Prince William and Princess Kate are celebrating their 13th wedding anniversary on April 29.
The couple’s early relationship gained new public interest at the end of 2023 after Netflix dramatized their early dating life on the hit royal drama The Crown.
William and Kate met while studying at St. Andrew’s University in 2001 and began dating soon after. Their relationship first broke in the press when the couple took a skiing vacation in 2004.
Following a brief separation in 2007, William proposed to Kate during a vacation in Kenya in 2010, before their engagement was officially announced later that same year.
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The couple’s marriage was the biggest royal wedding event in Britain since William’s parents, King Charles III and Princess Diana married in 1981. The day was watched by an estimated global audience of over 160 million.
Here, Newsweek looks at the prince and princess’ wedding day in photos, from veils and vows to kisses and cars.
Westminster Abbey
William and Kate married at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011. The abbey is traditionally the setting for monarch’s coronations and has played host to numerous important royal weddings in its thousand-year history. It is where Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip married in 1947.
Wedding Guests
As a future king and queen, William and Kate’s wedding was attended by members of the world’s royal families as well as personal friends and extended family members.
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, King Harold V of Norway, and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands were among the crowned heads present, all of whom are distantly related to the British royals.
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Royal Brothers
As the wedding ceremony neared its start, Prince William and Prince Harry entered the abbey, standing side-by-side at the high altar as they awaited the bride’s arrival.
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The Dress
When Kate arrived at Westminster Abbey in a royal car with her father, Michael Middleton, her sister, Pippa, helped her out.
The public was given their first opportunity at this time to see Kate’s wedding dress to its full advantage. The elegant ivory gown was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.
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Long Walk Down The Aisle
Once inside the abbey, Kate, her father and bridesmaids began the long walk down the aisle. The bridal procession walked to Hubert Parry’s coronation anthem, “I Was Glad,” and it took them nearly four minutes to reach the altar.
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Altar Smiles
United with William, the bride and groom were caught on camera exchanging an excited smile before the vows took place.
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Vows
William and Kate exchanged their vows before the congregation, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.
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Bow and Curtsy
After their vows, the couple signed the marriage register and were officially pronounced man and wife. Following this, the couple stood before Queen Elizabeth II in the congregation where the prince offered a bow to his grandmother, and the new princess performed her first curtsy as a member of the royal family.
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Carriage Drive
The journey from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace was made by horse-drawn carriage through the streets of London. The couple was photographed waving to the thousands of well-wishers who lined the route.
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The Kiss
Once at the palace, William and Kate made their first appearance together on the famous balcony to greet the crowds who had come to see them. Joined by their bridesmaids, page boys, and other members of the royal family, the prince and princess delighted fans with two kisses, which were reproduced on the front pages of the world’s newspapers the next day.
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Newlyweds
After the balcony appearance and wedding breakfast, William and Kate left Buckingham Palace to drive the short distance to Clarence House where they prepared for the evening celebrations.
The couple drove in an open-top sports car through the crowd-lined street, which had been decorated with “W” and “C” balloons with a “JU5T WED” numberplate.
The car, loaned by King Charles, was his prized Aston Martin Volante which had been given to him as a 21st birthday present by Queen Elizabeth II.
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Party Time
After resting and changing, William and Kate made their way back to Buckingham Palace for the evening reception. Leaving Clarence House, they were photographed with King Charles and Queen Camilla who had also changed into black tie and eveningwear.
Kate wore her second wedding dress, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The evening ensemble was a simpler white silk fit-and-flare gown with a diamante-embellished belt.
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James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek‘s royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek‘s The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
