Franklin Dean
Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding was a magical event that took place on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London. The royal wedding was attended by 1900 guests, including foreign royalty and heads of state, and was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The couple's wedding day was filled with special moments, from Kate's bespoke Alexander McQueen wedding dress to the couple's kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Now, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (and the Prince and Princess of Wales), William and Kate continue to captivate the world with their fairy-tale romance and their three children.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Wedding | 29 April 2011 |
| Location | Westminster Abbey, London, England |
| Bride | Catherine Middleton |
| Groom | Prince William |
| Bride's Dress | Bespoke Alexander McQueen |
| Bride's Father | Michael Middleton |
| Bridesmaid | Pippa Middleton |
| Best Man | Not Known |
| Wedding Cake | Multi-tiered traditional fruitcake |
| Wedding Photographer | Hugo Bernand |
| Wedding Portrait Location | Throne Room of Buckingham Palace |
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What You'll Learn
The wedding ceremony
The ceremony started at 11 am, with all non-royal guests instructed to arrive as early as 8:15 am. Kate, now known as Catherine, the Princess of Wales, arrived at the abbey by car, accompanied by her father, Michael Middleton. She wore a bespoke gown by Alexander McQueen and carried a bouquet of lily-of-the-valley, sweet William, ivy, myrtle, and hyacinth. Her hair was adorned with a tiara designed by Cartier, known as the "Halo Tiara" or the "Scroll Tiara," on loan from Queen Elizabeth II.
As is customary in British tradition, Prince William stood with his back to the congregation as his bride walked down the aisle to "I Was Glad" by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry. The Choir of Westminster Abbey, the Chapel Royal Choir, the London Chamber Orchestra, and the Central Band of the Royal Air Force also performed various selections during the ceremony.
During the ceremony, only one ring was exchanged. Prince William placed a simple gold band made from Welsh gold on Catherine's finger, which was later stacked under Princess Diana's sapphire engagement ring. Notably, Catherine did not vow to obey her husband during the vows, a break from the traditional vows of royal brides.
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The wedding outfits
For her wedding to Prince William on 29 April 2011, Kate Middleton wore a white V-neck gown with a lace overlay, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The dress was revealed for the first time as Kate walked down the aisle at Westminster Abbey. Her sister, Pippa Middleton, was a bridesmaid and helped to arrange Kate's train.
For the evening reception, Kate changed into a second dress, also by Burton for Alexander McQueen. This was a white satin strapless gown with a full skirt and a bejewelled band at the waist. She removed her veil and tiara, and wore a fuzzy white shrug with her hair in a half-updo.
Prince William wore the scarlet tunic of the Irish Guards, a regiment of which he was Colonel in Chief at the time. He also wore this red uniform to drive a vintage Aston Martin sports car decorated with wedding regalia. In a newly released 13th-anniversary portrait, William is seen wearing the black frock coat uniform of the Blues and Royals, which he originally wanted to wear on his wedding day.
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The wedding reception
The menu for the reception was kept under wraps for years, until a copy was sold at an auction. It included a range of delectable dishes, such as South Uist salmon, Lyme Bay crab, Hebridean langoustines, and a fresh herb salad with Meursault. The main course was North Highland organic lamb from Prince Charles' organic farm, served with spring vegetables, English asparagus, Jersey Royal potatoes, and sauce Windsor, paired with L'Hospitalet de Gazin Pomerol. For dessert, guests indulged in Berkshire honey ice cream, sherry trifle, and chocolate parfait, accompanied by Laurent-Perrier Rosé champagne.
The pièce de résistance of the reception was undoubtedly the wedding cake, an eight-tier traditional fruitcake adorned with Lambeth-piped sugar paste flowers, created by renowned cake designer Fiona Cairns. Each tier of the cake featured a different floral theme, representing the four nations of the United Kingdom: the English rose, Scottish thistle, Welsh daffodil, and Irish shamrock. Additionally, flowers with special meanings were included, such as Sweet William, lilies of the valley, and acorns. A separate chocolate biscuit cake was also served, made from a Royal Family recipe and specially requested by Prince William. This cake was crafted by the McVitie's biscuit company and weighed an impressive 35 pounds.
The reception was followed by a private dinner hosted by the then-Prince of Wales, Charles, with close friends and family in attendance. For this evening reception, the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate, changed into a new gown—a streamlined satin dress by Sarah Burton, featuring a circle skirt and diamante detailing, paired with a cream cardigan.
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The wedding guests
The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton was a grand affair, with around 1900 guests in attendance. The event was held at Westminster Abbey, with the ceremony conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.
The guest list included foreign royal family members and heads of state, such as Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. The bride's family, Michael and Carole Middleton, were also in attendance, playing important roles in the ceremony.
Celebrities and VIPs were also among the guests, with David and Victoria Beckham arriving in style, and Mario Testino and David Johnston, the Governor-General of Canada, in attendance.
The bridal party was made up of Kate's sister, Pippa Middleton, as maid of honour, and Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Grace van Cutsem, Eliza Lopes, William Lowther-Pinkerton, and Tom Pettifer as bridesmaids and page boys. The young bridesmaids wore dresses designed by Nicki Macfarlane, echoing the style of the bride's gown.
The wedding was a spectacle that attracted thousands of well-wishers from around the world, who flocked to London to witness the royal celebration and catch a glimpse of the happy couple.
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The wedding kiss
The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton was a grand affair, with 1900 guests in attendance at Westminster Abbey, including foreign royalty and heads of state. The couple's wedding kiss was a highly anticipated moment, and they did not disappoint their adoring fans.
After the ceremony, the newlyweds appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, where they shared not one but two sweet kisses. The first was a short, sweet peck, and the second was a more passionate kiss that came about two minutes later. The crowd went wild, with cheers and waves of flags, and the bells of Westminster Abbey rang out in celebration.
The balcony kiss has become a royal wedding tradition since Prince Charles and Princess Diana shared a spontaneous kiss on the balcony of St. Paul's Cathedral after their wedding in 1981. William and Kate's balcony kiss was a special moment that delighted their fans and added a touch of romance to their fairytale wedding.
The couple's kiss was a private moment shared with the world, a testament to their love and the start of their life together as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The now Prince and Princess of Wales continue to share loving glances and embraces, even after 14 years of marriage, and remain just as infatuated with each other as they were on their wedding day.
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Frequently asked questions
Kate Middleton's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.
The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton was held at Westminster Abbey in London, England.
Hugo Bernand was the official photographer for the wedding. He shot the couple's official portrait in the Throne Room of Buckingham Palace.
Kate Middleton's sister, Pippa Middleton, was the maid of honour. Grace Van Cutsem and Eliza Lopes were the bridesmaids.
Fiona Cairns created a multi-tiered traditional fruitcake decorated with cream and white icing for the reception.
