The most beautiful royal weddings through the years

<h2>Prince William and Kate Middleton, 2011</h2> <p>Like most British royals, the Cambridges followed tradition and said “I do” at Westminster Abbey on April 29. It was a huge, televised affair, with a whopping 1,900 guests invited to the religious ceremony. Nearly 600 people were further invited to an exclusive luncheon at Buckingham Palace, hosted by Her Majesty, Prince William’s grandmother. Then, around 300 of William and Kate's closest friends and family members had the honour of celebrating the newlyweds at a lavish evening dinner.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly, 2008</h2> <p>Love knows no borders! Peter, Queen Elizabeth's grandson, said “I do” to Canadian-born Autumn at St. George Chapel's on May 17 – just around the same date Meghan and Harry will do the same. Keeping in line with newlywed royal couples before them, Princess Anne’s son and his new wife left the church service together in an open topped carriage.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>Pierre Casiraghi and Beatrice Borromeo, 2015</h2> <p>Two weddings are better than one! Pierre and Beatrice had two big days - a civil ceremony in Monte Carlo, Monaco followed by a religious wedding on her family-owned Borromean Islands a few days later on Aug. 1. The latter ceremony was a royal-studded affair, with the groom's mom Princess Caroline and aunt Princess Stephanie in attendance, as well as his siblings Andrea and Charlotte Casiraghi and Princess Alexandra. They enjoyed a sit-down dinner at the reception followed by a night of dancing and toasting the newlyweds.The stylish bride wore not one but six different gowns over the course of the two celebrations, including a bohemian Alberta Ferretti number, a pale-pink Valentino creation and a stunning grecian Armani design</p>
<h2>Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, 2005</h2> <p>The Prince of Wales and the future Duchess of Cornwall walked down the aisle on April 9. The royals came together at Windsor Castle to celebrate their union, with crowds gathering excitedly on the street outside the chapel. Their pleasant civil ceremony took place at Windsor Guildhall in Berkshire. Though the nuptials were originally scheduled for April 8, the Prince had to represent the Queen last minute at the funeral of Pope John Paul II.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly, 1956</h2> <p>Another double wedding! The American actress and her Monegasque love held two celebrations as is the custom in Monaco, where a civil marriage much take place before a religious ceremony. On April 18, Prince Rainier and Grace were legally wed in the baroque throne room in the Palace of Monaco, with their close family and friends watching on. The legendary film star wore a beige lace dress and hat, and after saying “I do,” the newlyweds made a brief appearance on the palace's balcony, waving to some 500 members of the public waiting below.</p> <p>The next morning, Grace and Rainier held a religious ceremony at the Cathedral of Monaco, attended by around 600 guests and watched by an estimated 30 million on television. To celebrate their union, the newlyweds held a special luncheon at the Palace's Court of Honour attended by 700 guests, where the bride and groom cut their six-tier wedding cake using the prince's sword.</p> <p>Photo: © Rex</p>
<h2>Prince Felipe and Letizia Rocasolano, 2004</h2> <p>On May 22, the then-prince exchanged vows with his blushing bride in a dazzling wedding ceremony at Madrid’s Almudeno Cathedral. This made Letizia a princess and then, a decade later, Felipe ascended the throne and she became Queen. Over 25 million people in Spain alone took in the nuptials on TV, with many more watching from their homes abroad. The pair is now King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>Prince Haakon and Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby, 2001</h2> <p>Ringing out the end of summer, Crown Prince Haakon and Metter-Marit said “I do” on Aug. 25. Red, blue and white flowers lavishly lined the streets for their big day, while hundreds of banners flew in the late-summer breeze. Scores of Norwegian flags were carried by ordinary well-wishers who came in the thousands to cheer for their future monarch and his soon-to-be wife. Clad in a white gown with a 20-ft veil, the bride wept through the ceremony at Oslo cathedral, at which Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark was best man. Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria also played a key role in the festivities, sharing a reading during the ceremony. The bride and groom beamed as they cut through the wedding cake at their reception, which was inspired by Viking ships and festooned with dragons.</p> <p>Photo: © Rex</p>
<h2>Prince Charles and Diana Spencer, 1981</h2> <p>Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s marriage sadly ended in divorce in 1996, but 15 years earlier, their wedding day was a true fairy tale. Diana was just 20 at the time, and became the first British citizen to marry an heir to the British throne in 300 years.</p> <p>The couple said “I do” at St. Paul's Cathedral with heads of state from all over the world in attendance, and the future princess wore a silk taffeta gown with a stunning 25-foot train. They celebrated their day with 27 wedding cakes, with the official cake standing over five-feet tall and topped off with roses, lilies of the valley and orchids.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>Prince Félix and Claire Lademacher, 2013</h2> <p>This darling duo exchanged loving vows at their civil ceremony at Villa Rothschild Kempinski on Sept. 17 in Konigstein, Germany. The Luxembourg royal and his bride said “I do” in front of 350 guests at the civil nuptials, which was followed by a religious wedding only a few days later in the South of France at the Basilique Sainte Marie-Madeleine in Saint-Maximin-La-Sainte-Baume. For her second nuptials, the bride wore a stunning lace Elie Saab gown. Keeping with his family's tradition, the groom planned the honeymoon, keeping the destination a surprise for his bride.