The House of Windsor hosted two historic fairytale weddings over a ten-year period, each with slight variations. Within the confines of royal tradition, of course, the celebrations for two incredibly different couples reflected their individual tastes and styles. But how do their big days reflect the two sides of the royal coin when one pair is on the path to the throne and the other splits off on their own?
1. Meet the needs
Kate Middleton is the first of the two women who declared their intent to join the monarchy. Undoubtedly a daunting prospect, but still within Kate’s capabilities. The future Duchess blended in easily because she came from a wealthy, upper-class British family with connections to the aristocracy. However, the majority of outsiders will never fully comprehend what royalty really means.
2. A royal outcast
Therefore, it might have seemed that Meghan Markle, a Hollywood actress, could have been better prepared for the juggernaut of royalty if she had already attained some level of fame. Meghan had not, however, lived in particularly affluent circles. When she was six years old, her mother—a social worker and yoga instructor—and her well-to-do father—who worked in television—divorced. As you can see, Markle had a more modest upbringing than other women who married royals.
3. The dresses
Kate Middleton emerged in her $450,000, classically elegant Alexander McQueen gown, creating an iconic fashion moment. The dress stood out thanks to its intricate lace, nine-foot train, and long train. Meghan’s dress wasn’t as well-liked, but it was just as elegant. She embodied both simplicity and royal grandeur with her boatneck silhouette and 16.5-foot-long veil. She also added a blue item, a fragment of the dress she wore on her first date with Prince Harry.
4.The rings
Harry and William both decided to use jewelry that belonged to their mother for their wedding bands. The Duchess of Cambridge’s $400k engagement ring features a 12-carat blue sapphire and is set in platinum. The framing diamonds in Meghan Markle’s $350,000 ring were formerly Diana’s. And if that weren’t heartwarming enough, Prince Harry chose the center in Botswana, the country where their romance all started.
5. The brides
Who made the better groom, the princes? So we’ll let you be the judge. William and Harry both wore their uniforms for their wedding ceremonies. William was noticeable in his red Irish Guard uniform, which revealed his colonel rank. Harry, who attained the rank of captain, opted to wear the more typical Blues and Royals uniform fit for a major.
6.Bouquets
The royals proved you wrong just when you thought they couldn’t possibly incorporate any more symbolism into any aspect of the wedding. For instance, the bouquets were created with a specific purpose in mind. Kate’s was made up entirely of white flowers, which stand for unwavering love and joy. On the other hand, Meghan’s stood for commitment and love. And it even had a few flowers that Harry had personally chosen!
7. The Queen’s group
The Queen, who never shies away from a pop of color, looked stunning in the primrose yellow dress she wore to the wedding of the Cambridges. The same could be said of her in the soft green dress Harry and Meghan wore to their wedding. In keeping with her distinctive style, she accessorized her outfits with bright hats, white gloves, and her signature handbag. It appears that there is no favoritism at work.
8. Wavering hopes
No, “waving” refers to the obligatory gesture the newlywed royal couple must make in front of the crowd and the millions of viewers watching around the world, not the amusing activity crowds engage in in arenas. Waving to crowds of admiring onlookers in the carriage after the ceremony is one of the first responsibilities after saying “I do.” Meghan went with a relaxed, unforced wave, while Kate chose a close-fingered one.
9.Who pulled the train
The responsibility of pulling the train is significant and under pressure. As Kate’s maid of honor, Pippa Middleton was in the spotlight for the first royal wedding of the decade. However, the second couple behaved in a different way. Instead of a maid of honor, Meghan asked her close friend’s twin sons to serve as her page boys on the wedding day. N’aww!
10.Tiaras
Although not all brides wear tiaras, it is a requirement in the royal family. The Queen herself let Kate use hers. It’s important to note that Elizabeth received the tiara as a birthday gift, so it’s pretty significant that she decided to share! Fortunately, the monarch owns quite a few tiaras, so Meghan also wore one of her vintage pieces. Meghan customized it by switching out the traditional center stone for a diamond. However, they weren’t the only ones who attracted attention.
11.Moms of the bride and groom
Carole Middleton and Doria Ragland attended their daughters’ royal weddings while donning pastel-colored outfits and matching hats. Ragland wore a mint Oscar de la Renta creation, while Middleton’s dress was made by Catherine Walker. You’ll have to admit that they both looked fantastic.
12. Charles’s attire
For the weddings of his sons, Prince Charles changed his attire. The first time, he opted for a military aesthetic while donning a royal uniform covered in regalia. Then, to match Camilla’s attire perfectly, he donned a dapper three-piece gray suit for Harry and Meghan’s wedding.
13. Kate’s attire
The Duchess of Cambridge made a bit of a stir with her choice of clothing when it came time for her to attend a second big royal wedding, this time as a guest. While the invoices state that Middleton’s Alexander McQueen coat was “primrose yellow,” some believed she came dangerously close to breaking the cardinal rule by attending another person’s wedding while wearing white.
