Rhiannon Hendricks
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton was a grand affair, attracting worldwide media attention. The couple, who first met in 2001 and dated since 2003, tied the knot on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The ceremony, presided over by John Hall, Dean of Westminster, and conducted by Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, was a public spectacle with about a million people lining the route to Buckingham Palace. The event was marked by ceremonial aspects, including state carriages and roles for the Foot Guards and Household Cavalry, and it was declared a public holiday in the United Kingdom. The wedding program, a 27-page book, included details like the vows, ceremony hymns, and a new photo of the couple.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | Friday, 29 April 2011 |
| Venue | Westminster Abbey, London, England |
| Officiant | John Hall, Dean of Westminster |
| Marriage Conducted By | Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Sermon | Richard Chartres, Bishop of London |
| Reading | James Middleton, Catherine's brother |
| Best Man | Prince Harry, William's brother |
| Maid of Honour | Pippa Middleton, Catherine's sister |
| Guests | Bride's and groom's families, foreign royal families, diplomats, and the couple's personal guests |
| Procession Route | The Mall, Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall to the abbey |
| Honeymoon Destination | N/A |
| Wedding Program | 27-page book with a breakdown of the vows and ceremony hymns, and a new photo of the couple by Mario Testino |
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What You'll Learn
Wedding date and location
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton took place on Friday, 29 April 2011, at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The ceremony commenced at 11:00 BST, with Catherine arriving at the abbey by car, forgoing the traditional carriage used by royal brides. The route travelled by the bridal party included The Mall, Horse Guards Parade, and Whitehall, leading up to the abbey. The roads along this procession were closed to the public, with Transport for London providing travel advice and information on road closures.
The wedding date held symbolic significance for the couple, marking the culmination of their decade-long relationship. William and Catherine first met in 2001 and began dating in 2003. Their engagement was officially announced on 16 November 2010, following William's proposal on 20 October 2010.
The choice of Westminster Abbey as the wedding venue added to the grandeur of the occasion. This historic church, located in the heart of London, has been the site of numerous royal weddings and ceremonies throughout history. The abbey's majestic architecture and rich decorative details provided a splendid backdrop for the royal wedding.
The wedding date and location were carefully selected, taking into account various logistical and ceremonial considerations. London, as the nation's capital, offered a fitting setting for a royal wedding, with its iconic landmarks and rich cultural heritage. The date, a Friday, also allowed for a extended weekend of celebrations, with the occasion being declared a public holiday in the United Kingdom.
The wedding date and location played a pivotal role in shaping the overall experience of the royal wedding. The springtime setting of late April brought a sense of renewal and optimism to the festivities. London, with its vibrant energy and global reputation, provided a magnificent stage for the event, attracting worldwide media attention and captivating audiences around the globe.
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Wedding ceremony
The wedding ceremony of Prince William and Catherine Middleton took place on Friday, 29 April 2011, at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The couple had been in a relationship since 2003 and got engaged on 20 October 2010, with the official announcement made on 16 November 2010.
The ceremony started at 11:00 BST, with Catherine arriving at the abbey by car, accompanied by her father, Michael Middleton. The processional route took them along The Mall, through Horse Guards Parade, and down Whitehall to the abbey. The wedding ceremony was presided over by John Hall, Dean of Westminster, while the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, conducted the marriage service. The Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, preached the sermon, and a reading was given by Catherine's brother, James Middleton.
William's best man was his brother, Prince Harry, and Catherine's sister, Pippa Middleton, was the maid of honour. The ceremony was a grand affair, attended by the couple's families, foreign royalty, diplomats, and their chosen personal guests. The guest list included around 1,900 people, as William was not the heir apparent at the time, and so the wedding was not a full state occasion.
Following the ceremony, the newlyweds made the traditional appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, with thousands of well-wishers lining the streets to catch a glimpse of them.
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Wedding procession
The wedding procession of Prince William and Catherine Middleton began with the arrival of the bride, who was driven to Westminster Abbey by car, eschewing the traditional carriage used by royal brides. Catherine was accompanied by her father, Michael Middleton, who walked her down the aisle.
