by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Prince George, Duke of York (the future King George VI of the United Kingdom) and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon were married on April 26, 1923, at Westminster Abbey in London, England.

• Unofficial Royalty: Westminster Abbey in London, England
• YouTube: Wedding Of The Duke Of York and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon

Prince Albert’s Family

HRH Prince Albert Frederick Arthur George was born on December 14, 1895, the anniversary of the death in 1861 of his great-grandfather Prince Albert. The baby’s father was George, Duke of York (later George V) and his mother was Princess Victoria Mary of Teck (later Queen Mary). In his family, the new baby was always known as Bertie, but he was formally known as Prince Albert.

Queen Victoria received the news with mixed feelings. Her son, the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) wrote to his son, the new baby’s father: “Grandmama was rather distressed that this happy event should have taken place on a darkly sad anniversary for us, but I think – as well as most of us in the family here – that it will break the spell of this unlucky date.”

Bertie had four brothers and one sister: Edward (1894) succeeded his father as Edward VIII, abdicated and was then styled HRH The Duke of Windsor; Mary (1897), later Princess Royal, married the 6th Earl of Harewood; Henry (1900), the Duke of Gloucester, married Lady Alice Montagu-Douglas-Scott; George (1902), the Duke of Kent, married Princess Marina of Greece; John (1905) died of epilepsy complications in 1919.

In 1901, Bertie’s great-grandmother Queen Victoria died and his grandfather succeeded her as Edward VII. Bertie’s father George was created Prince of Wales in 1901. When his grandfather died in 1910, Bertie’s father ascended the throne as George V. Bertie’s elder brother Edward (known in the family as David) was created Prince of Wales in 1911.

Bertie, as a second son, grew up without any specific training for the throne. Following the tradition for second sons in the Royal Family, he entered the Royal Navy in 1913 and saw action during World War I. In 1916 Bertie was created a Knight of the Garter and in 1920 he was created Baron Killarney, Earl of Inverness and Duke of York, the same titles his father had received in 1892. In 1936, Bertie ascended the throne as King George VI upon the abdication of his brother.

• Unofficial Royalty: King George VI of the United Kingdom

Source:
“Brewer’s British Royalty” by David Williamson

Lady Elizabeth’s Family

Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, on right, and her brother David, at St. Paul’s Waldenbury in 1905

Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was born on August 4, 1900, in London. She was the fourth daughter and the ninth of ten children of Claude Bowes-Lyon, Lord Glamis (who succeeded his father as 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne in 1904) and Cecilia Cavendish-Bentinck, a descendant of a number of noble families including the Dukes of Portland, the Dukes of Devonshire, the Earls of Oxford and the Kings of Ireland. Little Elizabeth bore the courtesy title of “Honorable” until her father became Earl when she exchanged it for “Lady.”

Elizabeth had three sisters and six brothers: Violet (1882) died in childhood; Mary (1883) married Baron Elphinstone; Patrick (1884), the future Earl of Strathmore, married Lady Dorothy Osborne, the daughter of the Duke of Leeds; John Herbert (1886) married Fenella Hepburn-Stuart-Forbes-Trefuss; Alexander (1887) died unmarried; Fergus (1889) was killed in World War I; Rose (1890) married the Earl of Granville; Michael (1893) married Elizabeth Cator; David (1902) married Rachel Spender-Clay.

Elizabeth was brought up at Glamis Castle and educated privately. She was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Bertie’s sister Princess Mary to Viscount Lascelles in 1922.

The Bowes-Lyon family is an old Scottish family. Robert II of Scotland granted Sir John Lyon the Thaneage of Glamis in 1372 as a reward for service. In 1376, Sir John married Joanna, a daughter of Robert II of Scotland. Their grandson Patrick was created Lord Glamis in 1445. The 9th Lord Glamis, also a Patrick, was created Earl of Kinghorne in 1606. His grandson, the 3rd Earl, obtained a charter in 1677 stating that he and his heirs “should in all future ages be styled Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne, Viscounts Lyon, Barons Glamis, Tannadyce, Sidlaw and Strathdichtie.” The 9th Earl married a Durham heiress, Mary Eleanor Bowes, and, as a condition of the marriage settlement, assumed the surname Bowes. Their sons, the 10th and 11th Earls and their grandson the 12th Earl adopted the surname Lyon-Bowes, but the 13th Earl reversed the order to the current Bowes-Lyon.

• Unofficial Royalty: Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Queen of the United Kingdom

Sources:
Glamis Castle, http://www.great-houses-scotland.co.uk/glamis
Bowes Family of Brompton, Northallerton Yorkshire, http://www.bowe.demon.co.uk/Ancientbowes.html
“The Queen” by Elizabeth Longford
“Thirty Years A Queen” by Geoffrey Wakeford

The Engagement

Engagement Portrait

Although they had met at a tea party in 1916, Bertie and Elizabeth had their first significant meeting on July 8, 1920, at the Royal Air Force Ball at the Ritz in London. Bertie had come to the ball with his equerry James Stuart, the youngest son of the Earl of Moray. Elizabeth and James were old friends from Scotland and shared a dance. Bertie questioned James about his dance partner and asked to be introduced. Although the meeting did not make much of an impression upon Elizabeth, Bertie fell in love that evening and started courting Elizabeth. He first proposed to her in 1921 and was rejected because Elizabeth feared the changes in her life being a member of the Royal Family would require. Elizabeth served as a bridesmaid in the wedding of Bertie’s sister Mary in February 1922. The following month, Bertie again proposed to her and was turned down once more. On January 2, 1923, after taking Elizabeth to dinner at Claridge’s and the theater, Bertie proposed a third time. After talking to friends and relatives and expressing her feelings in the diary, Elizabeth agreed to marry Bertie on January 14, 1923, although she still had misgivings.

