday, 29 April 2011, at Westminster Abbey in London, England. William was second in the line of succession to the British throne at the time, later becoming the heir apparent. The couple had been in a relationship since 2003, meeting at university, and dated on and off for many years before becoming engaged. Their engagement, which took place on 20 October 2010, was announced on 16 November 2010. The confirmation service was conducted on 10 March at St James's Palace by the Bishop of London, with William in attendance.
The ceremony was attended by the bride's and groom's families, foreign royalty, diplomats, and the couple's chosen personal guests. The wedding included many ceremonial aspects, such as the use of state carriages and roles for the Foot Guards and Household Cavalry. The occasion was marked with events across the Commonwealth, including over 5,000 street parties in the United Kingdom, and about a million people lined the route between Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace.
The official wedding DVD, produced by the BBC, includes the complete ceremony and highlights from the pre- and post-wedding coverage. The DVD also features a separate 50-minute show on the lives of William and Kate, including their courtship and engagement. The BBC's coverage of the wedding has been praised for its quality and sparing use of commentary, providing the perfect amount of information.
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The wedding ceremony
The Dean of Westminster, John Hall, presided over the service, while the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, conducted the marriage. The Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, preached the sermon, and the bride's brother, James, gave a reading. Prince William's best man was his brother, Prince Harry, and Catherine's sister, Pippa, was the maid of honour.
The build-up to the wedding and the occasion itself attracted significant media attention, with many comparing it to the wedding of William's parents in 1981. The day was declared a public holiday in the United Kingdom, and the overall cost of the event was estimated to be around £23.7 million.
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The wedding outfits
Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding outfits were fit for a fairy-tale. The groom wore a mounted officer's uniform in the Guard of Honour Order, with a forage cap and a scarlet tunic—the full dress uniform of the Irish Guards, which held special significance for the couple. As a Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter, he also wore the order's star and blue riband, along with his RAF wings and Golden Jubilee Medal.
Princess Kate's wedding gown was a white V-neck dress with a lace overlay, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The gown had a "ballerina-length, full, box-pleated skirt" and was hand-finished with English Cluny lace. The royal bride paired her dress with the Queen Elizabeth's Cartier Halo Tiara and a veil. Her flowers, designed by Shane Connolly, included lily-of-the-valley, sweet William, and hyacinth.
For the evening reception, Princess Kate changed into a second, sleeker look: a white satin strapless gown with a full skirt and a band of bejewelled detailing at the waist, also designed by Burton for Alexander McQueen. She removed her tiara and veil, adding a fuzzy white shrug and letting down her half-updo hairstyle.
The bridesmaids' outfits echoed Princess Kate's dress, made with the same fabrics and featuring button details along the back. They wore gowns with a "ballerina-length, full, box pleated skirt" and hand-finished English Cluny lace. The pageboys' outfits were designed by Kashket and Partners in the style of a "Foot Guard officer at the time of the Regency (the 1820s)", with insignia from the Irish Guards.
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The wedding's cost
The Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, which took place on 29 April 2011, was a grand affair. The wedding ceremony was held at Westminster Abbey in London, with around 1,900 guests in attendance, including members of foreign royal families, diplomats, and the couple's chosen personal guests. The wedding was not a full state occasion as William was not the heir apparent at the time, but it still featured many ceremonial aspects, such as the use of state carriages and roles for the Foot Guards and Household Cavalry.
The costs of the wedding itself were covered by the Royal Family and the Middletons, while the costs of security and transport were borne by Her Majesty's Treasury. The overall cost of the event was estimated to be £23.7 million, with security alone costing an estimated A$32 million according to the Australian newspaper Herald Sun. The wedding also had a significant economic impact, with the cost to the economy of the extra public holiday ranging from £1.2 billion to £6 billion.
In the lead-up to the wedding, TV programmes were shown in the UK that provided insights into the couple's relationship and backgrounds, such as "When Kate Met William" and "Meet the Middletons". The wedding ceremony was broadcast live on television, with the BBC providing coverage in the UK and ABC in the US. The BBC also released an official commemorative DVD of the event, which included the complete ceremony and highlights from the pre- and post-wedding coverage. This DVD became a popular keepsake for those who wanted to relive the magic of the royal wedding.
The DVD includes fascinating extras such as a mini-documentary about the relationship of William and Kate, who met at university and dated on and off before becoming engaged. It also captures the pomp and pageantry of the historic occasion, from the procession to the balcony kiss. While the DVD provides a wonderful overview of the day, some viewers have noted that certain moments were missing, such as the arrival of Kate's mother and brother at Westminster, and the couple driving off in their car at the end.
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Frequently asked questions
The DVD includes the complete ceremony, highlights from the official BBC pre- and post-wedding coverage, and a mini-documentary about the relationship of William and Kate.
Some reviews state that the DVD is a "wonderful keepsake" and a "permanent reminder of a fabulous day." However, some reviewers were disappointed by the editing, wishing for a longer balcony scene and the inclusion of certain moments, such as Kate's mother and brother's arrival at Westminster.
The official commemorative DVD was made by BBC Video and is available on Amazon.
