Royals

Fairytale romances at their finest: Royal weddings through the years

The royals are certified pros at putting on a spectacle.
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You can’t deny it, there is something truly spectacular about a royal wedding. The dress, the traditions, the A-list celeb spotting!

And in recent years, we’ve certainly been gifted to some amazing royal wedding spectacles.

In 2018, our hearts swooned when Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan tied the knot – an event that went down in history.

It was the year of weddings when a few months later we celebrated once again when Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank were married at St George’s Chapel.

What’s more, Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi were able to tie the knot during the coronavirus pandemic in a small but stunning ceremony after they were forced to cancel their original plans – a feat indeed.

It seems like yesterday when we celebrated the royal wedding between Duchess Catherine and Prince William in 2011. We still remember the way William smiled when he saw his bride for the first time and whispered, “You look beautiful!”

And who could forget when the breathtaking Mary Donaldson from Tassie captured the heart of a Danish Prince?

WATCH: Relive Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik’s wedding day. Post continues…

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Princess Mary and Prince Frederik of Denmark made our hearts skip a beat when they became man and wife on May 14, 2004 at the Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen.

Then there are your classic weddings that are embedded into our minds forever, like Princess Diana, the majestic festivities for a then-21-year-old Princess Elizabeth, and all the glitz and glamour surrounding the Monacan royals.

Keep scrolling as we round up the best royal weddings of all time.

(Benjamin Wheeler / PA)

Princess Beatrice & Edorado Mapelli Mozzi

Even in the middle of a pandemic Princess Beatrice and Edorado Mapelli Mozzi found a way to have their special day! The couple tied the knot in an intimate ceremony at Windsor Castle in July 2020.

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Beatrice & Edo with Queen Elizabeth & Prince Philip

Buckingham Palace confirmed The Queen, Prince Philip, and Beatrice’s mother Sarah Ferguson and father Prince Andrew, as well as her sister Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank were all in attendance on the day.

(Image: Benjamin Wheeler / PA)

Beatrice & Edo wedding day portait

To make matters even sweeter, the bride wore a vintage gown loaned to her by the Queen and the same tiara Her Majesty wore on her own 1947 wedding day

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Princess Eugenie & Jack Brooksbank

In October 2018, Princes Eugenie and her long time partner Jack Brooksbank tied the knot at St George’s Chapel. The whirlwind ceremony was broadcast around the world, with hundreds of thousands tuning in to watch Sarah Ferguson’s youngest daughter say ‘I do’.

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Eugenie, Jack & their page boys and bridesmaids

The pair had a number of adorable page boys and bridesmaids for the occasion – you might recognise Prince George and Princess Charlotte behind them!

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Eugenie & Jack kiss on the steps of Windsor Chapel

Sealed with a kiss! The pair began married life before their family, friends and hundreds of well-wishers, who came to the Windsor chapel to catch a glimpse of the newlyweds.

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Prince Harry & Meghan Markle

It was the moment the world had been waiting for: The wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. As the bride climbed the stairs of St George’s Chapel, Windsor, her stunning Givenchy gown and veil took our breath away.

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Harry & Meghan kiss on the steps of St George’s Chapel

The wedding in May attracted millions of viewers from across the world. Meghan has since revealed some sweet anecdotes from the day, including what her ‘something blue’ was: A small piece of blue fabric from a dress she wore on her first date with Harry, which was stitched carefully inside the gown.

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Harry & Meghan at the altar

During the royal event, their love for each other was clear. They shared a number of laughs and sweet glances at each other as the ceremony progressed.

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Smiling & waving to well wishers

The pair were all smiles as they waved at adoring fans from the chapel steps.

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Harry & Meghan drive through the stress of Windsor

Fans were ecstatic to greet the newlyweds as they made their way through the streets of Windsor on a horse-drawn carriage following the ceremony.

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Prince Harry & Meghan Markle make their way to their second wedding reception

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Prince William and Catherine Middleton

The beautiful moment Kate Middleton became Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge after she married Prince William on the 29th, April 2011.

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Kate & her sister Pippa

Her sister Pippa Middleton, who tied the knot on May 20 last year, was enchanting as her maid-of-honour. Catherine was the embodiment of a Princess bride, looking magnificent in McQueen.

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William & Kate kiss on the balcony

Sealed with a kiss! The couple couldn’t have looked happier as they professed their eternal love in front of the world. It does seems that young Grace van Cutsem (left) wasn’t feeling the love quite as much as the newlyweds.

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Prince William & Kate walk down the aisle

The day was bittersweet for Prince William. He admitted to American journalist, Katie Couric, “I am very sad my mother is never going to get the chance to meet Kate… she’d be very proud.”

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A picture perfect moment on the balcony

The love shared between the couple who’ve now been married for seven years was felt across the world. Like many grooms, Wills was both excited and terrified (especially with two billion people watching!) “Honestly it was one of those days where you feel very elated. Also completely terrified, I have to be honest. The prospect of two billion people watching was quite daunting.”