Sources:
“Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother: The Official Biography” by William Shawcross
“The Queen Mother” by Elizabeth Longford

The Trousseau

Designers from New York, Paris, London, Rome and Australia contributed to Lady Elizabeth’s trousseau, which included 65 formal gowns, over a hundred morning, tea and evening dresses and 72 fur coats and hats.

The bride-to-be received some spectacular jewels. As an engagement ring, Bertie had given her a large dark oval sapphire from Kashmir surrounded by diamonds. Her father, the Earl of Strathmore, gave her a platinum and diamond tiara with five large roses of gems separated by sprays of diamonds. From King George V, she received a diamond ribbon bow brooch. Her godmother presented her with a diamond and emerald arrow. Bertie also gave her a diamond replica of the badge of his naval cap and a diamond cluster corsage brooch designed as a spray of flowers with three diamond pendants suspended from a chain of platinum.

Sources:
“Thirty Years A Queen”, Geoffrey Wakeford
“Elizabeth and Philip” by Charles Higham and Roy Moseley

The Wedding Attire

The bride’s dress was designed by Madame Handley-Seymour of New Bond Street, London. It was a pearl embroidered gown of ivory tinted chiffon moiré. The veil was an old “point de Flandres” veil loaned by Queen Mary. The train was made of machine-made lace from Nottingham in support of industry instead of the traditional handmade lace. Lady Elizabeth wore a double strand of matched pearls around her neck. The bridesmaids’ dresses were made of white chiffon lace also from Nottingham. In their hair, they wore myrtle green leaves and a white rose with a sprig of white heather.

Sources:
“Royal Weddings” by Dulcie M. Ashdown
“Thirty Years A Queen” by Geoffrey Wakeford

The Bridesmaids

Lady Elizabeth had an escort of eight bridesmaids.

• Lady Mary Cambridge, age 26, daughter of Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge and Lady Margaret Grosvenor, niece of Queen Mary and first cousin of the groom
• Lady May Cambridge, age 17, daughter of Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone and Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone, niece of Queen Mary and first cousin of the groom
• Lady Mary Thynne, age 20, daughter of Thomas Thynne, 5th Marquess of Bath and Violet Mordaunt
• Lady Katharine Hamilton, age 23, daughter of James Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn and Lady Rosalind Bingham
• The Honourable Diamond Hardinge, age 22, daughter of Charles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of Penshurst and Winifred Selina Sturt
• The Honourable Cecilia Bowes-Lyon, age 11, daughter of Patrick Bowes-Lyon, the future 15th of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and Lady Dorothy Godolphin-Osborne, niece of the bride
• The Honorable Mary Elizabeth Elphinstone, age 11, Sidney Buller-Fullerton-Elphinstone, 16th Lord Elphinstone and Lady Mary Bowes-Lyon, niece of the bride
• Miss Elizabeth Cator, age 24, daughter of John Cator and Maud Adeane, later sister-in-law to the bride as The Honourable Mrs. Michael Bowes-Lyon

Sources:
“Thirty Years A Queen” by Geoffrey Wakeford
Royal Genealogies, http://ftp.cac.psu.edu/~saw/royal/royalgen.html
Directory of Royal Genealogical Data, http://www.dcs.hull.ac.uk/public/genealogy/royal/
Wikipedia: Wedding of Prince Albert, Duke of York and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon

The Ceremony

The wedding of HRH The Duke of York and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was held on April 26, 1923, at Westminster Abbey, London. Before the ceremony, at Buckingham Palace, King George V bestowed upon Bertie the Most Ancient Order of the Thistle, the Scottish counterpart of the Garter, which he had received six years earlier.

The wedding procession started with the Archbishop of Canterbury, followed by the Archbishop of York, the Bishop of London, and the Primate of Scotland. The National Anthem was played followed by Elgar’s Imperial March. As the Royal Family entered the Abbey, the congregation rose. Princess Mary and her husband Viscount Lascelles appeared first followed by Prince George in midshipman’s uniform flanked by Queen Alexandra, the Queen Mother, and her sister Marie, the Dowager Empress of Russia. King George and Queen Mary followed. The King was wearing the full-dress uniform of an admiral. The Queen wore a silver and aquamarine gown with the sash of the Order of the Garter.

Bertie arrived at the Abbey with his brothers the Prince of Wales and Prince Henry. Bertie wore his Royal Air Force Group Captain’s uniform. The Prince of Wales wore a Welsh Guard uniform and Prince Henry wore a Hussar’s uniform. Their grandmother, Queen Alexandra, rose from her seat and embraced all three of her grandsons.

Cheers soon were heard announcing the bride’s arrival. Lady Elizabeth and her father entered the Abbey through the Great West Door. As Lady Elizabeth passed the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, whose remains had been brought from France and buried in the Abbey floor three years earlier, she laid her bouquet of white roses on it. No doubt she was thinking of her brother Fergus and all the other British soldiers who died in World War I.

As Elizabeth proceeded down the aisle, the boys’ choir sang Lead Us, Heavenly Father. Randall Thomas Davidson, Archbishop of Canterbury and Cosmo Lang, Archbishop of York waited at the altar to perform the marriage ceremony. After the vows were exchanged, the Archbishop of York addressed the couple: “The warm and generous heart of this people takes you today unto itself. Will you not, in response, take that heart, with all its joys and sorrows, unto your own?”

The choir sang Beloved, Let Us Love One Another, which had been composed by the Westminster Abbey organist Sir Sydney Hugo Nicholson for the wedding of Princess Mary the previous year. The newly-married couple proceeded up the Abbey aisle to Mendelssohn’s Wedding March.

