Lyla Dejesus
On 29 April 2011, Prince William and Catherine 'Kate' Middleton were married in a lavish ceremony at Westminster Abbey, London. The couple, who met at the University of St Andrews in 2001, began dating in 2003 and announced their engagement in October 2010. The wedding was a traditional affair, with Kate arriving at the abbey by car, and the couple exchanging vows in front of 1900 guests. The ceremony was presided over by the Dean of Westminster, John Hall, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, and was attended by the couple's families and friends, foreign royalty, diplomats, and their chosen personal guests.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 29 April 2011 |
| Location | Westminster Abbey, London |
| Bride | Catherine Middleton |
| Groom | Prince William |
| Bride's Father | Michael Middleton |
| Bride's Sister | Pippa Middleton |
| Groom's Best Man | Prince Harry |
| Officiant | John Hall, Dean of Westminster |
| Archbishop of Canterbury | Rowan Williams |
| Bishop of London | Richard Chartres |
| Bride's Wedding Dress Designer | Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen |
| Bride's Bouquet | Myrtle, lily-of-the-valley, sweet william, and hyacinth |
| Wedding Cake | Eight-tier |
| Wedding March | "Crown Imperial" by William Walton |
| Wedding Hymns | "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" |
| Wedding Guests | 1,900 |
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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 venue was no surprise to many, as it has been the traditional location for coronations since 1066, and royal weddings in the last century. The abbey, founded in AD 960, has a seating capacity of 2000 and has been the venue for most royal weddings, including those of William's grandparents (Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip) in 1947, William's great-aunt Princess Margaret in 1960, William's first cousin twice removed Princess Alexandra in 1963, William's aunt Princess Anne in 1973, and William's uncle Prince Andrew in 1986.
The day started with an announcement from the Queen's office stating the titles that the couple would take. Guests began arriving at Westminster Abbey at 8:30 a.m., with the royal family following at 10:40 a.m. through the front of the church's west door. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were the last to arrive before the bride. At 11 a.m., Catherine, accompanied by her father, made their way into the abbey, passing through the Abbey's West Door and pausing at St George's Chapel, where the Coronation Chair is located. The congregation sang the hymn "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling", a popular choice at English weddings. The ceremony lasted approximately an hour and included vows and a sermon delivered by the Bishop of London, the private clergyman to the queen.
The bells of Westminster Abbey rang a full peal as the newly married couple and guests left the church. The ten bells rang a peal called "Spliced Surprise Royal", consisting of 5,040 changes, that took more than three hours to complete. The couple then headed to an afternoon reception hosted by the Queen, followed by a more intimate evening party at St James Palace.
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Kate Middleton's wedding dress
The wedding dress of Catherine Middleton, now known as the Princess of Wales, was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The dress was designed to combine "tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterises Alexander McQueen's work".
The dress was made of English Cluny lace and French Chantilly lace, with a 9-foot-long train and padded hips, designed to look like an opening flower. The dress also featured a small piece of blue fabric sewn inside, as the "something blue". The lace bodice was influenced by the traditional Carrickmacross lace-making technique, with floral motifs cut out of lace produced on 19th-century machines and stitched to machine net. The majority of the dress was made using Solstiss lace, with the skirt and train featuring white satin gazar arches and pleats.
The dress was kept under wraps until the wedding day, with Burton being announced as the designer on the morning of the wedding. The dress was widely anticipated and generated much comment in the media, with many noting the traditional design and its expected influence on Western bridal gown trends. Replicas of the dress were produced and sold, and the original dress was put on display at Buckingham Palace, breaking royal visitation records.
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Wedding music and entertainment
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton featured a blend of traditional and contemporary British music. The couple's choices were largely influenced by royal family traditions and British composers.
Before the Service
The music before the service began with a selection of organ pieces, including:
- Fantasia in G (Pièce d’orgue à 5) by Johann Sebastian Bach
- Veni Creator Spiritus by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
- Prelude on St. Columba Op. 28 by Sir Charles Villiers Stanford
- Sonata for Organ Op. 28 (Allegro maestoso and Allegretto) by Edward Elgar
Fanfare
The arrival of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh was marked by a Fanfare performed by The State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry.
