It’s been a while since the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
The couple tied the knot on Friday, April 29 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London.
So much has happened in the 13 years they’ve been married, including the accession of King Charles III.
The couple, formerly known as The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, are now The Prince and Princess of Wales, the UK’s future King and Queen, as well as parents to three young children.
Here, we give you a big dose of nostalgia as we take a look back at some of the most memorable moments from their royal nuptials…
1. Pippa’s bottom
We’ll get the obvious one out of the way – little sister Pippa Middleton risked stealing Kate’s thunder before she’d even hit The High Altar in Westminster Abbey. And it’s all thanks to her shapely behind.
As Pippa emerged from the wedding car and carried sister Kate’s train as they stepped into the Abbey, the world was given the perfect shot of Pippa’s pert bottom in her figure-hugging maid of honour’s outfit.
Designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen and the same designer behind Kate’s gown, it left nothing to the imagination when it came to Pippa’s rear and she was a firm fixture in the press for weeks thanks to the frenzy it created.
Pippa became the most eligible – but not single – lady in London, being dubbed ‘her royal hotness’. And it even sparked copycats getting ‘Pippa Middleton bum’ lifts.
Pippa admitted the attention her posterior received was ‘unexpected’ – but she’s still got the dress safely tucked away in her wardrobe in case her children one day wish to see it.
‘It was completely unexpected,’ she admitted in an interview on US TV show Today after the wedding. ‘You know, I think the plan was not really for it to be a significant dress, really just to sort of blend in with the train.
‘I suppose it’s flattering. It’s actually still in my wardrobe at home. I haven’t worn it since. But I think I’ll just keep it there.
‘I think it’s the sort of thing that I’m sure I’ll bring out if someone wanted to see it or my children one day want to see it. Then I’ll show them. It’s tucked away.’
2. The first glimpse of the bride
Kate and her family stayed at five-star The Goring Hotel the night before the royal wedding.
Situated on a side street a short walk from Buckingham Palace and just over a five-minute drive to Westminster Abbey, Kate only had a short journey to her groom on the morning of her wedding.
Screens had been set up surrounding the hotel’s entrance to protect Kate’s privacy as she exited the hotel, but cameras managed to catch a short glimpse of the bride in her veil as she maneuvered her dress into her waiting car before making the journey to her groom.
As the car left The Goring, a beaming Kate and her father, Michael Middleton, waved to crowds who had gathered along the route. It was the perfect way to build the excitement for the special day.
Kate’s arrival at The Goring Hotel the evening before also sparked a great deal of interest too, with media and fans gathered on the street to wish her well.
3. Kate’s Alexander McQueen dress
Alexander McQueen’s creative director Sarah Burton was the brains behind Kate’s elegant – and stunning – lace bridal gown for her wedding to Prince William.
For months speculation was rife on who would be the designer and Sarah had kept a stealthy silence on the matter.
So it was only natural that everyone was clamoring for the first glimpse of Kate in her dress – even it it was shielded in part by the screens at The Goring.
As Kate finally emerged outside Westminster Abbey – with the entire world seeing her dress on TV screens before her husband-to-be had – it was confirmed that Burton was in fact the designer.
She was even on hand to neaten the train – which was 9ft long – on the day and ensure every inch of the dress looked perfect as Kate made her way down the aisle.
It later emerged that Kate and Sarah had been having secret meetings at Hampton Court Palace to discuss the dress – the location chosen due to its proximity to The Royal School of Needlework and the team that created the lace for the gown.
It was so hush-hush that staff there were told that the lace they were creating was actually for a period drama.
4. Harry whispers during the ceremony
Those who watched the ceremony will remember the moment in which Prince Harry, stood next to William at the altar, turns to take a look at Kate who is walking down the aisle hand with her father.
As he does, he then turns and whispers something – with a mischievous grin – in William’s ear.
It’s not known exactly what he said, but expert lip readers have suggested he whispered: ‘Right, here she is now’, perhaps making a little quip at the fact the music had suddenly gone up a notch and it was quite clear already that she was walking down the aisle.
But that’s just one lip reader’s interpretation – we quite like the thought of Harry saying something more along the lines of, ‘Cor! She looks stunning.’
5. William whispers to Kate at the altar
He had just been reunited with his beautiful bride for the first time, so it’s understandable William might want to say hello.
As the music came to a close, William turned to Kate and, according to lip readers, said: ‘You look lovely…(unclear)… you look beautiful.’ He then followed it up by joking: ‘Just a small family affair.’
What jokers those Princes are.
6. Not one but TWO royal kisses
The royal balcony moment after the ceremony has taken place and the carriages have escorted the family to Buckingham Palace is one of the most anticipated moments of a royal wedding in London.
And the bride and groom gave the public not one but TWO royal kisses on the balcony.
Thanks to lip readers, we know that it was William’s suggestion.
‘Go on, a little kiss, go on,’ is what William is thought to have said to Kate on the balcony. This was followed with a very quick peck.
But then he wanted another, turning to Kate and saying: ‘Let’s give them another one. I love you.’ It was as the flypast then began that he said again: ‘One more kiss, one more kiss. OK?’
And then we got the second kiss.
7. The fed-up flower girl
She was the star of the royal balcony scene – the Duke of Cambridge’s three-year-old goddaughter and the couple’s flower girl Grace Van Cutsem.
Grace was clearly so helplessly fed up with the loud, cheering crowds – either that, or she was bored – that she covered her ears and gave an almighty frown as she stood on the royal balcony in front of the world.
It became an iconic moment of the wedding day.
8. The secret menu
Prince William and Kate Middleton didn’t reveal what they ate on their big day for a whopping four years.
It wasn’t until February 2015 that the menu for their royal wedding breakfast in 2011 was finally revealed for the first time.
The meal, which was served to just 300 close friends and family in the Buckingham Palace ballroom, had remained private until a copy of the menu was listed for auction at the Reeman Dansie Auctioneers in Colchester.
9. A royal day off
The last memorable moment in our list – but a very important one. The Queen granted us all a public holiday for Kate and William’s big day.
It meant the country erupted into garden parties, street feasts, all-day pub binges or sofa days as we all tuned in to enjoy the royal wedding.
When did Prince William and Kate Middleton get engaged?
The couple first met over 20 years ago in 2001, when they were both studying at St Andrew’s University in Scotland, and started dating in 2004.
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They had been together for seven years when they married (we’ll side-step their brief split in 2007, of course).
Prince William and Kate got engaged in October 2010 during a 10-day trip to the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya, organised to celebrate the prince passing the RAF helicopter search and rescue course.
The Prince gave Kate the famous sapphire engagement ring that had belonged to his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
This article is regularly kept updated with the latest royal news.
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