Our beautiful family: Kate Middleton and Prince William's unprecedented glimpse into their home life as they climb sand dunes, play in the garden and toast marshmallows with their three children in video to mark their 10th anniversary
- Kate Middleton, 39, and Prince William, 38, have shared an adorable video montage on tenth anniversary
- In the sweet clip, the royal couple can be seen enjoying some quality family time with their three children
- Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, five, and Prince Louis, three, join their parents in toasting marshmallows, climbing sand dunes and climbing trees
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have shared an unprecedented glimpse into their family life with a candid video to thank supporters for sending 'kind messages' on their tenth wedding anniversary.
The clip was posted to the @kensingtonroyal Instagram page with an accompanying message which read: 'Thank you to everyone for the kind messages on our wedding anniversary. We are enormously grateful for the 10 years of support we have received in our lives as a family. W & C'
In the short video, Kate Middleton, 39, Prince William, and their three children - Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, five, and Prince Louis, three, can be seen enjoying some downtime in the great outdoors.
Donning co-ordinated casual-wear, the future King and his family are seen climbing the sand dunes on the beach in Norfolk, sitting around the campfire toasting marshmallows in the countryside and playing the garden of their Anmer Hall residence.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chose London-based filmmaker Will Warr to capture their tenth anniversary video montage, who has created branded content, corporate films and ads for big brands including Tesco, Diageo, Red Bull, Uber Eats and Puma.
His work will be instantly familiar to anyone who's seen the Tesco Food Love Stories adverts.
The Duke, 38, and Duchess of Cambridge, 39, have shared an adorable video montage to thank supporters for sending 'kind messages' on their tenth wedding anniversary. Pictured, enjoying the great outdoors at a beach in Norfolk
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were joined by Princess Charlotte and Prince George as they sat on hay bales around the campfire toasting marshmallows in the gardens at Anmer Hall
A smiley Kate Middleton oped for a casual look as she perched on the edge of some hay bales next to husband Prince William in the countryside. Pictured, in the gardens at Anmer Hall
In one camera shot, the couple can be seen exchanging a joke as they sit on hay bales, while in another, Kate can be seen placing her hand on her husband's leg, with Princess Diana’s famous sapphire and diamond engagement ring gleaming on her finger.
Meanwhile, Prince William can be seen chasing after his youngest son Prince Louis and daughter Princess Charlotte while they scream with joy.
Elsewhere, Kate giggles as she runs after a smiling Prince Louis around the garden at their Norfolk home and according to expert lip reader Jacqui Press, he shrieks: ‘Faster!’
Jacqui also notes that Kate can be seen saying 'careful' to him while holding both of his hands as she helps him up through the steep grass.
At the end of the video, Prince George and Princess Charlotte crouch by the fire and toast marshmallows positioned on the end of their sticks.
William warns 'it will be very sticky,' Jacqui notes,' to which George responds: 'Hot!'
Showing they can embrace both high-end and high street fashion, Kate looked effortlessly elegant in a trendy £299 jacket from Irish premium brand Dubarry, while Prince George, seven, was dressed down in a £12 fleece by British outdoor and leisure clothing company Regatta.
Princess Charlotte, five, looked just as stylish as her mother in an Intarsia Wool-Blend jumper from Ralph Lauren and £259 Penelope Chilvers boots, similar to a pair owned and worn by the duchess for the last 17 years, which she wore on a farm engagement in Darlington earlier this week.
Prince Louis, three, sported a blue jumper, mimicking Prince William's casual ensemble of a green sweater.
Thrifty Kate recycled the Sézane Margeurite blouse which she first sported with a Troy jacket at an engagement in 2019, and then again with a wine coloured jumper for the Cambridge's Christmas card 2020.
Combating the cold weather during part of the clip, the duchess sported her favoured Dubarry Friel Utility Jacket, thought to have cost £299, as well as a stylish £95 hat from Hicks & Brown.
Princess Charlotte complemented her mother's look, wearing a Ralph Lauren jumper and a ruffle-neck blouse with skinny jeans, teamed with £259 Penelope Chilvers boots.
The duchess has a similar pair of the knee-highs, and has owned the trusty £475 Penelope Chilvers boots for at least 17 years, having first been spotted in them at the Blenheim Palace Game Fair in August 2004.
The youngest of the clan, Prince Louis, who was often seen nestled between his parents, sported a look similar to his father's go-to style.
He sported a blue jumper paired with a checkered shirt underneath and dark trousers, while his older brother Prince George was dressed in a similar earthy tones to his father Prince William.
