Lyla Dejesus
The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011 was one of the most iconic moments in British history. The royal couple were joined by four bridesmaids and two page boys, including Grace van Cutsem, who became known as the Grumpy Bridesmaid or Frowning Flower Girl after photos of her scowling and covering her ears during the couple's first kiss went viral. Grace, who is now a teenager, is Prince William's goddaughter and the daughter of his close friend Hugh van Cutsem.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 29 April 2011 |
| Venue | Westminster Abbey, London |
| Couple | Prince William and Kate Middleton |
| Couple's Titles | Duke and Duchess of Cambridge |
| Girl Covering Ears | Grace van Cutsem, 3 years old at the time |
| Grace's Relation to the Couple | Daughter of the couple's friend Hugh van Cutsem |
| Grace's Current Age | 13 years old |
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What You'll Learn
Flower girl Grace van Cutsem covers ears during the kiss
The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011 was one of the most iconic moments in British history. The royal couple were joined by four young bridesmaids and two page boys, including Grace van Cutsem, who was just three years old at the time.
Grace became an internet sensation when she was pictured covering her ears and scowling during the couple's first kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. The noise from the roaring crowd was clearly too much for her, and she stole the limelight from the newlyweds with her grumpy expression. She earned the nicknames "Grumpy Bridesmaid" and "Frowning Flower Girl" and became known as the "Royal Wedding Girl".
Grace's father, Hugh van Cutsem Jr., is a close friend of Prince William, who is also her godfather. Grace walked hand in hand with the Duchess of Cambridge's sister, Pippa Middleton, and appeared in several photos with the family. She seemed confused by all the attention and the crowds of people taking photos.
Grace largely kept out of the public eye after her shining moment at the royal wedding. However, her mother, Rose Astor, has been keeping her Instagram followers updated on her life. She is now a teenager and attends a private school near the family home in Oxfordshire.
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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding cost £23.7 million
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, was a grand affair that attracted much media attention. The wedding, which took place in 2011, cost £23.7 million (approximately $34 million), with security costing $2 million. The bride's family also contributed a "six-figure gift" towards the wedding, a break from tradition where the British royal family usually pays for the wedding.
The wedding had many memorable moments, including the use of state carriages, a role for the Foot Guards and Household Cavalry, and a surprise flypast of an Avro Lancaster bomber, a Supermarine Spitfire fighter, and a Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft. The ceremony was viewed live by tens of millions worldwide, with 72 million live streams on YouTube alone.
One of the most unforgettable moments of the wedding was the appearance of a flower girl, Grace van Cutsem, who covered her ears and scowled during the couple's first kiss on the balcony. Grace, who was 3 years old at the time, became known as the "Grumpy Bridesmaid" or "Frowning Flower Girl" and stole the limelight from the royal couple with her adorable antics. She was also pictured in the wedding portrait with the smallest members of the bridal party, looking bewildered while playing with her flowers.
The wedding ceremony was held at Westminster Abbey, which has been the traditional location for coronations since 1066. The night before the wedding, the Queen and other royal family members attended a gala dinner at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. After the wedding, the Queen hosted a lunchtime reception at Buckingham Palace, and in the evening, the Prince of Wales hosted a private dinner and dancing for the couple and their close friends and family.
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The newlyweds shared their first public kiss on the balcony
The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011 was one of the most iconic moments in British history. The couple tied the knot in a fairy-tale ceremony at Westminster Abbey, surrounded by their loved ones, including the littlest members of their bridal party. The newlyweds shared their first public kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, with a Royal Air Force flyover adding to the magic of the moment.
However, it was three-year-old flower girl Grace van Cutsem who stole the show during this iconic kiss. Grace, the daughter of the couple's friend Hugh van Cutsem, with Prince William as her godfather, became an internet sensation when she appeared on the balcony covering her ears and scowling. Her adorable grimace, seemingly in protest of the loud noise from the roaring crowd, earned her the nicknames "Grumpy Bridesmaid" and "Frowning Flower Girl".
Grace's bewildered and cranky expressions throughout the wedding day have lived on in the memories of royal watchers. In one wedding portrait with the bridal party, she sits looking a bit confused, appearing to play with her flowers. She also walked hand in hand with the maid of honour, Pippa Middleton, seeming unsure why everyone was making such a big fuss and taking so many photos.
Grace's accidental photobomb during the balcony kiss certainly stole some of the limelight from the newlyweds. Her mother, Rose Astor, has since kept her Instagram followers updated on her life. Grace has largely stayed out of the public eye, but at the time of the wedding's 10th anniversary, she was 13 years old and a student at a private school near her family home in Oxfordshire.
