The Wedding of the Century Fourteen Years On…

My Favourite Memories of William & Kate’s Wedding

Happy Friday! Sorry for the long pause - broken ankle, surgery etc etc But I’m back and kicking off with a fun Friday newsletter.

This week, William and Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales celebrated their fourteenth wedding anniversary. Their wedding on the 29th of April 2011 was a pivotal royal watching moment for so many of us. It was a day full of joy, love, happiness and so, so many memorable moments.

Here is a countdown of my ten favourite moments from the biggest royal wedding in a generation…

#10 - The Official Portraits

The three shots official shots that were released from the day were all taken in the Throne Room at BuckinghamPalace by photographer Hugo Burnand. There is one portrait of William and Catherine together and a second with both of their families and the wedding party.

The third is my favourite, with William and Catherine seated and the younger members of the bridal party seated around them. I love all three photos but this is my favourite because everyone in it just looks SO happy and relaxed despite being in such a formal setting.

#9 - Watching the Guests Arrive

Watching the guests arrive was one of the most enjoyable parts of the night for me, my mum and my sister (my forever royal wedding watching crew). There were over 1900 guests at the Abbey that day and it was so much fun watching them arrive, trying to spot anyone famous, seeing who was wearing what, who was sitting where and who had made any, ummm, "interesting" fashion choices. There were just SO many people and outfits to check out - the British royals, foreign royals, celebrities and other friends and family. It was the ultimate night of people watching!

God bless 2011 fashion - especially the platform heels!

#8 - The Carriage Procession

After the ceremony at Westminster Abbey, the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge rode back to Buckingham Palace in a spectacular 15 minute long carriage procession. It involved five horse drawn carriages, military contingents and bands. The procession drove the 2.3km back to the palace past the estimated one million people lining the streets of London hoping to catch a glimpse of the newlyweds. William and Kate rode in the open topped 1902 State Landau carriage. The carriage was built for the coronation of Edward VII and was pulled by four beautiful Windsor Grey horses.

I love any royal procession and this was a very special one! This was one of the most visually spectacular parts of the wedding. I loved everything about it - the carriages, the HUGE crowds, the horses, the colour and spectacle of the military elements. But the best part? Just how happy and relaxed William and Kate were. Their relief at the most formal part of the day being over was obvious! Plus Kate's loving “are you happy?" to William as they sat down in the carriage was soooo sweet.

#7 - Kate's Arrival

This was the moment that everyone had been waiting for - the moment we got to see Kate Middleton arrive for her wedding to her prince! Anticipation was high surrounding her wedding dress and choice of designer. So when we finally got to fully see Kate's stunning Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen wedding gown I think we all collectively gasped! Kate had travelled from the Goring Hotel to Westminster Abbey with her father Michael Middleton in a Rolls Royce Phantom VI. When they arrived at the Abbey, Kate seemed so calm and composed - even taking a few moments to wave to the crowds and take it all in. I can only imagine the nerves she must have been feeling inside! It must have been so special and surreal for Michael, and for Kate's sister Pippa, her maid of honour, to be there with her for that moment.

#6 - The Balcony Kisses

After the ceremony the newlyweds returned to Buckingham Palace where they gave us all the much anticipated traditional post wedding balcony appearance. During their balcony appearance the couple shared their first public kisses as husband and wife! William's parents Charles and Diana started the balcony kiss tradition in 1981 after the crowds below began chanting "Kiss! Kiss!". William and Catherine shared not one but two sweet smooches during the RAF flyover.

A special shout out to adorable 3 year old bridesmaid (and William's goddaughter) Grace Van Cutsem for covering her ears (due to the loud noise from the RAF flypast) and becoming the star of many "grumpy bridesmaid" memes the next day.

#5 - William & Harry

Princes William and Harry leaving Clarence House together to travel to Westminster Abbey for the ceremony and then waiting at the altar is one of the most vivid memories of the wedding for me.It may sound silly (especially now) but when the cameras cut to William and Harry leaving Clarence House on their way to Westminster Abbey, I immediately choked up with tears. They just looked SO handsome and grown up and happy. I think that after watching everything they had gone through - losing their mum, having to grow up without her and remembering that the one of the last big occasions we had seen them at like this was walking behind her coffin... Yeah, seeing them happy and on their way to William's wedding hit me right in the feels.

I also loved watching the two brothers enter the abbey together and waiting nervously for Kate, Harry sneaking peeks as she walked up to the aisle and grinning as he whispered to William. These pictures make me so sad now. I miss this brotherly relationship and I don't think that anyone could have possibly imagined on the day of the wedding that things between William and Harry would be the way they are now. But it remains one of my absolute favourite moments of the weddings

#4 - William & Kate During the Ceremony

From the moment that Kate arrived at the altar with her father Michael through to the moment when she William emerged from Westminster Abbey to the sound of bells ringing and cheering crowds, the wedding ceremony was absolutely beautiful. The couple exchanged private words, jokes and loving looks and smiles throughout the ceremony. They seemed just like any other couple getting married, despite the grand setting. I loved seeing their love for each other and genuine happiness together.

#3- The Dress!

Catherine's Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen dress was just so stunning! It's my favourite royal wedding dress of all time and in a testament to its timelessness, I think it's still just as beautiful fourteen years later. Kate's dress was the most closely guarded secret of the wedding and what most people were most excited about. It did not disappoint! Kate chose McQueen for "the beauty of its craftsmanship" and “respect for traditional workmanship". She wanted a wedding gown that combined tradition and modernity. It was the perfect dress for a modern royal bride with such an important future role in the monarchy - traditional but not too conservative. Classic but modern.

The dress, made of ivory and white satin gazer and lace, featured a v-neck, long sleeves and a bodice inspired by Victorian corsetry. The lace was handmade by the Royal School of Needlework and featured the floral emblems of the countries of the UK - roses, daffodils, thistles and shamrocks. The full skirt was followed by an 8.85 metre long train and the dress was fastened with 58 organza covered buttons and Rouleau loops. In this dress, Catherine was the iconic royal bride of our generation.

The new Duchess of Cambridge also wore a second gorgeous McQueen dress for their evening reception.

#2 - The Aston Martin!

William & Catherine leaving Buckingham Palace after their wedding in an Aston Martin borrowed from the then Prince Charles was such a surprise! I LOVED this!! It was so unexpected and fun. William driving his new wife away from their lunchtime reception in his father's vintage Aston Martin - jokingly decorated with L plates, balloons and personalised number plates - was a moment of pure fun and joy!

#1 - "Oh Wow!"

And my absolute favourite moment of the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge wedding day... Kate's "OH WOW!" as she and William walked out onto the Buckingham Palace balcony. All of these years later it remains my fondest and most vivid memory of the wedding day. Kate's genuine awestruck amazement at the huge crowds as they walked out onto the balcony was just so lovely. I cannot even begin to imagine how those moments must have felt for her - nothing could prepare you for those ginormous crowds all there to see you!

I also loved this moment when she took one last look back as she and William headed inside. I loved how happy she was and how she was soaking it all in.

I hope that you have enjoyed this walk down royal wedding memory lane with me! Have a wonderful weekend and I’ll be back on Sunday night with my thoughts on recent royal news!

Thanks for reading,

Jane.