The duke donned a green jumper with a blue shirt underneath, while Prince George opted for similar colours, sporting a £12 fleece by British brand Regatta and a £40 Brown Check Shirt from Trotters.
Celebrity stylist Rochelle White told FEMAIL: 'Kate is no stranger to mixing high street and high end fashion.
'Her favourite designers and brands include Alexander McQueen, Mulberry and Erdem - but she is also a lover of Reiss and Hobbs.
'She is no stranger to re-wearing items, like the wine coloured jumper and Sezane blouse seen in some of the images, which was also sported on the family Christmas card.
'This inspires the public to recreate and emulate what she wears.
'There has been a pattern in her choices over the last year and that could be because of the pandemic.
'Kate has really upped her love and wear of high street fashion.'
Many of those watching have been captivated by the video, with some saying Princess Diana would have been 'so proud' of the family.
One delighted royal fan commented: 'Adorable. This is all Diana would have wanted for her dear son William.'
Another wrote: 'Princess Diana is crying.'
A third commented: 'Happy Anniversary. You are a shining example and an inspiration to the country.
'Diana would have been so proud of you both and your beautiful family.
'Your loyalty to the Queen and country is lovely to see.'
The thrifty family dressed in cosy winter clothes and appeared to recycle the same outfits they wore for their Christmas 2020 card. Pictured, in the gardens at Anmer Hall
In the sweet video, Kate Middleton could be seen chasing Prince Louis around the garden of their Anmer Hall residence
In the short video, Kate Middleton lovingly rests her hands on Prince William's leg as the pair exchange smiles at a beach in Norfolk
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chose London-based filmmaker Will Warr to capture their tenth anniversary video montage (pictured, carrying Prince Louis at a beach in Norfolk), who has created branded content, corporate films and ads for big brands including Tesco, Diageo, Red Bull, Uber Eats and Puma
According to celebrity stylist Rochelle White, Kate's (pictured, with Prince Louis at a beach in Norfolk) look is very relaxed and causal and with a mix of high street and designer fashion, it's 'very achievable'
Alongside the video, the couple penned: 'Thank you to everyone for the kind messages on our wedding anniversary. We are enormously grateful for the 10 years of support we have received in our lives as a family. W & C' (pictured
'What a beautiful video,' another wrote, 'William's mum Diana would be so proud of their son. Wishing you many more years together, health, happiness and joyful moments as a family.
'Best video of the royal family in years. Catherine, your [an] incredible wife, mother [and] we're looking forward to a future with you.'
'Imagine if Princess Diana still alive today, she will be proud of her sons,' another commented.
A fifth commented: 'This made my day! What a beautiful family. Diana would be so proud of William.'
Many of those royal fans watching the video said Prince William's late mother would have been 'so proud' of her son and his family
August, 2004: Kate was first spotted in the £475 brown boots at the Game Fair at Blenheim Palace (left). The Duchess gave her trusty boots another outing on a visit to Darlington's Manor Farm earlier this week (right)
This year is a particularly poignant time for Prince William, with the Duke set to mark his late mother's 60th birthday later this summer.
Prince William is set to be reunited with Prince Harry, 36, who lives in a $14.7million home in Santa Barbara, California with wife Meghan Markle and their son Archie, one, for the unveiling of a statue Princess Diana in July.
The statue was commissioned to mark the twentieth anniversary of Princess Diana's death and recognise her positive impact in the UK and around the world.
It will be installed in the Sunken Garden of Kensington Palace on 1st July 2021, marking The Princess's 60th birthday.
The brothers announced the commission of the statue two years ago on the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana's death, and the initiative is one of their few remaining join ventures after a rift between the siblings and Harry's move to the US.
The statue’s sculptor, Ian Rank-Broadley, is most recognised for his depiction of the Queen, which has appeared on all coins in the UK and Commonwealth since 1998.
He also designed a gold coin marking the Queen’s diamond jubilee in 2012.
The hope of repairing a rift between the pair comes in the aftermath of Harry and Meghan Markle's explosive two-hour CBS interview with Oprah Winfrey last month.
Cambridges' anniversary video 'flies in the face of Prince Harry's claim that his brother is trapped' and shows 'uninhibited fun' with grown-up Prince George and 'adventurous' Princess Charlotte, body language expert claims
Prince William and Kate Middleton's anniversary video flies in the face of Prince Harry's claims the royal couple are 'trapped', a body language expert has claimed.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared an unprecedented glimpse into their family life with a candid video to thank supporters for sending 'kind messages' on their tenth wedding anniversary today.
In the short video, Kate Middleton, 39, Prince William, and their three children - Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, five, and Prince Louis, three, can be seen enjoying some downtime in the great outdoors.