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The ceremony was watched by 24.5 million people in the UK
The royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton was a grand affair, with the couple tying the knot in a fairy-tale ceremony at Westminster Abbey in front of 1,900 guests. The event was not just confined to the guests in attendance but was also watched by an estimated 24.5 million people in the United Kingdom alone. The ceremony was broadcast live on television, with BBC One and ITV airing the wedding, capturing the special moments from the day, including the couple's first kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
The wedding was not just a special moment for the couple but also for their young bridal party, who almost stole the limelight with their adorable and candid expressions. One particular moment that captured the hearts of many was the now-famous image of three-year-old Grace van Cutsem, the daughter of the couple's friend and Prince William's goddaughter, covering her ears during the balcony kiss. Grace's expression, seemingly overwhelmed by the noise of the cheering crowds, earned her the nickname "Grumpy Bridesmaid" and "Frowning Flower Girl".
The royal wedding was a highly anticipated event in the UK, with an April 2011 poll finding that 35% of British adults intended to watch the wedding on television. The ceremony was also streamed live online on YouTube through the British Monarchy's official channel, making it accessible to a global audience. The wedding was a significant moment in British history, with the couple becoming the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and it continues to be remembered fondly, even 11 years later.
The wedding ceremony itself followed some traditional customs, such as the bride's attire adhering to the "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" theme. Kate Middleton's gown and veil included lace appointments for "something old," custom-made diamond earrings from her parents for "something new," the Queen's tiara for "something borrowed," and a blue ribbon sewn into the bodysuit for "something blue." The groom, Prince William, also broke with tradition by having his brother, Prince Harry, serve as his best man.
The wedding day was not just about the ceremony but also about the celebrations that followed. The Queen hosted a lunchtime reception at Buckingham Palace after the arrival of the married couple's carriage. The newlyweds posed with the youngest members of their bridal party, including Grace van Cutsem, who stood front and center, appearing in several photos with the family. These photographs, capturing the candid expressions of the young bridal party, have become cherished memories of the day, with Grace van Cutsem's "grumpy" expression particularly endearing to many.
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The couple asked for donations to charities instead of gifts
Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding was a grand affair, with the couple surrounded by lots of love from family and friends, including the littlest members of their wedding party. The couple requested that guests and well-wishers donate to a charitable fund instead of giving them wedding gifts. This fund would support 26 charities chosen by the couple, reflecting their interests and values. The charities were grouped into five categories: children, arts, the armed forces, the elderly, and conservation. Many of these organisations were small, grassroots groups with limited budgets, and the donations provided a welcome boost to their work.
The couple's decision to request charitable donations instead of gifts was notable, as it marked a shift from traditional wedding gift lists. It also allowed them to avoid the challenge of receiving extravagant or unwanted gifts, such as the 500 cases of tinned pineapple given to William's grandmother by the government of Queensland in 1947. By choosing to support grassroots organisations, William and Kate also deflected any criticisms of royal extravagance during a time of financial austerity.
The charities chosen by the couple included a range of causes close to their hearts. For example, Dance United, which uses dance to help disadvantaged children and young people, and PeacePlayers International, which uses sport to unite young people from different backgrounds in Northern Ireland. Other organisations focused on conservation, such as the Zoological Society of London, which works to protect black rhinos in Kenya, where the couple got engaged. There were also charities reflecting the couple's links to Scotland, such as the Ocean Youth Trust and the Scottish Community Foundation.
The donations were held in a dedicated account by the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry before being distributed in partnership with the chosen charities to ensure maximum impact. This decision by the couple was well-received by the charities, who expressed their honour and gratitude for being chosen. It also highlighted the increasing trend of the royal family's involvement in charitable endeavours and their desire to make a positive impact.
The wedding also had its memorable moments, with Grace van Cutsem, the 3-year-old flower girl, becoming an accidental star with her grumpy facial expressions. Grace, who is now a teenager, was pictured covering her ears and scowling during the balcony kiss, seemingly overwhelmed by the noise and attention. Her adorable antics stole the show and earned her the nickname "Grumpy Bridesmaid".
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Frequently asked questions
Will and Kate got married on 29 April 2011.
The wedding ceremony was held at Westminster Abbey in London, England.
The wedding was attended by the couple's families, members of foreign royal families, dignitaries, celebrities, and personal guests. There were about 1,900 guests in total.
William is reported to have said, "You look lovely," and "You look beautiful," to Kate as she joined him at the altar.
Kate wore an ivory satin and lace wedding dress designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.
Image caption: A young girl covers her ears at a street party held to celebrate the royal wedding.
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