Sources:
“Royal Weddings” by Dulcie M. Ashdown
“Thirty Years A Queen” by Geoffrey Wakeford;
“Elizabeth and Philip” by Charles Higham and Roy Moseley

The Wedding Guests

British Royal Family and Relatives

• King George V and Queen Mary, the groom’s parents
• The Prince of Wales, the groom’s brother
• The Prince Henry, the groom’s brother
• The Prince George, the groom’s brother
• The Princess Mary, Viscountess Lascelles and Henry Lascelles, Viscount Lascelles, the groom’s sister and her husband
• The Honourable George Lascelles, the groom’s nephew
• Queen Alexandra, the groom’s paternal grandmother
• Louise, The Princess Royal, the groom’s paternal aunt
• Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Fife and Prince Arthur of Connaught, the groom’s first cousin and her husband, the groom’s second cousin
• Alastair Windsor, Earl of Macduff, the groom’s second cousin
• Princess Maud of Fife, the groom’s first cousin
• The Princess Victoria, the groom’s paternal aunt
• The Prince Arthur, The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, the groom’s paternal great-uncle, son of Queen Victoria
• The Lady Patricia Ramsay (Princess Patricia of Connaught) and Captain Sir Alexander Ramsay, the groom’s first cousin once removed and her husband
• Mr. Alexander Ramsay of Mar, the groom’s second cousin
• Princess Christian (The Princess Helena), the groom’s paternal great-aunt, daughter of Queen Victoria
• Princess Helena Victoria, the groom’s first cousin once removed
• Princess Marie Louise, the groom’s first cousin once removed
• The Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, the groom’s paternal great-aunt, daughter of Queen Victoria
• The Princess Beatrice, the groom’s paternal great-aunt, daughter of Queen Victoria
• Alexander Mountbatten, 1st Marquess of Carisbrooke and Marchioness of Carisbrooke, the groom’s first cousin once removed and his wife
• Dowager Marchioness of Milford Haven (Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine), the groom’s first cousin once removed
• George Mountbatten, 2nd Marquess of Milford Haven and Marchioness of Milford Haven, the groom’s second cousin and his wife
• Lord Louis Mountbatten and Lady Mountbatten (Edwina Ashley), the groom’s second cousin and his wife
• Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge and Marchioness of Cambridge, the groom’s maternal uncle and aunt
• George Cambridge, Earl of Eltham and Countess of Eltham, the groom’s first cousin and his wife
• Lord Frederick Cambridge, the groom’s first cousin
• Lady Mary Cambridge, the groom’s first cousin
• Lady Helena Gibbs (Lady Helena Cambridge) and Mr. John Gibbs, the groom’s first cousin and her husband
• Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone and Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, the groom’s maternal uncle and aunt
• Rupert Cambridge, Viscount Trematon, the groom’s first cousin
• Lady May Cambridge, the groom’s first cousin

Foreign Royalty Related to the Groom

• King Haakon VII and Queen Maud of Norway, the groom’s paternal aunt and her husband
• Crown Olav Prince of Norway, the groom’s first cousin
• Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden, widower of Princess Margaret of Connaught, the groom’s late first cousin once removed
• Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden, Duke of Västerbotten, the groom’s second cousin
• Princess Ingrid of Sweden, the groom’s second cousin
• Queen Marie of Romania (Princess Marie of Edinburgh), the groom’s first cousin once removed
• Crown Prince Carol and Crown Princess Helen of Romania, the groom’s second cousin and his second wife, also the groom’s second cousin
• Prince Michael of Romania, the groom’s third cousin
• Albert, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein, the groom’s first cousin once removed
• Queen Victoria Eugenie (Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg) and King Alfonso XIII of Spain, the groom’s first cousin once removed and her husband
• Alfonso, Prince of Asturias, the groom’s second cousin
• Infante Jaime of Spain, the groom’s second cousin
• Infante Juan of Spain, the groom’s second cousin
• Infante Gonzalo of Spain, the groom’s second cousin
• Infanta Beatriz of Spain, the groom’s second cousin
• Infanta Maria Cristina of Spain, the groom’s second cousin
• Bernard III, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, widower of Princess Charlotte of Prussia, the groom’s first cousin once removed
• Princess Heinrich XXX Reuss of Köstritz (Feodora of Saxe-Meiningen), the groom’s second cousin
• Prince and Princess Henry of Prussia (Princess Irene of Hesse and by Rhine), the groom’s first cousin once removed and his wife, also the groom’s first cousin once removed
• Prince and Princess Waldemar of Prussia (Princess Calixta of Lippe-Biesterfeld), the groom’s second cousin and his wife
• Queen Mother Sophie of the Hellenes (Princess Sophie of Prussia), the groom’s first cousin, once removed
• King George II and Queen Elisabeth of the Hellenes (Princess Elisabeth of Romania), the groom’s second cousin and his wife, also the groom’s second cousin
• Princess Alexander of Greece and Denmark (Aspasia Manos), widow of the groom’s second cousin King Alexander I of the Hellenes
• Princess Alexandra of Greece and Denmark, the groom’s third cousin
• The Hereditary Princess of Hesse (Princess Margaret of Prussia), the groom’s first cousin once removed
• Prince Wolfgang of Hesse, the groom’s second cousin
• Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig II and Grand Duchess Eleonore of Hesse and by Rhine (Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich), the groom’s first cousin once removed and his wife
• Queen Dowager Louise of Denmark, widow of the groom’s paternal great-uncle King Frederik VIII of Denmark
• King Christian X and Queen Alexandrine of Denmark (Princess Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin), the groom’s second cousin and his wife
• The Duchess of Västergötland  (Princess Ingeborg of Denmark) and Prince Carl of Sweden, Duke of Västergötland, the groom’s second cousin and her husband
• Queen Dowager Olga of the Hellenes (Grand Duchess Olga Constantinovna of Russia), the groom’s great-aunt
• Empress Dowager Maria Feodorovna of All the Russias (Princess Dagmar of Denmark), the groom’s great-aunt
• The Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Princess Thyra of Denmark) and Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Ernst August, formerly Crown Prince of Hanover, 3rd Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale), the groom’s great-aunt and her husband
• Prince Valdemar of Denmark, the groom’s great-uncle
• Prince and Princess Axel of Denmark, the groom’s second cousin and his wife
• Princess René of Bourbon-Parma (Princess Margaret of Denmark), the groom’s second cousin
• The Dowager Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (Elizabeth of Anhalt), widow of the groom’s first cousin once removed Adolphus Friedrich V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz,
• Princess Julius Ernst of Lippe (Marie of Mecklenburg-Strelitz), second cousin of the groom
• The Crown Princess (Jutta of Mecklenburg-Strelitz) and Crown Prince Danilo of Montenegro, second cousin of the groom and her husband