It showed the future king's family running free climbing the sand dunes on the beach in Norfolk, sitting around the campfire toasting marshmallows in the countryside and playing the garden of their Anmer Hall residence.
Speaking to FEMAIL, body language expert Judi James explained that it shows future king George as more serious and the most grown up, while second-born Charlotte is more adventurous, noisy and cheeky.
Prince William and Kate Middleton's anniversary video flies in the face of Prince Harry's claims the royal couple are 'trapped', a body language expert has claimed
Judi added that William and Kate's children appear to be 'having the time of their lives' in the video, which shows heir-to-the-throne George (left) as the most grown up while cheeky Charlotte (right) is the more adventurous of the siblings.
Referring to Prince Harry's comments in his Oprah Winfrey article last month, Judi said: 'This film seems to fly in the face of Harry's recent claims about William being "trapped" in the royal family and unable to act freely.
'The playful, outdoor behaviour here is all about freedom of both actions and emotions and the three children look wonderfully uninhibited as they run about having fun'.
Judi added that William and Kate's children appear to be 'having the time of their lives' in the video, which shows heir-to-the-throne George as the most grown up while cheeky Charlotte is the more adventurous of the siblings.
'The Cambridge's appear to share their enjoyment of the outdoors and there's no rigid posing or quizzical looks from the children to suggest any over-staging as they romp about together or sit toasting marshmallows,' Judi added.
Judi said that the romantic exchanges between William and Kate here echo the stills photos they have put out to celebrate the day
'When children play as naturally as this with their parents it's obvious they're behaving as they normally would do away from the cameras.
'George is clearly the most grown-up, being shown looking more serious and reserved and even rather thoughtful as he gazes out to sea but a more adventurous and noisy Charlotte and Louis are tearing about having the time of their lives and clearly totally used to having interactive play sessions with their parents.
'William and Kate saved the best till last on their ten year anniversary with this video of themselves as a loving couple placed finally and emphatically into the context of a complete family unit,' she added.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared an unprecedented glimpse into their family life with a candid video to thank supporters for sending 'kind messages' on their tenth wedding anniversary today
'The romantic exchanges between William and Kate here echo the stills photos they have put out to celebrate the day, with the couple sitting together looking relaxed and very tactile and with Kate instigating the eye contact, throwing William a wide, dimpled smile of pleasure which he returns with the same besotted grin we saw in the photos.
'But here we also see little Louis rushing up to interrupt by shouting happily at his parents and we can see their looks of delight as he does so.
'The filming might be professional but the family really do look relaxed and natural together here,' she added.
In the short video, Kate Middleton (pictured holding Louis), 39, Prince William, and their three children - Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, five, and Prince Louis, three, can be seen enjoying some downtime in the great outdoors.
During their Oprah Winfrey interview last month, Harry and Meghan claimed Charles and William are 'trapped' in 'The Firm' and accused the royals of institutional racism, alleging one member of the family questioned what colour their son Archie's skin would be.
The Duke of Sussex told the American chat show host: 'I myself was trapped. I didn’t see a way out. I was trapped but I didn’t know I was trapped.
Asked what he meant, Prince Harry replied: 'Trapped within the system, like the rest of my family are.
Judi said the video shows William and Kate as 'the centre of the family unit' and as a 'loving couple'
'My father and my brother, they are trapped. They don’t get to leave.'
Royal sources later claimed that Prince William does not believe he is 'trapped' inside the system of the British monarchy and Prince Harry's suggestions that he is are 'way off the mark'.
Instead, the Duke of Cambridge, who is second in line to the throne behind his father, has 'accepted' his role and 'the path set for him', royal sources say.
A decade on, and never more in love: Kate and William celebrate 10th wedding anniversary with loving pictures taken by iconic rock photographer
After a decade of marriage and three children, they look as happy as ever.
To mark their tenth anniversary today, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have released two stunning new portraits taken this week at Kensington Palace.
Surprisingly, the couple – who tend to play it safe when it comes to official pictures – turned to celebrity snapper Chris Floyd, best known for his Britpop portraits of the 1990s. His subjects have included Oasis, Supergrass and The Verve, as well as Sir Paul McCartney, David Bowie and artist David Hockney.
The photographs are glamorous and glossy, but nonetheless natural. Kate and William are pictured standing in the courtyard at their official London residence as well as sitting in the garden. In each, it is clear the couple have an easy, affectionate confidence with each other.
A youthful Kate is wearing a bohemian-style blue patterned Avery wrap dress by Ghost costing £195. William is smart casual in a blue jumper and shirt.