Processionals
The procession of the Queen was accompanied by March from The Birds by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry. The procession of the clergy featured Prelude on Rhosymedre by Ralph Vaughan Williams, chosen for its Welsh echoes. For the procession of the bride, the couple selected I Was Glad by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry.
Hymns
The couple chose three hymns for the service:
- Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer, with words by William Williams, translated by Peter Williams, and music by John Hughes
- Love Divine, All Love Excelling, with words by Charles Wesley and music by William Penfro Rowlands
- Jerusalem, by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, with words by William Blake
Anthems and Motets
The Anthem, This is the Day Which the Lord Hath Made, was specially composed for the occasion by British composer, conductor, and arranger John Rutter. It was followed by the Motet Ubi Caritas by Welsh composer Paul Mealor.
Recessional
The Recessional for the procession of the bride and bridegroom was Crown Imperial by William Walton.
Reception
At the wedding reception, Ellie Goulding performed a cover of Elton John's Your Song for the couple's first dance. Goulding also performed a Grease medley and a Killers track from her 2010 debut album.
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Wedding guests
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011 was a grand affair with a guest list of approximately 1900 people. The guest list was divided into three sections, with the first 1900 people attending the ceremony at Westminster Abbey, the second group of 600 invited to the luncheon reception at Buckingham Palace, and the final 300 names for the evening dinner hosted by the Prince of Wales. The guest list included a mix of celebrities, soldiers, diplomats, foreign dignitaries, friends, family, sports stars, and personalities.
Among the notable guests were several members of the British royal family, including the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, the groom's paternal grandparents, and the Duchess of Westminster, who is one of Prince William's godmothers. The groom's father, Charles, Prince of Wales, played a significant role in the wedding party. Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, the first cousin of Prince William, was also in attendance.
Foreign royalty was also represented, with guests such as the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Japan, who attended despite the recent earthquake and tsunami in their country. Other notable foreign guests included the King and Queen of Jordan, the Queen of the Netherlands, and the King and Queen of the Belgians.
The wedding also had a strong political presence, with guests like Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister of Canada, and his wife, Laureen Harper. The wedding fell just before the Canadian federal elections. The Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, and Lady Somare were also in attendance, despite Sir Michael's recent surgery.
In addition to royalty and political figures, William and Kate's wedding guest list included friends and acquaintances from various spheres. The couple notably invited some of their ex-partners, including four of William's former girlfriends: Isabella Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe, Arabella Musgrave, Rose Farquhar, and Jecca Craig. Kate also invited Harry Blakelock, described as her "first love." Socialites and friends of the couple, such as Sir Richard Branson and his daughter, Holly Branson, were also in attendance.
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Wedding vows
The Bride's Vows:
"I, Catherine Elizabeth, take thee, William Arthur Philip Louis, to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse: for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy law; and thereto I give thee my troth."
The Groom's Vows:
"I, William Arthur Philip Louis, take thee, Catherine Elizabeth, to my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse: for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy law; and thereto I give thee my troth."
The vows were exchanged before the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, with the Dean of Westminster conducting the service and the Bishop of London giving the address.
The couple's decision to include the traditional phrase "to love, comfort, honour, and keep" each other highlighted their commitment to mutual support and respect. Notably, Kate Middleton, like her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, chose not to include the word "obey" in her vows, reflecting a modern perspective on gender equality within the institution of marriage, especially within the context of the British monarchy and its traditions.
The wedding ceremony also included a preamble, a significant aspect of the Catholic wedding service, which emphasised the sacred nature of marriage as an honourable estate instituted by God. It highlighted the unity and loyalty that marriage signifies and the role of Christ in sanctifying this union.
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Frequently asked questions
Will and Kate got married at Westminster Abbey in London, England.
The wedding took place on Friday, 29 April 2011.
The ceremony started at 11:00 BST.
The ceremony was attended by the bride's and groom's families, members of foreign royal families, diplomats, and the couple's chosen personal guests.
Kate wore an English Cluny lace and French Chantilly lace wedding gown designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.