The Bride’s Family

• Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne and Countess of Strathmore
• and Kinghorne (Cecilia Cavendish-Bentinck), the bride’s parents
• Patrick Bowes-Lyon, Lord Glamis and Lady Glamis (Lady Dorothy Godolphin-Osborne), the bride’s brother and sister-in-law
• John Bowes-Lyon, Master of Glamis, the bride’s nephew
• Mr. Timothy Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s nephew
• Miss Cecilia Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s niece
• Miss Nancy Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s niece
• The Honorable Mr. and Mrs John Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s brother and sister-in-law
• Miss Anne Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s niece
• Miss Nerissa Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s niece
• Mr. Michael Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s brother
• Mr. David Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s brother
• Lady Elphinstone (Lady Mary Bowes-Lyon) and Sidney Buller-Fullerton-Elphinstone, 16th
• Lord Elphinstone, the bride’s sister and brother-law
• John Elphinstone, Master of Elphinstone, the bride’s nephew
• The Honorable Andrew Elphinstone, the bride’s nephew
• The Honorable Jean Constance Elphinstone, the bride’s niece
• Lady Rose Leveson-Gower (Rose Bowes-Lyon) and William Leveson-Gower Esq, the bride’s sister and brother-in-law
• Mr Granville James Leveson-Gower, the bride’s nephew
• Miss Mary Cecilia Leveson-Gower, the bride’s niece
• Mr and Mrs Francis Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s paternal uncle and aunt
• Miss Muriel Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
• Mr Charles Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
• Mr Geoffrey Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
• Miss Winnifred Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
• Mr Ronald Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
• Miss Doris Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
• Miss Lillian Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
• Mrs Ernest Bowes-Lyon, widow of the bride’s late paternal uncle
• Mr Hubert Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
• Miss Susan Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
• Miss Dorothea Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
• Miss Joan Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
• Miss Marjorie Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
• Miss Ernestine Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
• Mr and Mrs Patrick Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s paternal uncle and aunt
• Mr Jean Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cosuin
• Miss Margaret Ann Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
• Mr and Mrs Malcolm Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s paternal uncle and aunt
• Miss Clodagh Pamela Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s first cousin
• Lady Constance Blackburn and Mr Robert Francis Blackburn, the bride’s paternal aunt and uncle
• Mr Phyllis Blackburn, the bride’s first cousin
• Miss Claudia Blackburn, the bride’s first cousin
• Lady Maud Agness Bowes-Lyon, the bride’s paternal aunt
• Miss Ann Violet Cavendish-Bentinck, the bride’s maternal aunt

Sources:
Wikipedia: Wedding of Prince Albert, Duke of York and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon

The Wedding Breakfast

The wedding breakfast was held at Buckingham Palace with the following menu: Consomme a la Windsor, Supremes de Saumon Reine Mary, Cotelettes d’Agneau Prince Albert, Chapons a la Strathmore, Jambon et Langue Decoupes a l’Aspic, Salade Royale, Asperges, Sauce Creme Mousseuse, Fraises Duchesse Elizabeth, Panier de Friandises, Dessert, Cafe.

Fourteen wedding cakes were made for the wedding breakfast. The most elaborate weighed 300 pounds and had nine tiers with a replica of the couple on top. On the first tier were reproductions of Windsor Castle and St. George’s Chapel. Glamis Castle appeared on the second tier and on the third tier were Masonic emblems in honor of Bertie and the Earl of Strathmore who were both Masons. Cupids ringing tiny silver wedding bells moved up and down ladders leading to the top of the cake. After the breakfast, the couple appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

Sources:
“English Royal Cookbook” by Elizabeth Craig
“Thirty Years A Queen” by Geoffrey Wakeford
“Elizabeth and Philip” by Charles Higham and Roy Moseley

The Honeymoon

During the first part of their honeymoon at Polesden Lacey, Surrey

The couple took the train from Waterloo Station, London to Dorking, Surrey where they stayed at Polesden Lacey, the home of society hostess Mrs. Ronald Greville. They continued their honeymoon with a visit to Glamis Castle where Elizabeth came down with whooping cough. When she recovered, the couple concluded their honeymoon at Frogmore House, Windsor.

Sources:
“Elizabeth and Philip” by Charles Higham and Roy Moseley
“Thirty Years A Queen” by Geoffrey Wakeford
“The Queen” by Elizabeth Longford

Children

Embed from Getty Images 

Bertie and Elizabeth had two children:

• Queen Elizabeth II (1926 – 2022), married Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, created Duke of Edinburgh, had three sons and one daughter including King Charles III, the British Royal Family descends from this marriage
• Princess Margaret (1930 – 2002), married and divorced Antony Armstrong-Jones, created 1st Earl of Snowdon, had one son and one daughter

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

by Susan Flantzer and Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Embed from Getty Images 

Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones were married on June 19, 1999, at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle in Windsor, England.

• Unofficial Royalty: St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, England

Family of Prince Edward

HRH The Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis was born March 10, 1964, at Buckingham Palace, London. Edward was the fourth, and last, child of Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh.

Edward’s older siblings are Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales, born in 1948; Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, born in 1950; and Prince Andrew, The Duke of York, born in 1960.

On his wedding day, June 19, 1999, Edward was created Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn, breaking with the tradition of a dukedom granted to the son of the Sovereign upon marriage.  However, it was announced that Prince Edward would eventually be granted the Dukedom of Edinburgh, currently his father’s title, at such time when it has reverted back to the Crown. The title Duke of Edinburgh automatically passed to Edward’s eldest brother Charles when their father died in April 2021, and it merged into the Crown in September 2022 when Charles acceded to the throne. King Charles III granted his younger brother Prince Edward the title Duke of Edinburgh on his 59th birthday, March 10, 2023.