The duchess’s hair is styled into waves instead of the more formal dark curls she favoured early in their marriage – William would be the first to admit, jokingly, he simply has noticeably less hair.
They are happy to be snapped holding hands – with Princess Diana’s engagement ring gleaming on Kate’s finger.
Other members of the Royal Family were quick to congratulate the couple for the landmark anniversary, with the Queen resharing the image on her official Instagram account, writing:
'Wishing the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge a very happy wedding anniversary.
Today marks ten years since Their Royal Highnesses exchanged vows at Westminster Abbey.'
It may be their tenth anniversary but it is likely the couple will be doing the school run as normal today.
Aides say they insist their children – Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, who turns six on Sunday, and Prince Louis, three – come first.
Sources say William is ‘extremely proud’ of the way his wife has adapted to the goldfish bowl of royal life.
‘She’s made the job her own and given him a beautiful family,’ a royal insider said. ‘They are a real team now.’
On 29 April 2011, Kate walked down the aisle at Westminster Abbey in a service that was performed by the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.
The couple said 'I do' in front of 2,000 guests and were watched by 36.7 million people who tuned in around the world.
In one of the new portraits of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, taken at Kensington Palace this week to mark their 10th wedding anniversary, Diana, Princess of Wales's famous sapphire and diamond engagement ring can be seen gleaming on Kate's finger (pictured)
Tender moment: Kate and William hold hands in a new image captured in the garden at Kensington Palace. Pictured, Kate opted for a £195 bohemian-style blue patterned wrap dress by Ghost, while Prince William donned a familiar blue jumper and shirt
Senior members of the royal family were quick to share their congratulations with the couple, and reposted the images on their official accounts (left, the Queen's official account, and right Prince Charles and Camilla's Instagram page)
William proposed during a holiday in Kenya in October 2010 after asking Kate's father for his daughter's hand following a marathon eight-year courtship. Pictured, in her engagement pictures with Prince William, taken on 16 November 2010
Fairytale: A decade on from Prince William and Kate Middleton's big day on April 29th 2011, the couple look back on a day that wouldn't have been allowed to happen under current restrictions. Kate, then 29, wore a £250,000 gown by Alexander McQueen
More poignant since the loss of Prince Philip: the couple's wedding photo, with both sides of their families present, taken by Hugo Burnand in the throne room at Buckingham Palace
That kiss! Prince William and Kate Middleton shared a very public kissing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following their wedding at Westminster Abbey
In 2013, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge beamed in photographs leaving the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London, as they introduced their newborn son, Prince George
In 2015, the couple once again beamed outside of the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London, following the birth of their daughter Princess Charlotte (left) and right, after the birth of Prince Louis in April 2018
Kate, then 29, wore a £250,000 gown by Alexander McQueen, which included a lace bodice hand-stitched by the world's best seamstresses at the Royal School of Needlework.
The most iconic moment of the couple's wedding day came perhaps when they shared their first kiss as a married couple on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, much to the delight of cheering onlookers outside the Palace gates and beyond.
Moments earlier, stepping on to the balcony, Kate had appeared to gasp 'Oh my' as she caught sight of the thousands of people who'd streamed into the public spaces around Buckingham Palace to share in the joy of the newlyweds.
And hours before that, she'd heard the same crowds drum up the loud chant 'We want Kate, we want Kate' in the moments before the bride had arrived at Westminster Abbey.
There was pomp and ceremony aplenty on that extraordinary day... but some of the more unexpected moments became some of the most memorable.
The sight of the Duke of Cambridge's then three-year-old goddaughter Grace Van Cutsem clapping her hands over her ears to escape the noise of the cheering and whooping outside Buckingham Palace saw her win column inches galore in global newspapers.
Six children were lucky enough to be picked to be bridesmaids and pageboys, and they were largely the epitome of good behaviour - until the big kiss on the balcony, at least.
Grace - who is the daughter of the couple's friend Hugh van Cutsem - is now 13 and has remained out of the public eye since stealing the limelight almost ten years ago.
Other highlights included sister-of-the-bride Pippa Middleton's show-stealing entrance to Westminster Abbey, which later saw the now mother-of-two quickly dubbed 'Her Royal Hotness'.
Kate's sibling did have quite a task on her hands though, the bridal train measured two metres.
The sight of Prince William driving his new bride from Buckingham Palace to Clarence House in an open top vintage blue Aston Martin DB6 MkII, decorated with love heart balloons and a 'just wed' number plate, was another moment fondly etched in history.
