The Signet
The Royal WeddingFriday, May 06, 2011 By Victoria L
After months of anticipation, two billion television viewers and large crowds in the streets of England turned to Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011. On the bright sunny morning, the clock struck eleven a.m. just as a black Rolls-Royce Phantom VI arrived at the church carrying the bride of the wedding of the century, Miss Catherine Middleton. Dressed in a beautiful white floor-length dress with a nine-foot train and a lace appliqué bodice and skirt, designed by the British designer Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, along with a tiara borrowed from Queen Elizabeth II upon her head, the young commoner bride, following her sister and maid of honor, Pippa Middleton, and her four brides maids, was escorted by her father down the aisle, where she was admired by the 1, 900 guests. By request of the bride, the groom, Prince William of Wales, did not turn back to look at her until she reached him at the end of the aisle. The prince was dressed in an Irish Guards mounter officer’s uniform in Guard of Honor Order with a forage cap, which he did not have during the ceremony. Prince William finally got to see his bride at the moment she met him at the alter and whispered to her that she looked beautiful to him. The ceremony began and the couple was pronounced man and wife, with a large cheer from the crowds of England. The newlywed couple left Westminster Abbey in a horse-drawn carriage and waved to all the people in the crowd. The carriage took them to Buckingham Palace, where the reception in their honor by Queen Elizabeth II was to be held. Prior to the lunchtime reception, the couple and their families and wedding party stood out on the balcony of Buckingham Palace where the couple shared their first kiss as husband and wife. They shared a second kiss then left the balcony to go to the reception. Prince William drove his new wife in his father’s Aston Martin DB6, with a license plate that read ‘JU5T WED’, to the Clearance House. That evening, William’s father Charles, Prince of Wales, hosted a private dinner for his son and new daughter. Queen Elizabeth II gave Middleton the title Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge. William was given the titles of Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn, and Baron Carrickfergus. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William went away for the weekend due to William having to return to his work for the Royal Air Force on May 2, 2011. The duke and duchess will travel on their honeymoon at a later date and will travel for the first time as husband and wife to Canada on June 30, 2011, which will be followed by a visit to California from July 8 to July 10, 2011. |