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>Prince Guillaume and Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy, 2012</h2> <p>Autumn is the perfect season for weddings – especially royal ones! The Grand Duke of Luxembourg and the love of his life, Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy, walked down the aisle at a beautiful ceremony in the Our Lady of Luxembourg Cathedral on Oct. 20. A day earlier, the couple held a low-key civil service at the Luxembourg City Town Hall.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>Princess Anne and Mark Phillips, 1973</h2> <p>The happy couple were pronounced husband and wife on Nov. 14 in Westminster Abbey. Only 26 years prior, the Abbey saw the nuptials of the bride’s mother and father, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Watched by an estimated 500 million television viewers around the world, the streets of London were crowded with royal watchers. Eventually, this day was named a national holiday!</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>Princess Caroline and Philippe Junot, 1978</h2> <p>The 21-year-old princess married her first husband, 38-year-old financier Philippe Junot, on June 28 in Monte Carlo. A religious ceremony followed the next day. The bride stunned in a full-skirted Christian Dior confection. Though they divorced in October 1980, she was quickly remarried, once again wearing Dior, to Italian heir Stefano Casiraghi in December 1983. Sadly, Stefano – father of Princess Caroline's three oldest children, Andrea, Charlotte and Pierre Casiraghi – died in a boating accident seven years later. The royal then said “I do” to her current husband Prince Ernst August of Hanover, Duke of Brunswick, in 1999. For the small, secretive third wedding, the bride wore a light blue Chanel suit.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>Prince Albert and Charlene Wittstock, 2011</h2> <p>Prince Albert and Charlene had a busy two days! Following their civil ceremony on July 1, the couple were pronounced husband and wife for the second time in a religious ceremony. Marrying in the Throne Room of the royal palace, Charlene looked ethereal in a beautifully cut sky-blue suit that oozed understated glamour. On July 2, Charlene stepped out in a silk Giorgio Armani bridal gown in the Cour d'Honneur. There was a 3,500-strong congregation, plus 800 more celebrities and dignitaries who had been invited to witness the spectacular day.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>Princess Madeleine and Christopher O'Neill, 2013</h2> <p>Madeleine and Christopher had a romantic summer wedding on June 8 at the Royal Palace chapel in Stockholm. Swedish royal watchers tuned in to the live broadcast of the ceremony as King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia's youngest child started her happily ever after with her new husband. The bride was walked halfway up the aisle by her father and the rest of the way by her future husband. At the lavish reception, the couple traded a traditional wedding cake for a giant pyramid of 700 macarons.</p>
<h2>Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1960</h2> <p>Princess Margaret, sister to Queen Elizabeth II, was married to the handsome British photographer from 1960 to 1978, saying “I do” on May 6 at Westminster Abbey. Their nuptials were the first ever to be televised and attracted 300 million viewers worldwide. Upon marrying Margaret, Antony received the title Earl of Snowdon. The couple honeymooned in the Caribbean on a six-week cruise before settling down at Kensington Palace.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>Prince Carl Philip and Sofia Kristina Hellqvist, 2015</h2> <p>June 13 saw the Swedish prince and his former reality star love exchange vows in Stockholm. During the ceremony, wedding goers were treated to a Swedish rendition of Rihanna’s “Umbrella” as well as an English performance of Coldplay’s “Fix You”. Surrounded by family, friends and royal guests from around the globe, the two celebrated their big day with a carriage ride through the streets and a gorgeous reception, complete with dinner and dancing. Their wedding cake, a modern affair on a silver stand, was baked with Pop Rocks fizzy candies as a surprise for guests.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling, 2010</h2> <p>It was the day Sweden’s dreams came true. The future Queen, Crown Princess Victoria, married her longtime love and former personal trainer, Daniel Westling, in a stunningly heartwarming ceremony held at Stockholm's Cathedral on June 19. This was the biggest event ever covered on television in Stockholm. There were upwards of 1,100 guests in attendance as Victoria, clad in the Swedish cameo tiara that her mother also wore on her wedding day, said "I do" to the future Duke of Västergötland. After a carriage procession, the darling couple made their way across the harbour to Drottningholm Palace where they celebrated their big day.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten, 1947</h2> <p>Easily one of the most famous of royal nuptials of all time was then-Princess Elizabeth’s wedding to her second cousin once removed, Philip, at Westminster Abbey on Nov. 20. The future queen was walked down the aisle by her father, King George VI, and she had eight bridesmaids, among them Princess Margaret, her younger sister, Princess Alexandra of Kent and Pamela Mountbatten. Of their special day, Pamela told <em>The Telegraph</em>: "Princess Elizabeth with her marvellous complexion and Prince Philip such a devastatingly handsome naval officer. He looked tender, she was adoring. They really were a dream couple."</p> <p>The morning of her wedding the bride's Fringe Tiara snapped, and royal jewellers Garrard rushed to fix it in time for the ceremony, which was broadcast on BBC radio to 200 million people around the world. Following their "I dos," the happy couple made their way to Buckingham Palace for a celebratory breakfast.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>Philippe, Duke of Brabant, and Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz, 1999</h2> <p>A snowy Christmas wedding! When the couple tied the knot on Dec. 4, Mathilde became Princess Mathilde, Duchess of Brabant and also the first Belgian-born future queen consort. The occasion was a quintessential winter wedding, with royals and public figures from around the world invited to the ceremony at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels. Pageboys and flower girls were decked out in red velvet ensembles. The pair is now King Philippe and Queen Matilde of Belgium.</p> <p>Photo: © Rex</p>