To learn more about Edward see:

• Unofficial Royalty: Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex

Family of Sophie Rhys-Jones

Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones was born on January 20, 1965, in Oxford, England.  She was the second child of Christopher Rhys-Jones and his wife Mary (née O’Sullivan) and has an older brother, David.  Sophie was named in honor of her paternal aunt, Helen, who had been killed in an accident some years before Sophie was born.

To learn more about Sophie see:

• Unofficial Royalty: Sophie Rhys Jones, Countess of Wessex

Engagement and Ring

At the announcement of the engagement

On January 6, 1999, Prince Edward held a press conference to announce he and Sophie Rhys-Jones were engaged to be married. It was the culmination of a long courtship, beginning in 1993 when the two renewed a casual acquaintance at a Real Tennis Challenge, hosted by the Prince. Ms. Rhys-Jones, the public relations executive handling the event, was reportedly “charmed” by the youngest of the Queen’s sons, and he with her.

While the two publicly maintained they were merely good friends, it became apparent they were spending considerable time together when Ms. Rhys-Jones was photographed at various Windsor family occasions. Several times, Prince Edward took the press to task for badgering Sophie, leading many royal watchers to believe there might be more to the relationship than met the eye.

Finally, after seeking permission from her father, the Prince asked Ms. Rhys-Jones to marry him over the 1998 Christmas holidays. In accepting the Prince’s proposal, Sophie also accepted an exquisite engagement ring. Because Diana and Sarah Ferguson had colored gemstones in their engagement rings, the superstitious Sophie insisted upon diamonds only. A cluster of three diamonds was set in white gold; a creation of royal jewelers Asprey and Garrard and estimated at $170,000.

Rumors abounded that Sophie gave Prince Edward a marriage ultimatum and that they lived together before the wedding. The rumors were denied by both bride and groom. The Prince said that while the love affair was not a sudden strike of lightning, he and Ms. Rhys-Jones are the best of friends and very much in love.

Sources: BBC News; London Telegraph; MSNBC

The Attendants

As with many European weddings, Sophie’s attendants were young children.  Sophie and Edward carefully chose the four bridesmaids and pages, who were each special in some way.

Eight-year-old bridesmaid Camilla Hadden was the oldest of the children.  She is Edward’s goddaughter and the daughter of his friends Abel and Belinda Hadden.  Mr. Hadden was, at one time, the press officer for Margaret Thatcher.

Next in age, at seven, was page Felix Sowerbutts, the son of Julian and Lucinda Sowerbutts, who are friends of Sophie’s from well before the beginning of her public relations career.

Six-year-old page Harry Warburton, the son of Sarah Warburton, who was Prince Edward’s Assistant Private Secretary, and also happens to be the Prince’s godson.  Ms. Warburton was instrumental in many of the wedding preparations.

Five-year-old Olivia Taylor was the second bridesmaid.  She is the daughter of Ian and Lindy Taylor, some of Sophie’s oldest friends.

Prince Edward also had two individuals who stood with him at the ceremony:  Prince Charles and Prince Andrew.  At most weddings, their roles would be considered that of Best Man.  However, in royal circles, they are termed “Supporters”.

Sources: BBC News; London Telegraph; British Royal Website; MSNBC; The Guardian

Wedding Attire

Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones had already decided their wedding would be different than most royal events, and their wedding clothes, while traditional, also carried their own stamps of individuality.

It had been speculated that Sophie’s gown would be relatively simple, given the style of her chosen designer, Samantha Shaw. While the cut of the dress was simple: a hand-dyed ivory silk crepe corseted coat over a hand-dyed ivory silk organza skirt, it had the sparkle of 325,000 handsewn cut-glass and pearl beads, as well. The beads decorated the deep V-neckline, which extended both in front and in back; as well as the slightly flared sleeves. Beads also cascaded down the cleverly designed train, which was sewn in panels so it would pleat out behind the bride as she walked down the aisle. Ms. Rhys-Jones also wore a hand-dyed silk tulle veil one inch longer than her train, which was dotted with occasional hand-sewn crystal beads, and supported by a diamond tiara borrowed from the Queen’s private collection. Her shoes were also ivory silk crepe, and her bouquet consisted of ivory garden roses, stephanotis, lily of the valley, and freesia. Her most remarkable accessory, however, was the beautiful black and white pearl necklace and matching earrings designed by Prince Edward as a personal wedding gift.

The Prince looked dashing in formal morning dress, with a lively yellow waistcoat made especially for the wedding by John Kent. He also wore a blue shirt with a white collar and a patterned blue and yellow tie. He, too, wore a special accessory: an 18-carat yellow gold Hunter pocket watch and chain given to him as a wedding gift by Sophie.

The young attendants were dressed in the Plantagenet style. The bridesmaids wore ivory silk taffeta dresses with navy silk velvet tunics decorated with gold braid, and feather-trimmed velvet hats. They each carried a small bouquet of heavily scented flowers tied informally with ivory ribbon. The pages were dressed in navy velvet knickers and tunics with brass buttons over ivory taffeta shirts and accented with taffeta cummerbunds. They, too, wore velvet berets with feathers.

The mother of the groom, remembering the day over fifty years before when she pledged her troth to Prince Philip, wore the pearl necklace, the dainty pearl and diamond earrings, and diamond brooch she wore on her own wedding day. Lovely in a lilac lace and chiffon gown by Sir Hardy Amies, a feathered hat in a similar hue completed the ensemble.

Sources: BBC News; London Telegraph; MSNBC; SkyNews

Wedding Guests

The wedding was attended by 550 guests. What follows is a partial guest list.

