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Royal wedding: What past events were like
How royal weddings have changed - and stayed the same - in the past 100 years, from that of William's great-grandparents to his father's second marriage. Watch clips of these events, drawn from the BBC's archives, on our History of Royal Weddings page.
Recipe for a royal wedding |
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| Happy couple | British dress | Uniformed groom | Controversy | Notable gifts | What they ate | Key quote |
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By court dressmaker Mme Handley Seymour |
His Royal Air Force uniform |
First British "commoner" to marry into the royal family in about 200 years - she only accepted his proposal at the third attempt |
Jewellery from his parents, King George V and Queen Mary, and the Strathmore Rose Tiara from her father |
Supremes de saumon Reine Mary (salmon filets), cotelettes d'agneau Prince Albert (lamb cutlets), fraises Duchesse Elizabeth (strawberries) |
"Ma gnikniht oot hcum" Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, using mirror writing code in her private diary, on her indecision about marrying royalty [translation: "Am thinking too much"] |
Princess Elizabeth (soon to be queen) and Philip Mountbatten, 1947 |
Designed by Norman Hartnell |
His Royal Navy uniform |
With rationing still in place, women sent clothing coupons to help the princess obtain material for her dress. These had to be sent back, as it was illegal to give them away |
Ingredients for wedding cake from Australian Girl Guides and cotton shawl woven by Gandhi - Queen Mary mistook it for a loin-cloth |
Filet de sole Mountbatten, perdreau en casserole (partridge), bombe glacee Princess Elizabeth |
"I was so happy and enjoying myself so much that I became completely selfish and forgot about your feelings or anyone else's!" Elizabeth, in a letter to her mother while on honeymoon |
Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones (Lord Snowdon), 1960 |
Designed by Norman Hartnell |
Morning dress, as he was a civilian |
Five years earlier, Margaret cancelled plans to marry Group Captain Peter Townsend, he was divorced and this displeased the political establishment and the Church |
Ten acres in Mustique, a private island in the West Indies, on which Margaret built a beloved retreat |
Filet de boeuf Princesse, haricot vert, souffle surprise Montmorency |
"I'm not royal. I'm just married to one" Lord Snowdon, as he grew tired of official duties |
|
Designed by Maureen Baker |
Dress uniform of his regiment, Queen's Dragoon Guards |
Only second time in more than 200 years that a British royal had married a commoner - they met through a shared interest in horses |
Many equestrian gifts - and a rug from the Cabinet for which ministers chipped in £10.53 each |
Lobster, partridge, fresh peas, peppermint ice cream, and 5ft 6ins (168cm) wedding cake - the bride's height |
"An occupational hazard of being a wife" Anne, on pregnancy |
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Designed by Emanuel |
His Royal Navy uniform |
She omitted the traditional promise to obey her husband - unlike other royal brides |
More than 6,000 gifts, including solid gold model of a sailing dhow from Emir of Bahrain, thought to be worth £500,000-£1m |
Quenelle of brill in lobster sauce, Princess of Wales chicken (chicken breast stuffed with lamb mousse), strawberries with Cornish cream |
"Whatever 'in love' means" Charles, asked if he and his fiancée Diana were in love |
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Designed by Lindka Cierach |
His Royal Navy uniform |
Sarah - the Duchess of York - later told a US magazine the marriage began to break down within a week because of Prince Andrew's naval duties |
Sunninghill Park, a 12-bedroom house in Surrey, from the Queen - the tabloids dubbed it "SouthYork" after Southfork in TV soap Dallas |
Eggs Drumkilbo (hard-boiled egg moulded with lobster, prawns and mayonnaise - the Queen Mother's favourite), lamb with mint sauce, strawberries and cream |
"I had been working in London and living in a small flat with my best friend, and suddenly I married a prince" Sarah Ferguson |
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Designed by Samantha Shaw |
Morning dress, as no longer in armed forces |
Before the wedding, the Sun published a 1988 photo of Chris Tarrant lifting Sophie's bikini top - the tabloid later apologised. Duchess of York wasn't invited - she and Prince Andrew divorced in 1996 |
Gifted the titles of Earl and Countess of Wessex by the Queen, his brothers were made dukes when they married |
Buffet of beef stroganoff, smoked haddock in pastry, raspberries and cream |
"No hats" Dress code on invitations, reflecting the couple's wish for a more informal royal wedding |
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Two dresses, both by Robinson Valentine |
Morning dress - traditional wedding attire, according to Debrett's etiquette guide |
The pair wed 30-odd years after their romance began, the second marriage for both. The Queen didn't attend their private civil ceremony - the Palace said it was to keep the event low-key |
Sari for her and Indian headdress for him from Mumbai's tiffin carriers. Comedian Stephen Fry said the groom was hard to buy for, so he gave "coffee made from Cambodian weasel vomit" |
Lavish traditional tea, including egg and cress sandwiches, mini Cornish pasties and boiled fruit cake |
"I'm very proud and wish them well" Queen's toast to the couple |
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Designed by Sarah Burton, of Alexander McQueen |
His Irish Guards uniform- he's honorary colonel |
The groom reportedly asked not to be made a duke, and to remain Prince William. But tradition dictates this would make her Princess William. They are now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge |
The couple's wedding list contained no gifts - instead they chose 26 charities and asked well-wishers to make donations |
Buffet-style wedding breakfast of canapes such as poached asparagus, Cornish crab salad on blinis and rhubarb creme brulee tartlets. Two wedding cakes, one a chocolate fridge cake - William's childhood favourite |
''We're supposed to have just a small family affair'' Prince William's joke at the altar to Catherine's father |
Compiled by BBC News Magazine's Megan Lane