Relive the Best Moments From Prince William & Kate Middleton’s Wedding

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April 29 marks the 13th anniversary of Kate Middleton and Prince William’s iconic royal wedding. It’s hard to believe it’s been more than a decade since the world tuned in to watch a beloved prince marry his princess, but time flies when you’re having fun watching the royals. A lot has changed for the Prince and Princess of Wales since they said “I do.” They’ve now had three beautiful children together and weathered some ups and downs, including Kate Middleton’s 2023 cancer diagnosis and subsequent public announcement.

It’s kind of remarkable to look back on these royal wedding moments and see how far the couple has come, and how they’ve stood by each other’s sides ever since.

Kate has fully embraced being part of the royal family, carrying out engagements and royal duties in a manner fit for a future queen. And William has continued to stay involved with the community and people he will one day lead as king. But let’s go back to where it all began, with these unforgettable fairy tale royal wedding moments from April 2011.

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Kate’s Gorgeous Gown

Everyone was so excited to finally see the dress Kate chose. When she stepped out of her car, she stunned in her custom long-sleeved lace gown by Alexander McQueen. It wasn’t quite as elaborate as Princess Diana’s dress with its dramatically long train, but it was beautiful in an understated way — perfect for Kate’s quiet personality.

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Kate Did Her Own Makeup

Even though she knew she would be in front of, like, a million cameras on her wedding day, Kate felt confident enough to do her own makeup. She used her favorite products from Bobbi Brown, which is a pretty inexpensive brand. Her makeup collection ranged from $24 to $48, but she created a priceless look.

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The Infamous Hats

Perhaps even more memorable than Kate’s wedding gown were the hats that her new cousins-in-law wore to the ceremony. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie were widely mocked online for showing up in these over-the-top fascinators. Beatrice’s, in particular, turned a lot of heads. There’s so much going on there.

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Pippa Middleton’s Grand Entrance

Kate’s little sister, Pippa, caused quite a stir when she helped Kate carry her train down the aisle. Everyone took note of Pippa’s bum, which stood out in her fitted white bridesmaid dress. Quite a thing to become known to the world for, huh? She was even handed the “Rear of the Year” title, but only because Kim Kardashian hadn’t made her own big splash yet.

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Everyone Wanted Prince Harry & Pippa To Get Together

Before Prince Harry had met Meghan Markle, many people were hoping that he and Pippa would fall in love. They seemed to have so much chemistry together at the wedding in their respective best man and maid of honor roles. That didn’t happen, of course, but it was nice to dream for a moment.

Check out our Meghan Markle page for all the latest news about Meghan, Prince Harry, and their growing family.

Harry’s Sweet Comment

As Kate sailed down the aisle, best man Harry reportedly whispered to William, “Wait until you see her.” This is the brotherly camaraderie we miss between the two princes. We can’t believe where things have ended up with the brothers since then. We hope one day they can get back to this close friendship.

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William’s Tension-Breaking Joke

William has quite the sense of humor, and he wasn’t afraid to poke fun at his elaborate wedding. When Kate’s dad walked her down the aisle, William eased some of the nervous tension by reportedly joking, “Just a quiet family wedding, then.” It seemed to get a nice little chuckle out of everyone.

Kate’s Important Vow Change

Like Princess Diana had before her, Kate also elected not to say the line about obeying her husband. It was 2011, after all. She and William were, for all intents and purposes, equals. There was no need to keep the phrase, and it became a sweet nod to Diana. Meghan also left that part out of her vows.

Paying Tribute to Diana

Throughout the wedding, there were little nods to William’s late mother. They invited her beloved friend Elton John, Kate copied her vows, and the couple chose to play a hymn that was heard at Diana’s funeral. “Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer” was actually played at both William and Harry’s weddings to honor their dear mom.

Kate’s Brother Did a Reading

During the ceremony, Kate’s brother, James, read a passage from the Bible. He later told the Daily Mail that it was difficult for him because he has dyslexia and wanted to be sure he got all the words correct. He even typed it out phonetically to help him.

He said: “At the end of the day, whether it was in a little church or Westminster Abbey didn’t matter. It was me, as a brother, doing a reading for my sister and her husband at their wedding and I wanted to do it right.”

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The Balcony Kiss

Diana inadvertently made the Buckingham Palace balcony kiss a tradition. She and Charles kissed on the balcony only because they had accidentally forgotten to kiss earlier after they exchanged vows. Kate and William gave not one but two balcony kisses after their ceremony. It was plain to see how in love they were.

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Kate’s Bouquet Honored William

There was so much symbolism in Kate’s gorgeous wedding bouquet. She made sure to include a sprig of myrtle, as is tradition for royal weddings. It started with Queen Victoria, who received a myrtle bush as a gift from her grandmother-in-law. All royal brides since have included the plant in their bouquets. But Kate also included the flower “sweet william” as a nice nod to her husband.

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The Meme-Worthy Flower Girl

Kids are gonna be kids, whether they’re in a royal wedding or not. William’s goddaughter, Grace van Cutsem, hit her limit during the balcony portion of the proceedings, and she scowled and covered her ears. She was just 3 at the time, but she’s now a teenager! Time flies, huh? Years later, Grace’s cousin, Florence van Cutsem, was one of the flower girls at Meghan and Harry’s wedding.

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The Fairy Tale Carriage Ride

If ever there was a real-life illustration of “and they lived happily ever after,” it was Kate and William climbing into a carriage. After they said “I do,” they paraded around in the carriage, which looked straight out of a fairy tale. The prince had found his princess, and all was right with the world.

Swanky ‘Just Wed’ Car

After the carriage ride, the duo had another fun vehicle to take for a spin. Kate and William sped off to their reception in a $278,000 Aston Martin Volante that was originally owned by King Charles. It was decorated with ribbons, balloons, and a license plate that read: “Just Wed.” The perfect sendoff, really.

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A Cake Fit for Royalty

Kate and William’s wedding cake was a fruitcake, which is also royal tradition, even though it doesn’t sound that appetizing. It was also super expensive. It reportedly cost around $80,000, and they actually had two of them made, one for each of their afternoon and evening receptions. That’s $160,000 just for cake.

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Kate’s Reception Dress

Kate changed into a second dress for her reception. It was another Alexander McQueen design but a little more understated so she could easily move about the room and dance at her own party. The silk gown was accented with a fluffy white cardigan to keep Kate from getting too cold on her special day.