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Prince Charles & Duchess Camilla tie the knot

On April 9, 2005 Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla tied the knot in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall. The royal pair were joined by their nearest and dearest for the event, which was broadcast by the BBC.

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Charles, Camilla & Queen Elizabeth on the steps

The wedding didn’t come without some hiccups – it was originally planned to take place at Windsor Castle, however, due to legal requirements for licensing the castle, it was swapped to Windsor Guildhall. No matter thought – the pair’s day couldn’t have looked any more special.

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Charles & Diana

She was Lady Diana Spencer when she married Prince Charles in 1981. The world fell for the shy girl who glowed in a silk taffeta gown designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel.

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On the balcony

A tender moment as the married couple address the world as husband and wife.

Princess Diana’s enormous bridal gown has become one of the world’s most iconic dresses. It was made of ivory silk and embellished with pearls, sequins and antique lace.

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Princess Elizabeth & Prince Philip

Eyes only for each other: There is something spectacularly magical about the love shared between the Queen and her husband. Tying the knot on 20 November, 1947, a then Princess Elizabeth looked beautiful in a white satin wedding gown, which was created by the royal family’s designer, Norman Hartnell.

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Prince Frederik & Princess Mary

Australia’s very own Princess! Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Mary tied the knot on 14 May 2004 at the Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen. For those of who remember staying up late to watch the exciting union on TV, it was clear Frederik was a man in love.

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On the balcony

We did our best not to cry when Fred wiped away tears upon seeing his bride. “From today, Mary is mine and I am hers,” he said at the altar. “I love her and I will protect her with all my love.”

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A tender moment shared with the world

13 years have passed, and the pair are every bit as in love as they were when they locked lips.

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How royal couples met

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Prince Carl Philip of Sweden & Sofia Hellqvist

Prince Carl Philip married Sofia Hellqvist in a gorgeous wedding at the Royal Palace of Stockholm in Sweden on June 13, 2015. Sofia was a vision in a white bustier haute couture gown by Swedish designer Ida Sjöstedt, which was adorned with an emerald crown and diamond earrings.

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Princess Victoria & Daniel Westling

Getting fit found Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria love! She married her personal trainer Daniel Westling.

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Official portrait

The Princess looked majestic in a white duchesse satin gown with a 16ft train by Par Engsheden at her 2010 wedding at Stockholm Cathedral.

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Princess Madeleine & Christopher O’Neill

A family that have all married for love! Carl and Victoria’s elder sister, Sweden’s Princess Madeleine married British businessman Christopher O’Neill at the Chapel Royal at the Royal Palace in Stockholm in June 2013. The bride looked stunning as she chose a traditional silk organza gown by Valentino.

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Prince Albert of Monaco & Princess Charlene

Prince Albert of Monaco kept his Hollywood heritage alive when he married South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock in 2011. She was the embodiment of opulence, opting to wear an Armani creation for her nuptials. The dress took 2,500 hours to create and was covered in 40,000 Swarovski crystals, 20,000 mother of pearl teardrops and 40,000 gold beads.

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Prince Rainier III of Monaco & Princess Grace

When two worlds collide: Before the British royals, there were the Monaco royals. Grace Kelly’s 1956 wedding to Prince Rainier III of Monaco was televised to an estimated $30 million and dubbed “the wedding of the century”. The Hollywood star traded in her acting crown for a governing one when she tied the knot, after meeting the Prince at Cannes Film Festival. The blushing bride wore a Helen Rose design.

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Princess Margaret & Antony Armstrong-Jones

Queen Elizabeth II’s sister Princess Margaret also wore a Norman Hartnell design for her 1960 wedding to Antony Armstrong-Jones.

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Princess Margaret on her wedding day

The Princess’ wedding was was watched by over 300 million viewers worldwide. Her stunning dress, though designed by the same person as her older sister’s, was completely different! White silk organza with a satin-bound silk tulle veil and not a stitch of embroidery in sight! And her tiara named Poltimore after Lady Poltimore back in 1870, was purchased at auction specially for Margaret.

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Zara Phillips & Mike Tindall

Zara Phillips channelled an English rose when she married former England rugby player Mike Tindall in July 2011. The royal wore an ivory silk faille dress by Stewart Parvin.

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Prince Andrew & Sarah Ferguson

Princess Eugenie’s parents Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew tied the knot on July 23, 1986 at Westminster Abbey in London.

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Waving from the balcony

The Duchess of York was the embodiment of an eighties bride in a voluminous dress with intricate bead work by British designer Lindka Cierach.

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Prince Andrew & Sarah Ferguson share a kiss

At the time, the royal couple couldn’t have been more in love but they announced their divorce in 1996. The former husband and wife remain the friendliest of exes.

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Prince William & Duchess Catherine drive away

Nothing beats a royal wedding, just ask Wills and Kate!

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