George Boyle
On 29 April 2011, Prince William and Catherine Middleton tied the knot at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The wedding of Prince William, who was second in line to the British throne at the time, later becoming heir apparent, attracted much media attention. The ceremony was attended by 1900 guests, including foreign royal family members, diplomats, politicians, celebrities, and the couple's chosen personal guests. The bride's sister, Pippa, was the maid of honour, and the groom's brother, Prince Harry, was the best man. The marriage was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, and the Dean of Westminster, John Hall, presided at the service.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 29 April 2011 |
| Location | Westminster Abbey, London, England |
| Bride | Catherine Middleton |
| Groom | Prince William |
| Bride's Title | Princess of Wales |
| Groom's Title | Prince of Wales |
| Bride's Dress | Custom ivory and lace gown designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen |
| Groom's Outfit | Red tunic |
| Bride's Makeup Artist | Self-applied after taking lessons from Arabella Preston and Bobbi Brown's team |
| Bouquet | Modest bouquet of British flowers, including lily of the valley, hyacinth, ivy, myrtle, and sweet William |
| Wedding Cake | Eight-tier cake |
| Guests | 1900 guests, including foreign royal family members, heads of state, David and Victoria Beckham, Elton John, Rowan Atkinson, and Guy Ritchie |
| Best Man | Prince Harry |
| Maid of Honour | Pippa Middleton |
| Officiants | John Hall, Dean of Westminster; Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury; Richard Chartres, Bishop of London |
| Honeymoon Location | Isle of Mull, Scotland |
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What You'll Learn
Prince William and Kate Middleton's 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 date was declared a public holiday throughout the United Kingdom.
The marriage of the second in line to the British throne was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, and was attended by 1,900 guests, including foreign royal family members and heads of state. The ceremony was also viewed live by tens of millions of people around the world.
The couple had been in a relationship since 2003, and their engagement was announced on 16 November 2010. The build-up to the wedding and the occasion itself attracted much media attention. Middleton was confirmed into the Church of England before the wedding, with the confirmation service conducted by the Bishop of London.
The wedding ceremony was attended by the bride's and groom's families, as well as members of foreign royal families, diplomats, and the couple's chosen personal guests. The best man was Prince Harry, while the maid of honour was Catherine's sister, Pippa. The couple held two receptions, one hosted by Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace, and the other a more intimate gathering hosted by King Charles.
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The wedding dress and Kate's wedding makeup
The wedding dress is one of the most important elements of the bridal look. For her wedding to Prince William, Kate Middleton wore a custom gown designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The dress featured long sleeves and set a new standard for natural glam.
Kate's wedding makeup was also notable, as she chose to do it herself after taking lessons from a makeup artist. Her look was characterized by a dewy complexion, flushed rosy cheeks, a grey smokey eye, and neutral lips. This "elevated natural" look enhanced her features rather than covering them up, and has since become a popular choice for brides.
To achieve a similar look, start with a medium-coverage foundation for a flawless yet natural finish. Use a lighter concealer under the eyes and on the high points of the face, then set with powder and a setting spray. This will create a radiant glow, which was a key aspect of Kate's wedding day look.
Kate's hair was also styled with a glamorous tiara lent to her by Queen Elizabeth II. Her bouquet was a modest arrangement of British flowers, including lily of the valley, hyacinth, ivy, myrtle, and sweet William, each with a special meaning.
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The wedding guest list
The couple's wedding, which took place on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey, was a grand affair, attracting much media attention and interest from the public. The ceremony was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, and included various ceremonial aspects, such as the use of state carriages and roles for the Foot Guards and Household Cavalry.
The guest list also included celebrities such as David and Victoria Beckham, Sir Elton John and his partner, David Furnish, actor Rowan Atkinson, and director Guy Ritchie. The couple held two wedding receptions, one hosted by Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace, and the other a more intimate gathering with 300 of their closest family members and friends, including the Beckhams and Elton John.
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, now the Prince and Princess of Wales, was a significant event that followed many traditions and was celebrated by people around the world. The guest list reflected the importance and grandeur of the occasion, with a mix of royalty, dignitaries, and celebrities in attendance.
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The wedding cake
Kate was very clear about her vision for the cake, which was to reflect the theme of the wedding: classical, imaginative, and stylish. Breaking with royal tradition, she requested a shorter cake than those typically seen at royal weddings, opting for a design that was as wide as it was tall to fill the space of the Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace, where the cake was displayed. To achieve this, the palace staff had to remove a door to get the cake into the room!
The cake was adorned with 900 leaf and floral touches, reflecting the flowers of the four UK nations and the architectural details of the Picture Gallery. It was also topped with the couple's cipher. Kate specified that the cake should have softer icing made from sugar paste rather than royal icing, and she provided a list of 17 flowers and leaves that were meaningful to her, including heather, lavender, and sweet Williams, to be incorporated into the design. The cake even featured a reproduction of a piece of lace from her wedding dress, although the baker, Cairns, was unaware of this at the time.
The creation of the cake took two and a half days, and it lasted beyond the wedding reception. In fact, pieces of the fruitcake were served at all three of William and Kate's children's christenings, with the most recent being Prince Louis in 2018. The longevity of the cake is a testament to the English tradition of rich fruitcakes for weddings, which dates back to Queen Victoria's time.
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The wedding receptions
It is not clear who "will" and "Kate" are, but I assume this is in reference to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29, 2011, included two wedding receptions: a formal lunchtime reception and an intimate evening celebration. The receptions were held at Buckingham Palace, with the lunch taking place in the palace's main rooms and the evening event in the private residence of the monarch. Only close friends and family were invited to the evening reception, which was a black-tie affair with a seated dinner.
The lunchtime reception was hosted by Her Majesty the Queen and included around 650 guests. This included a mix of the couple's friends and family, as well as members of foreign royal families, diplomats, and politicians. The reception took place in the palace's state rooms, which are a series of lavishly decorated rooms used for official entertaining. Guests were served a range of canapés and bowl foods, including miniature Yorkshire puddings with roast beef and horseradish, and pea and mint cups with goat cheese.
The atmosphere was described as "celebratory and relaxed," with guests treated to live music and the opportunity to explore the palace's gardens. One of the highlights of the reception was the appearance of the newlyweds on the balcony, where they shared a kiss. This was a traditional part of royal weddings and a moment that was eagerly anticipated by the guests and the public.
The evening reception was a more intimate affair, with only around 300 guests. It was hosted by Prince Charles, the father of the groom, and held in the palace's vast ballroom. The ballroom was decorated with candles and white flowers, creating a romantic and elegant atmosphere. Guests were served a three-course dinner, followed by dancing to music played by a live band. The couple's first dance was to a song performed by a close friend, and they also cut a multi-tiered wedding cake.
The evening reception included a number of speeches, with the father of the bride, Michael Middleton, paying tribute to the couple and welcoming Prince William into the family. Prince William also gave a speech, thanking his family and guests for their support and celebrating his new wife. The evening concluded with a fireworks display in the palace gardens, providing a memorable end to the wedding celebrations.
Overall, the wedding receptions of Prince William and Kate Middleton combined traditional royal elements with personal touches, creating a memorable and elegant celebration shared with their loved ones.
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Frequently asked questions
Kate Middleton, now known as Catherine, Princess of Wales, is the wife of Prince William.
Prince William, now known as the Prince of Wales, is the son of King Charles and the late Princess Diana. He is second in line to the British throne.
Prince William and Kate Middleton got married on 29 April 2011.
The wedding took place at Westminster Abbey in London, England.
