Top 10 Most Iconic Moments from Will and Kate’s Wedding

On April 29, Prince William and Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge, celebrate 10 years of wedded bliss, seemingly ending a string of divorces among the Queen’s children that happened in the 1990s. It signifies both the rightness of William’s choice, and continues to ground the monarchy on a strong foundation.

Looking back, here are the 10 most iconic moments from William and Kate’s wedding:

  1. Wedding Guests

As the couple are the future King and Queen of the United Kingdom, the couple’s wedding guest list was filled with politicians, other royals and celebrities. There was Posh Spice and her husband, footballer David Beckham. Her outfit was rather notable for her late-trimester baby bump and sky-high heels. There was Chelsy Davy, who had recently reconciled with Prince Harry. Foreign royals showed up in force, with Crown Princess Victoria rocking a tight orange dress with her husband Prince Daniel. The couple had married just a year before. Politicians, including then Prime Minister David Cameron, also made appearances, showing that though this wasn’t a state wedding, the couple were future monarchs.

9. Bridesmaid with Hands Over Her Ear During Flyover

Grace van Cutsem was unimpressed with the crowds, the military flyover or the kiss between the newlyweds. The little three-year-old girl, who was a goddaughter of Prince William, apparently is sensitive to loud noises, as there is a rather famous shot of her with her hands over her ears trying to drown out some of the noise and scowling. She’s now 13, so it would be interesting to get her recollections about the infamous event. 

8. Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie’s Outfits and Hats

Prince William’s cousins, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie, made a rather big splash worldwide with their rather unconventional wedding attire, with the girls being rather cruelly being compared to Cinderella’s stepsisters. In particular, it was Beatrice who took center stage, with her hat that was somewhat reminiscent of a toilet seat. Something good did come out of it though, Princess Beatrice sold her hat on eBay for £81,100.01, with the “proceeds going to charities UNICEF and Children in Crisis.”

After the auction ended, the Princess said, “I’ve been amazed by the amount of attention the hat has attracted. It’s a wonderful opportunity to raise as much money as possible for two fantastic charities. I hope whoever wins the auction has as much fun with the hat as I have.”

7. Pippa Middleton’s Bum

The rear seen around the world—Pippa Middleton’s bum seemingly took center stage at the wedding. When the athletic younger sister of the Duchess of Cambridge bent over, men around the world seemingly swooned.  

“It is a bit startling to achieve global recognition … before the age of 30 on account of your sister, your brother-in-law and your bottom,” Middleton reflected in 2012. “One day I might be able to make sense of this. In the meantime, I think it’s fair to say that it has its upside and its downside.”

6. Leaving in Prince Charles’s Aston Martin convertible, with a License Late that Read ‘Just Wed’

After the ceremony and the balcony appearance, the couple left Buckingham Palace for Clarence House, where they would stay until the evening reception. The newlyweds waved to the tens of thousands of spectators who gathered to watch the historic wedding from behind the wheel of a vintage Aston Martin convertible. The car was cheerfully decorated with a heart symbol on the grill and balloons trailing from the back.

5. Kate Getting Out of the Car, Alexander McQueen’s Sarah Burton Confirmed as Dress Maker

One of the biggest questions in the lead up to the wedding was who would design Kate Middleton’s wedding dress, which would likely become iconic. As soon as she stepped out of the car, to cheering crowds, the palace confirmed that it was Alexander McQueen, under the direction of Sarah Burton. (McQueen took his life the year before.) She also wore the Cartier Halo Tiara, a diamond tiara lent to her by the Queen. After she exited the car, the soon-to-be Duchess waved to the crowds and waited for her father, as they prepared to finally walk down the aisle.

4. Carriage Ride After the Wedding

After exchanging vows, the couple took a ride in the 1902 State Landau carriage through the streets of London. The carriage is frequently used during marriage ceremonies, as it took Charles to his wedding and he and Princess Diana used it to depart. It was also used in Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson’s wedding. Uniquely, the carriage was pulled by grey horses, which are usually reserved only for the Queen. The couple smiled and waved, and at times the Prince saluted and the Duchess bowed her head as they went past war memorials.

3. At the Altar

During her walk down the aisle, to the ringing bells of Westminster Abbey, Prince William didn’t look back to see his bride, which is a British tradition. His best man Prince Harry did sneak a peek, and supposedly told his brother, “Well, she looks beautiful, I can tell you that.”

When the new Duke of Cambridge saw his wife, he told her as much, murmuring, “You look beautiful.”

He also told his father-in-law, “Just a quiet family wedding then.”

Later in the service, the Duke also had a bit of trouble getting her wedding ring on, which was made from Welsh gold gifted by the Queen.

2. Kate Saying, ‘Oh Wow, That’s Amazing’ When She Sees the Crowds

Making her first and highly anticipated balcony appearance, the new Duchess of Cambridge famously uttered“Oh wow, that’s amazing” when she saw the massive crowds below. She then gave the public a wave as she fully stepped into her new life. Her genuine surprise was evident.

1. The Second Balcony Kiss

It’s become a tradition for royal newlyweds to oblige the crowds and give each other a kiss. It started with Prince William’s parents continued by Prince Andrew and Sarah as well. But the lovebirds upped the ante by going in for a second kiss while waiting for the military fly-past. After the first kiss, the crowd kept chanting “Kiss her again.” Prince William took note and eventually leaned over to ask his wife if they should kiss again, she gave a slight nod and the couple kissed again to the cheers of the crowd.

It was by far the most iconic moment, of an already iconic, wedding.

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