14.Up the aisle
The media was abuzz about Meghan Markle’s partial solo walk down the aisle and her father’s non-attendance at her wedding. But Prince Charles met her halfway, which calmed traditionalists. Kate, however, was accompanied by her father, Michael Middleton.
15. The hugs
Every devoted royal follower eagerly awaits the couple’s first kiss in front of the public. On the Buckingham Palace balcony, William and Kate exchanged their first liplock as husband and wife. In contrast, Harry and Meghan decided to share their first kiss right outside St. George’s Chapel after their wedding.
16. Places for weddings
The royal receptions were only attended by a small number of the attendees crammed into the church pews for the ceremony. While Harry and Meghan’s guests popped champagne at Windsor Castle’s St. George’s Hall, William and Kate’s closest friends and family celebrated in the opulence of Buckingham Palace. We would have gladly gone to either event if invited!
17. Wedding attire
Kate and Meghan both slipped into stunning dresses that reflected their individual styles as they arrived at the reception wearing some astronomically expensive gowns. The Duchess of Cambridge was dressed in an elegant and traditional Alexander McQueen ensemble. The Duchess of Sussex wore a chic, white halter gown by Stella McCartney that cost $157,000.
18.The cakes
William and Kate made a huge effort with the cake. Their extravagant $160,000 fruitcake had eight tiers! For those who disliked fruitcake, there was a chocolate cake ready and waiting for them. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, on the other hand, ordered a more affordable—between $60 and $75k—smaller lemon sponge with elderflower syrup and Almalfi lemon curd.
19. The Middletons’ clothing
Michael and Carole Middleton were prepared for their royal wedding attire because they are traditional British aristocrats. Carole wore a light blue tailored dress and a matching hat, while Michael looked dapper in a classic suit and top hat for Kate’s big day. They practically wore the same outfit to the next wedding because it worked the first time!
20. The price
How much does a royal wedding cost? I guess a lot. The royal family spent $34 million on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding in 2011. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex upped the ante by throwing a $55 million party, despite having 600 fewer guests than Will and Kate.
21. Dimensions
Many more people came to see William and Kate’s wedding because it was widely regarded as the wedding of the century. Around 2,000 people showed up at Westminster Abbey. There were significantly fewer guests present for Harry and Meghan’s wedding, but the venue was also much smaller. Regardless of the numbers, the entire world continued to observe them as they were formally admitted to the royal family; there was no turning back.
22. A royal oversight
After that, Meghan and Kate were subject to the plethora of unspoken regulations that come with living in a royal household. For instance, royals aren’t permitted to sign autographs due to concerns that people might fake their signatures. She discovered a clever way to interact with the public prior to Prince Harry and Meghan’s nuptials by writing, “Hi Kaitlin,” in a young fan’s notebook. You’re so smart, Meghan! Unfortunately for duchesses, those peculiar and downright absurd rules are only the beginning of what they must adhere to.
23. Voting is not permitted
There are no written laws prohibiting royals from voting in British government elections, but it is generally accepted that they won’t. Sadly, there is a personal interest involved because the monarch must sit through a weekly meeting with the prime minister who was chosen by the people. However, it is acknowledged that the British royal family has a responsibility to keep politics separate from royal life as ceremonial heads of state.
24.Be wary of the secret handshake.
There is undoubtedly a particular handshake style that the royals are taught to use, though it may not be a secret one. It entails firmly holding the other person’s hand, gazing into their eyes, and giving the other person’s hand one or two prim pumps. Smiling, repeating
25. There are proper and improper ways to carry your teacup.
The royals enjoy tea parties greatly and are aware that there are certain rules for drinking tea. The cup must be held with the middle finger on top and the thumb and index fingers looped through the handle. No pinkies should be held up, despite what you may have been told.
26. You’re done eating when the Queen is.
According to royal protocol, when the Queen decides she has had enough posh fare at the table, everyone else is expected to do the same. Once the monarch has eaten, it is considered monstrously impolite to continue munching.
27.Royals are unable to participate in the Monopoly game.
Prince Andrew made it clear that there was no chance of him choosing from the Community Chest when he was given the traditional board game Monopoly at a function. Monopoly is not permitted to be played at home, he declared. It becomes far too vicious. A case of the competitive royals having too much Water Works?
28. They always know what to wear during a funeral.
Although it may sound morbid, this rule is merely useful. When traveling, British royals are advised to always bring or have brought a set of black clothing. If someone significant passes away while they are traveling, they will be able to return home in appropriate and dignified mourning attire.
29.Royal passengers cannot share an heir-plane.
Another useful rule states that in the event of a fatal crash, two heirs to the throne cannot board the same aircraft. Nevertheless, second in line Will often travels with Kate and George, along with Charlotte and Louis, who are the third, fourth, and fifth passengers, so he tends to take this rule with a grain of salt.
30.Before royals can even propose, the Queen must say yes.
This regulation was in fact spelled out in law in black and white. The Royal Marriages Act, which was created in 1772, stipulates that British royals must request the consent of the reigning monarch before proposing to a woman. Future newlyweds and grooms, good luck!