<h2>Prince Willem-Alexander and Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti, 2002</h2> <p>A week shy of Valentine’s Day, the royal couple made it official on Feb. 2. The stylish Máxima donned a show-stopping Valentino gown, while the then-prince wore the full Captain in the Royal Netherlands Navy uniform. An arch of swords greeted the newlywed as they exited the church. where a total of 1,900 military personnel played a role in the ceremony. The pair is now King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands.</p> <p>Photo: © Rex</p>
<h2>King Carl XVI Gustaf and Silvia Renate Sommerlath, 1976</h2> <p>The Swedish monarch and his darling wife – who have welcomed three children and five grandchildren over the years – said “I do” on June 19. The couple announced their engagement three years after Carl Gustaf ascended the throne. They exchanged vows at Stockholm Cathedral, marking the first televised royal wedding ceremony in Sweden. The night prior they had a pre-wedding concert at the Royal Opera where ABBA performed the hit “Dancing Queen” in tribute to their future queen.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>King Juan Carlos and Sophia of Greece and Denmark, 1962</h2> <p>Juan Carlos and Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark exchanged vows twice on their wedding day! To accommodate both families' religions, they had a stunning Catholic ceremony at the church of Saint Denis in Athens followed by another round of "I dos" at the Metropolitan Cathedral for the Orthodox ceremony. This followed three days of pre-wedding festivities that included garden parties, galas and sightseeing tours. From her wedding day forward Sophia was known by the Spanish version of her name, Sofía, and became Queen consort.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, 1986</h2> <p>They first met as childhood playmates before their acquaintance turned to love years later at a Royal Ascot party. Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson said “I do” on July 23 at Westminster Abbey, where the bride was clad in an embroidered ivory gown by Linda Cierach. The couple has since divorced in 1996, but that hasn’t stopped them from co-parenting their two daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and continuing to be famously close friends.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones, 1999</h2> <p>St George’s Chapel, where Prince Harry and Meghan will tie the knot, was host to the nuptials of the Queen's son and public relations consultant Sophie Rhys-Jones, now known as Sophie, Countess of Wessex. They married on June 19 at Windsor Castle, and in a break with tradition they requested that their big day not be a state occasion. Their dress code was also of note as they requested evening gowns and said hats were not required. They are now parents to James, Viscount Severn, born in 2007, and Lady Louise Windsor, born in 2003.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>Andrea Casiraghi and Tatiana Santo Domingo, 2013</h2> <p>The Monegasque royal made his relationship with longtime love Tatiana, daughter of the billionaire Columbian brewing family, official on Aug. 31. Their chic civil service took place on the grounds of the Prince’s Palace, where 400 guests later enjoyed an al fresco lunch next to the pool. A second religious ceremony took place in chic Gstaad at the Rougemont Church, where friends and family were treated to a weekend of festivities amid the stunning backdrop of Swiss mountains. The bride, who had given birth to the couple’s first child Sacha ten months earlier, wore a bespoke Valentino gown with a fur cape.</p> <p>Photo: &copy; Palais Princier
<h2>Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall, 2011</h2> <p>Queen Elizabeth's granddaughter married English rugby player Mike Tindall on July 30 at Canongate Kirk in Scotland, just three months after Prince William and Kate tied the knot. Reverend Neil Gardner presided over the ceremony, which included featured readings, musical interludes and hymns, in the same place where the Queen worships when she’s at Holyroodhouse. A whopping 450 guests, including big names from the world of sport, watched the couple exchange vows.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<p>Nothing is quite as sweet as royal romance - and excitement over <strong><a href="/tags/0/prince-harry/">Prince Harry</a></strong> and <strong><a href="/tags/0/meghan-markle/">Meghan Markle</a></strong>'s big day has reached a fever pitch! The two will tie the knot on May 19 at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, and fans are living for <a href="https://ca.hellomagazine.com/royalty/02018031543690/prince-harry-meghan-markle-royal-wedding-everything-we-know/1">each new detail of their venue, invitations, dress code</a> and more (plus speculation on the bride's gown and the couple's guest list!). <p>As royal watchers anticipate the year's most exciting royal event, we’ve been reminiscing on past wedding days, from the Queen and Prince Philip's ceremony right through to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's special moment, plus Swedish royals like Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling (right), Monaco's Andrea Casiraghi and Tatiana Santo Domingo (middle), and more. Without further ado, click through to take a trip down memory lane…</p>
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