Groom’s Family

• The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, the groom’s parents
• The Prince of Wales, the groom’s brother
• Prince William of Wales, the groom’s nephew
• Prince Henry of Wales, the groom’s nephew
• The Duke of York, the groom’s brother
• Princess Beatrice of York, the groom’s niece
• Princess Eugenie of York, the groom’s niece
• The Princess Royal and Commander Timothy Laurence, the groom’s sister and her second husband
• Mr. Peter Phillips, the groom’s nephew
• Miss Zara Phillips, the groom’s niece
• Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, the maternal groom’s grandmother
• The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon and The Earl of Snowdon, the groom’s aunt and her ex-husband
• Lady Sarah and Daniel Chatto, the groom’s first cousin and her husband
• Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, the groom’s great-aunt
• The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the groom’s cousin once removed and his wife
• Lady Rose Windsor, the groom’s second cousin
• Lady Davina Windsor, the groom’s second cousin
• The Duke and Duchess of Kent, the groom’s cousin once removed and his wife
• Earl and Countess of St Andrews, the groom’s second cousin and his wife
• Lord Nicholas Windsor, the groom’s second cousin
• Lady Helen Taylor and Timothy Taylor, the groom’s second cousin and her husband
• Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, the groom’s cousin once removed and his wife
• Lord Frederick Windsor, the groom’s second cousin
• Lady Gabriella Windsor, the groom’s second cousin
• Princess Alexandra, The Hon. Lady Ogilvy, the groom’s cousin once removed
• James and Julia Ogilvy, the groom’s second cousin and his wife
• Mrs. Marina Ogilvy, the groom’s second cousin

Bride’s Family

• Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Rhys-Jones, the bride’s parents

Royal Guests

• The Sultan of Brunei
• Queen Anne-Marie of the Hellenes
• The Prince of Asturias
• Prince Joachim and Princess Alexandra of Denmark

Other Notable Guests

• Anthony Andrews
• Robin Bextor
• John Cleese
• Billy Connolly
• Sir David Frost
• Stephen Fry
• Ruthie Henshall
• Andrew Lloyd Webber
• Nigel Mansell

Sources: BBC; CNN; British Monarchy Website

The Ceremony

As a televised audience of 200 million looked on, a throng of eight thousand locals fortunate enough to have been chosen to represent the residents of Windsor lined the drive leading up to Windsor Castle, witnessing the bride’s arrival in a vintage black Rolls Royce. The bride acknowledged the cheering crowd before entering the house of worship, where a new phase of her life as the Countess of Wessex would begin.

As the clock struck 5 P.M. the passionate strains of “The Marche Heroique” echoed through the chapel as the bride made her way past such illustrious witnesses as Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Frost to stand at the altar by her intended. A forty-five-minute ceremony followed, in which the bride was presented with a wedding band which, in the royal tradition, was fashioned from Welsh gold. At the conclusion of the nuptials, the Toccata from the 5th Symphony and The Coronation March– Crown Imperial escorted the newly betrothed up the aisle.

Following the ceremony, the new Earl and Countess of Wessex rode in an open carriage to the reception at Windsor Castle, greeting thousands of well-wishers who had come out to celebrate their marriage.

The Wedding Reception

Five hundred fifty guests gathered in the State Apartments of Windsor Castle for a feast fit for a king, complete with smoked haddock with rice and mushrooms in pastry, beef stroganoff, and fresh raspberries for dessert. Attendees also nibbled on a seven-tier wedding cake adorned with sugar roses and fruit by Upper Crusts Country Kitchen before taking to the dance floor, where it was reported that the Queen danced along with her grandchildren to The Village People’s “YMCA.”

The Honeymoon

The couple chose Birkhall Lodge, located five miles from Balmoral, for their four-day honeymoon. The venue’s romantic past (Prince Philip, the groom’s father, proposed to the future Queen of the United Kingdom at the locale) makes the lodge a sentimental favorite among members of the royal family.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

by Susan Flantzer and Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

The Prince of Wales (later King Charles III) and Camilla Parker Bowles (later Queen Consort Camilla) were married in a civil ceremony on April 9, 2005, at the Windsor Guildhall in Windsor, England followed by a Service of Prayer and Dedication at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle in Windsor, England.

• Unofficial Royalty: St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, England
• YouTube: Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles: Civil Wedding
• YouTube: Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles: Service of Prayer and Dedication, Part 1
• YouTube: Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles: Service of Prayer and Dedication, Part 2

The Family of Prince Charles

HRH Prince Charles Philip Arthur George was born on November 14, 1948, at Buckingham Palace, London. Charles was the first child of HRH Princess Elizabeth and her husband of one year, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, born HRH Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark. Elizabeth was the elder daughter and the first of two children of King George VI and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who was the youngest daughter and the ninth of ten children of Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. Philip’s father was HRH Prince Andrew of Greece, the son of King George I of Greece (formerly Prince William of Denmark) and Grand Duchess Olga Konstantinovna of Russia. His mother was Her Serene Highness Princess Alice of Battenberg. Alice was the daughter of Prince Louis of Battenberg and Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine. During World War I, when King George V ordered his family to relinquish their German styles and titles, Prince Louis became Louis Mountbatten, 1st Marquess of Milford Haven. Princess Victoria’s mother was Princess Alice, a daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Therefore, Charles’ parents are both great-great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

Charles’ parents added another child to the family, Princess Anne, born on August 15, 1950. Ill with lung cancer, King George VI died on February 6, 1952, and the 25-year-old Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II. Her duties as Queen postponed additions to the family. Prince Andrew was born eight years later on February 19, 1960, and Prince Edward was born on March 10, 1964.

As soon as his mother became Queen, Charles was the heir apparent to the throne and as the monarch’s eldest son became Duke of Cornwall. In the Scottish peerage, he became Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland. Charles was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester on July 26, 1958. He was invested as Prince of Wales on July 1, 1969, at Caernarvon Castle in Wales.

On July 29, 1981, Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer in a lavish wedding held at St Paul’s Cathedral, London.  The couple had two sons – Prince William, born 1982, and Prince Henry (Harry), born 1984.  Charles and Diana divorced in 1996, and she was tragically killed the following year in a car accident in Paris.

