Can you believe it’s been over ten years since Prince William and Kate Middleton tied the knot at Westminster Abbey? While it seems like only yesterday, the ceremony details are quite a blur. For example, did you know the Princess of Wales did her own makeup? Or that Prince William wore a sweat-proof ensemble?
Keep scrolling for nine things you (probably) never knew about the royal wedding.
The nuptials took place at Westminster Abbey, which is rather well-known for its stuffy interior. So, the royal family enlisted tailors Kashket & Partners to custom design sweat-proof versions of Prince William and Prince Harry’s military uniforms. This meant less actual material but the added bonus of armpit pads in each jacket.
The bride’s bouquet featured five different types of flowers: lily-of-the-valley, sweet William, ivy, myrtle and hyacinth. Both the sweet William and myrtle had a special meaning—while sweet William paid tribute to the bride’s now-husband (duh), myrtle honored the royal family. Not only does it represent love, fertility and innocence, but adding a sprig of the delicate blossom to the bridal bouquet has been a royal tradition since Princess Victoria tied the knot in 1840, according to the official website.
Yes, you read that right. The Princess of Wales did enlist London makeup artist Arabella Preston for some tips; the pro gave the future duchess a few weeks’ worth of lessons leading up to her big day. She opted for a soft romantic look that we’d (probably) never be able to achieve on our own, so more power to her.
During the ceremony, the duchess wore a pair of suspended diamond pavé acorn earrings by Robinson Pelham, which were a gift from her parents.
No, really. A royal expert estimated that Prince William and Princess Catherine spent around £800,000 (about $1.1 million) on floral arrangements alone. Can you imagine how much myrtle it took to rack up a million-dollar tab?
The aforementioned floral splurge included lush English field maple trees that lined the aisles of Westminster Abbey. And luckily, they didn’t go to waste. The day after the wedding, the trees were replanted at King Charles’s vacation home in Wales.
If you look closely at the duchess's earrings, they feature oak leaves and acorns, which symbolize the trees where her family lives in Berkshire. Body language expert Darren Stanton, speaking on behalf of Betfair Casino, said, “Such a detail is indicative of how Kate Middleton wanted to make sure her wedding was personal to her despite it being a huge affair thanks to being a royal wedding. Little touches like her earrings are a nod towards Kate Middleton’s homebody nature and a sweet reminder of her family life growing up. It shows how she holds family in high esteem and extremely close to her heart.”
Stanton also confirmed that the royal paid tribute to her mother by having the flower girls wear head wreaths that resembled her mother's wedding day headdress. He said in a statement, “Kate Middleton getting her flower girls to wear floral head wreaths similar to the one her mother Carole wore on her wedding day is another suggestion that Kate Middleton wanted her wedding day to be a family affair. It allowed her to bring in little details inspired by both her family and Prince William’s to truly make the day their own and is testament to the strong bond they both have with their loved ones.”
On her wedding day, the duchess wore the “Halo Tiara” (aka the “Scroll Tiara”). The jaw-dropping accessory, which was designed by Cartier using a combination of brilliant-cut and baguette diamonds, was loaned to her by Queen Elizabeth. It was originally given to the monarch as an 18th birthday gift from her mother, who received it as a gift from King George VI.
