In a moment of history repeating itself, royal author Tina Brown wrote in her book, The Palace Papers: ‘Waiting for her at the altar, William bit his lip in a manner reminiscent of his mother’
Brown continued: ‘The ring that would seal William and Kate’s marriage vows was safely waiting in a hiding place in Harry’s jacket.
‘His military uniform of the Blues and Royals was so tight-fitting that his tailor came up with the idea of a special gold embroidered cuff with a secret compartment for the precious Welsh gold ring he would pass on to his brother.
‘For the Queen, the wedding day brought a special satisfaction. This new, 29-year-old granddaughter-in-law, the future Queen Consort, was unlike the child bride Diana, road-tested in resilience as well as royal life.’
To show their respect to the reigning monarch, Kate and Diana curtsied deeply to Queen Elizabeth II, who was sitting in the front row at their respective ceremonies.
‘That was really excellent, wasn’t it?’ the Queen reportedly said to Prince Philip after her grandson’s ceremony.
Brown wrote that a tear gathered in the eye of Kate’s mother, Carole Middleton, when she saw the transcendent vision of her daughter at the Great West Door of Westminster Abbey on her proud father’s arm.
Like Diana and Charles, William and Kate rode through the streets of London in the 1902 State Landau, which is the largest and most splendid horse-drawn carriage used by the sovereign.
William later turned to his new wife and told her, ‘You look happy’. She smiled and replied, ‘Yes! Are you happy?’ to which he said, ‘Yes. Very!’
It was in the luxurious carriage that lip readers caught a buzzing William saying: ‘I hope I remember… It’s mad, it’s mad! Oh my goodness, it’s really loud here – these people are clapping.’
By the time the couple reached Buckingham Palace and the glass doors of its famous balcony swung open, the playful crowds below were already chanting: ‘Kiss, kiss, kiss.’
The onlookers may have had to wait a few minutes, but when the time came, they were doubly rewarded.
‘Wow, that’s amazing,’ exclaimed Kate, confronted by the spectacle below: a forest of up-raised flags, periscopes and mobile phones stretching from the gates of the Palace all the way along The Mall to Admiralty Arch in the distance.
And then William, half-turning to his bride, said: ‘Go on, a little kiss, go on.’
A little kiss was exactly what he got. In fact, it was scarcely more than a peck and brought to mind Charles’s rather stilted kiss with Diana on the same spot 30 years earlier.
The day was declared a public holiday and was celebrated with street parties, picnics and community events across the country.
Prime Minister David Cameron encouraged street parties and councils reported more than 5,000 requests for road closures to facilitate them.
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Like Diana and Charles, William and Kate rode through the streets of London in the 1902 State Landau, which is the largest and most splendid horse-drawn carriage used by the sovereign
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View gallery
At the time, Westminster City Council said the Royal Wedding was the capital’s largest ever event. Paul Reid, head of operations, said he estimated nearly a million people were on the streets of London
At the time, Westminster City Council said the Royal Wedding was the capital’s largest ever event. Paul Reid, head of operations, said he estimated nearly a million people were on the streets of London.
After greeting wedding guests and dignitaries at Buckingham Palace, Kate was so eager to relive the fairytale wedding that she changed into a fluffy robe and rewatched the ceremony on the bed with William. Harry also joined the watch party, according to royal author Katie Nicholl.
‘The three of them sat watching together,’ the royal author penned. ‘Kate was still wearing the Queen’s priceless tiara.’
In April, the Waleses celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary – marked by ivory – on the Isle of Mull in Scotland.
To mark the occasion, they shared a romantic picture on their official Kensington Royal social media showing them lovingly holding each other as they enjoyed a quiet moment at dusk in Tobermory.
Kate and William previously stayed on the island in the Inner Hebrides in 2005 following their final exams at St Andrew’s University, where they first met and fell in love.
‘Wonderful to be back on the Isle of Mull,’ the caption read. ‘Thank you to everyone for such a warm welcome.