• Unofficial Royalty: King Charles III of the United Kingdom

The Family of Camilla Parker Bowles

Camilla with her mother

Camilla Rosemary Shand was born July 17, 1947, at King’s College Hospital in London.  She is the daughter of Major Bruce Shand and the Honourable Rosalind Cubitt, daughter of the 3rd Baron Ashcombe.  Camilla has a sister, Annabel Shand Elliot, and a brother Mark Shand.  In 1973, Camilla Shand married Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles, and the couple had two children – a son Tom, born in 1974, and a daughter Laura, born in 1978.  Camilla and Andrew divorced in 1995.

• Unofficial Royalty: Queen Consort Camilla of the United Kingdom

The Engagement

Official Engagement photo, released by Clarence House

After many years of speculation, the engagement of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles was announced by Clarence House on February 10, 2005.  At this point, it was also announced that when Charles becomes King, “it is intended” that Camilla will use the title of Princess Consort instead of Queen.  It was announced that a civil marriage would take place on April 8th, followed by a Service of Prayer and Dedication at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor.  This was later postponed until the 9th, allowing The Prince of Wales to attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II in Rome.

Upon marriage, Mrs. Parker Bowles took on all of Prince Charles’ titles, including Princess of Wales.  However, out of respect for the late Diana, Princess of Wales, it was decided that she would be styled HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.

The Ring

Prince Charles presented Camilla with a ring that had belonged to his beloved grandmother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.  The 1930s Art Deco style ring, set in platinum, has an emerald cut diamond with three diamond baguettes on each side.  It is believed to have been part of the large collection of jewels inherited by The Queen Mother from Mrs. Ronald Greville.  At the time of the engagement, it was estimated to have a value of about £100,000.

The Wedding Attire

The Civil Ceremony
photo: John D. McHugh/AP

For the civil ceremony, Camilla wore a cream-colored silk chiffon dress, hemmed with vertical rows of appliqued woven disks.  This was topped with an oyster silk basket-weave coat with herringbone stitch embroidery.  Her hat, designed by Philip Treacy, was a straw hat overlaid with ivory French lace and trimmed with feathers.  The dress was designed by Robinson Valentine, London.

The Service of Prayer and Dedication

For the Service of Prayer and Dedication, she wore a floor-length pale blue and gold coat over a matching chiffon gown, designed by Robinson Valentine.  Her hat, again designed by Philip Treacy, was a headdress of gold-leafed feathers, tipped with Swarovski crystals, in her hair.

The Prince of Wales wore a traditional morning suit with gray pinstripe trousers.  He finished off his outfit with a heliborne from his gardens at Highgrove.

Mrs. Parker Bowles’ carried a small bouquet of flowers in shades of gray and cream, mixed with Lily of the Vally, all bound with the same silk as her dress.  Tucked in the bouquet was a small spring of myrtle, the traditional symbol of a happy marriage.

The Civil Marriage

The civil wedding ceremony took place on April 9, 2005, in the Guildhall, Windsor. Prince William and Tom Parker Bowles (Camilla’s son)  served as witnesses to the civil wedding ceremony, which was conducted by the Royal Borough’s Superintendent Registrar, Clair Williams.  The couple arrived in a Rolls-Royce Phantom VI from the Queen’s fleet, while the rest of the guests arrived by a small bus.  The ceremony took place in the Ascot Room within the Guildhall and lasted approximately 20 minutes.  Throughout the room were flowers cut from the Highgrove estate, as well as Raymill House, Camilla’s home nearby.  At the couple’s request, the flowers were donated to local hospices after the ceremony.  The couple exchanged rings, made of gold from the Clogau St David’s mine in Bontddu, North Wales, and designed by Wartski of London.  The Civil Ceremony was attended by members of both Charles’ and Camilla’s families.  The Queen did not attend, due to her position as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, and the church’s rules regarding the marriage of divorced people.  The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh did, however, attend the Service of Prayer and Dedication.

Guests at the civil ceremony included:

Family of Prince Charles

• Prince William of Wales, the groom’s son
• Prince Harry of Wales, the groom’s son
• The Duke of York, the groom’s brother
• Princess Beatrice of York, the groom’s niece
• Princess Eugenie of York, the groom’s niece
• The Earl and Countess of Wessex, the groom’s brother and his wife
• The Princess Royal and Rear Admiral Timothy Laurence, the groom’s sister and her second husband
• Mr. Peter Phillips, the groom’s nephew
• Miss Zara Phillips, the groom’s niece
• Viscount and Viscountess Linley, the groom’s first cousin and his wife
• Lady Sarah Chatto and Mr. Daniel Chatto, the groom’s first cousin and her husband
• Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy, the groom’s first cousin once removed

Family of Camilla Parker Bowles

• Major Bruce Shand, the bride’s father
• Mr. Tom Parker Bowles and Miss Sara Buys, the bride’s son and his partner
• Miss Laura Parker Bowles and Mr. Harry Lopes, the bride’s daughter and her partner
• Mr. Mark Shand, the bride’s brother
• Mr. and Mrs. Simon (Annabel) Elliot, the bride’s sister and her husband
• Mr. Ben Elliot, the bride’s nephew
• Miss Katie Elliot, the bride’s niece
• Mr. and Mrs. Luke (Alice) Irwin, the bride’s niece and her husband
• Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Parker Bowles, the bride’s first husband and his second wife

Sources: BBC; Telegraph

The Service of Prayer and Dedication

At 2:30 that afternoon, a Service of Prayer and Dedication was held at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, presided over by The Archbishop of Canterbury.  Nearly 800 guests were in attendance.  Following the service, the couple posed for photographs on the steps of the chapel, before greeting some of the public who had gathered outside the chapel. These included representatives from some of the couple’s charities and organizations. They were then driven back to Windsor Castle for a reception in the State Apartments.