The wedding party included William's brother, Prince Harry, as best man, and Catherine's sister, Pippa Middleton, as maid of honour. The couple's wedding ceremony was officiated by Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, and John Hall, Dean of Westminster, while the sermon was preached by Richard Chartres, Bishop of London. A reading was given by Catherine's brother, James Middleton.
The wedding procession was witnessed by approximately 1,900 guests, including members of foreign royal families, diplomats, and the couple's personal guests. The ceremony was also broadcast live on television, with networks from North America and Europe providing extensive coverage of the event.
Following the ceremony, the newlyweds made the traditional appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, greeting the crowds and marking the conclusion of the wedding procession. The wedding celebrations also included a carriage procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace, with thousands of well-wishers lining the streets to catch a glimpse of the happy couple.
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Wedding media coverage
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton attracted a great deal of media attention. In the build-up to the event, several TV programmes aired in the UK that provided insights into the couple's relationship and backgrounds, including "When Kate Met William" and "Channel 4's Meet the Middletons". The wedding ceremony was also televised, with networks in the UK, North America, Mexico, and Australia providing live coverage.
In North America, the wedding occurred during the time slot of network breakfast television programmes, which extended their length to accommodate full coverage. NBC's "Today" show began coverage at 4 am Eastern Time, partnering with ITV, while ABC partnered with the BBC. CBS had its own live London affiliates, and Fox and Fox News Channel partnered with Sky News. NBC had the highest ratings of any American network, although their top presenter, Brian Williams, was unable to cover the event due to the 2011 Super Outbreak of tornadoes.
In Mexico, Televisa and TV Azteca aired the wedding, with all television stations carrying the ceremony into the late night hours. In Australia, ABC took the BBC feed, and the wedding was also aired on the Seven Network, Nine Network, and Network Ten. The event was also streamed live on YouTube via the British Monarchy's official "The Royal Channel".
There was much speculation regarding the viewing figures for the wedding. While Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt estimated that 2 billion people would watch the wedding, this figure was criticised by some news outlets as being inaccurate and unfounded. Estimated figures include a peak audience of 26.3 million viewers in the UK and a total of 36.7 million watching at least some part of the coverage. In the United States, the wedding drew an average audience of 22.8 million, with over 60 million tuning in at some point.
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Wedding gift fund
Prince William and Catherine Middleton requested that anyone wishing to send them a wedding gift consider donating to a charitable fund instead. The fund supported 26 organisations chosen by the couple, covering a range of causes such as mental health, conservation, and support for children and young people.
The fund was held by The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry, with donations accepted via the official Royal Wedding Charitable Gift Fund website. The couple also accepted donations from revenue generated by wedding-related projects, including sales of the official Royal Wedding Album and the photograph of the couple printed in the official wedding brochure.
The charitable fund proved to be a success, raising over £1 million for the chosen charities. The majority of donations were made by the public and wedding guests, with additional funds generated from rights due to the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry.
The couple's decision to establish a charitable fund for their wedding gifts was well-received, with commentators noting their choice of charities as "brave" and "remarkable". The fund not only raised money for worthy causes but also helped to raise awareness and interest in the chosen organisations, particularly those that were lesser-known or unfashionable.
Overall, the wedding gift fund demonstrated Prince William and Catherine Middleton's commitment to using their platform to support and draw attention to important social causes, following in the footsteps of Princess Diana.
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Frequently asked questions
The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton took place on Friday, 29 April 2011.
The couple got married at Westminster Abbey in London, England.
Prince Harry was the best man at his brother Prince William's wedding.
Since William was not the heir apparent to the throne at the time, the wedding was not a full state occasion. The guest list of about 1,900 people was largely left to the couple to decide. The ceremony was attended by the bride's and groom's families, foreign royal families, diplomats, and the couple's chosen personal guests.
The wedding program was a 27-page book available as a PDF or iBook. It included a breakdown of the vows and ceremony hymns, and featured a new photo of the couple by Mario Testino.