Guest at the Service of Prayer and Dedication included:

British Royal Family and Relatives

• The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, the groom’s parents
• Prince William of Wales, the groom’s son
• Prince Henry of Wales, the groom’s son
• The Duke of York, the groom’s brother
• Princess Beatrice of York, the groom’s niece
• Princess Eugenie of York, the groom’s niece
• The Earl and Countess of Wessex, the groom’s brother and his wife
• The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the groom’s sister and her second husband
• Mr. Peter Phillips, the groom’s nephew
• Miss Zara Phillips, the groom’s niece
• Viscount and Viscountess Linley, the groom’s first cousin and his wife
• Lady Sarah Chatto and Mr. Daniel Chatto, the groom’s first cousin and her husband
• The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the groom’s first cousin once removed and his wife
• The Duke and Duchess of Kent, the groom’s first cousin once removed, and his wife
• The Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, the groom’s first cousin once removed and his wife
• Princess Alexandra, Lady Ogilvy, the groom’s first cousin once removed
• Lord and Lady Romsey, the groom’s second cousin and his wife

Family of Camilla Parker Bowles

• Major Bruce Shand, the bride’s father
• Mr. Tom Parker Bowles and Miss Sara Buys, the bride’s son and his partner
• Miss Laura Parker Bowles and Mr. Harry Lopes, the bride’s daughter and her partner
• Mr. Mark Shand, the bride’s brother
• Mr. and Mrs. Simon (Annabel) Elliot, the bride’s sister and her husband
• Mr. Ben Elliot, the bride’s nephew
• Miss Katie Elliot, the bride’s niece
• Mr. and Mrs. Luke (Alice) Irwin, the bride’s niece and her husband
• Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Parker Bowles, the bride’s first husband and his second wife

Foreign Royalty

• King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al-Khalif of Bahrain
• King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of the Hellenes
• Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway
• Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Yugoslavia
• Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands
• Princess Margarita and Prince Radu of Romania
• Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud and Princess Nouf of Saudi Arabia
• Prince Bandar bin Sultan of Saudi Arabia

Viceroys

• The Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda and Lady Carlisle
• The Governor-General of Australia and Mrs. Jeffery
• The Governor-General of Barbados and Mrs. Husbands
• The Governor-General of Canada and John Ralston Saul
• The Queen’s Representative in the Cook Islands and Lady Goodwin
• The Governor-General of Grenada and Lady Williams
• The Commonwealth Secretary-General and Clare de Lore
• The Governor-General of New Zealand and Peter Cartwright
• The Governor-General of Papua New Guinea and Lady Matane
• The Governor-General of St. Christopher and Nevis

British Politicians

• The Rt. Hon. Tony Blair, Prime Minister and Mrs. Blain
• The Rt. Hon. Michael Howard, Conservative Party leader and Mrs. Howard
• The Rt. Hon. Charles Kennedy, Liberal Democrat leader and Mrs. Kennedy
• The Rt. Hon. Jack McConnell, First Minister of Scotland and Mrs. McConnell
• The Rt. Hon. Rhodri Morgan, First Minister for Wales and Mrs. Morgan
• The Rt. Hon. Paul Murphy, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
• The Honourable Nicholas Soames, Shadow Defence Secretary

Religious Representatives

• Rowan Williams, The Archbishop of Canterbury and Mrs. Williams
• The Rt, Rev. and Rt. Hon The Lord and Lady Carey of Clifton
• The Rt. Rev. Dean of Windsor and wife
• The Rev. Canon Doctor Hueston Finlay and Mrs. Finlay
• The Rev. Canon Laurence Gunner and Mrs. Gunner
• The Rev. Canon John Ovenden and Mrs. Ovenden
• The Rev, Canon John White

Other Notable Guests

• Rowan Atkinson, actor
• Sanjeev Bhaskar, actor
• Melvyn Bragg, Baron Bragg, broadcaster and author
• Paddy Campbell, fashion designer
• Phil Collins, singer
• Jilly Cooper, novelist
• Jonathan Dimbleby, British presenter
• Edward Fox, actor and Joanna David
• David Frost, broadcaster
• Stephen Fry, actor
• Valentino Garavani, fashion designer
• Lady Annabel Goldsmith, socialite
• Richard E. Grant, actor
• Robert Harris, author
• Ronald Harwood, playwright
• Sir Stephen Lamport, former private secretary to the prince
• Joanna Lumley, actress and ambassador for Prince’s Trust
• Martina Milburn, chief executive of the Prince’s Trust
• Simon Sebag Montefiore, biographer, novelist and journalist
• William Rees-Mogg, former editor of The Times
• Joan Rivers, comic
• Prunella Scales, actress
• William Shawcross, writer and broadcaster
• Trudie Styler, actor and producer
• Philip Treacy, milliner
• Christopher Warren-Green, conductor
• Timothy West, actor
• Staff from Clarence House, Highgrove House, Birkhall, and Sandringham

Sources: BBC; Telegraph

The Reception

photo: Hugo Burnand, Pool/Getty Images

Following the service, the Queen hosted a reception in the State Apartments at Windsor Castle.  Items on the menu included smoked salmon, roast venison with Balmoral redcurrant and port jelly, egg and cress sandwiches, potted shrimp rolls, and mini Cornish pastries.  Mrs. Ethel Richardson, of Wales, provided 20 fruit cakes at the request of the Prince of Wales.  After a toast of Duchy champagne, the couple left to begin their honeymoon.  The wedding cake was made by Dawn Blunden, owner of a cake shop in Lincolnshire.

Source: BBC; Netty’s Royalty Page

The Honeymoon

Following the reception, the newlywed couple departed for Birkhall, Prince Charles’ home on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland.  Princes William and Harry had decorated the car which was taking them from the castle.  The words “Prince” and “Duchess” were written on the windshield, with “Just Married” written on the back.  Bunches of red, white, and yellow metallic balloons had also been tied to the car. The Prince and Duchess boarded a plane at RAF Northolt for their flight to Aberdeen.

Source: BBC; Netty’s Royalty Page

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.