Tootle pip! The happy couple pictured leaving for Clarence House in William's royal blue vintage Volante car festooned with balloons and a 'Just wed' numberplate
Hard to believe: Crowds gathered all day long on the Mall outside Buckingham Palace on the couple's wedding day, waving union jacks and cheering as the newlyweds appeared on the balcony
Love train: Kate Middleton arriving at Westminster Abbey with her father Michael and sister Pippa, offering the crowd a first glimpse of her beautiful designer gown, which included a bodice hand-stitched by the world's best seamstresses at the Royal School of Needlework
The car, which has been updated to run on eco-friendly fuel, was lent to William by Prince Charles, who was gifted the now 51-year-old Aston Martin at his 21st birthday party.
Earlier in the day, the couple had arrived at Buckingham Palace from Westminster Abbey in a 1902 state Landau that was used by Charles and Diana on their wedding day 30 years ago.
Then there was the couple's cake, eight tiers of temptation that featured 900 individually iced flowers and was made by Fiona Cairns.
The stunning creation had 17 different flower designs, all with their own individual meaning, including a daffodil representing Wales and new beginnings.
Now teenagers, the page boys and flower girls seen arriving at the wedding in 2011. Pictured: Tom Pettifer laughs as he arrives with Master William Lowther-Pinkerton, Lady Louise Windsor and Margarita Armstrong-Jones
Pippa Middleton stole more than a few headlines after she helped her older sister adjust the train on her Alexander McQueen gown. Pippa wore a stunning white cowl-neck dress with cap sleeves for Kate's big day
Pippa Middleton gently holds the hands of Kate's flower girls - including characterful Grace Van Cutsem, left, as they arrive at Westminster Abbey
Happier times: Prince Harry waves alongside Lady Louise Windsor and Pageboy Tom Pettifer as they arrive at Westminster Abbey
Eight tiers of temptation: Royal baker Fiona Cairns decorated the royal wedding cake with individual
The cake was actually made from 17 individual fruit cakes – 12 of which formed the base. A garland design around the middle matched the decorations in the Picture Gallery in Buckingham Palace.
Guests were also able to enjoy a multi-tiered chocolate biscuit cake at the request of Prince William. The newlyweds commissioned McVities to craft the creation as an alternative to the official wedding cake. It was decorated with white chocolate water lilies and milk chocolate leaves.
As a nation emerging from lockdown after lockdown during the pandemic, some of the most striking images to reflect on are of the masses mingling on the Mall.
London was a blanket of red, white and blue as a million well-wishers came together to catch a glimpse of this very public wedding.
Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex's daughter Lady Louise Windsor was just seven when she made up part of Kate's troupe which accompanied her down the aisle. Pictured, arriving at Westminster Abbey
Bridesmaid Margarita Armstrong-Jones and page boy Tom Pettifer wave as they arrive to attend the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 in London
Eliza - the granddaughter of Prince William's stepmother Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall - was just three when she took on the role of flower girl in front of the nation at the royal wedding (pictured)
William, the son of Prince William and Kate's former aide, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, was ten at the time of the wedding and is now 17. Pictured, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their page boys and bridesmaids as they prepare to begin their journey by carriage procession to Buckingham Palace
Over to you William! Michael Middleton pictured giving his daughter away at Westminster Abbey...as she went from Catherine Middleton to future Queen Consort of 17 nations
The soon-to-be-newlyweds pictured from above with the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, as they prepared to take their wedding vows
The Queen, the late Prince Philip, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall with a youthful-looking Prince Harry sat in the front row to watch Kate and William take their vows
William, dressed in full military uniform, and Kate smile as they leave Westminster Abbey man and wife
Waving Union Jacks, the crowds roared with excitement as the couple arrived in their open-top carriage after making the journey from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace via Horse Guards Parade.
Thousands then waited patiently for that kiss - and were then given a surprise second. The moment was caught on giant screens across London in Hyde Park, Trafalgar Square and at many more gardens, squares and street parties. across the UK, and indeed the world.
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.
Despite the huge crowds police made just 52 arrests among the crowd in a day of unique goodwill.
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with Prince George and Princess Charlotte pushed to her christening at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Sandringham, Norfolk on 5 July 2015
William has remained a doting father and even appeared to coordinate his outfit with George at a children's party for military families in Canada, in 2016
Kate looked adoringly at Charlotte during a children's party for Military families during the Royal Tour of Canada in 2016
Prince Charlotte was joined by her brother Prince George on her first day at school in London on 5 September 2019
William proposed during a holiday in Kenya in October 2010 after asking Kate's father for his daughter's hand following a marathon eight-year courtship.
Kate and William first met at St Andrews University where they were both studying history of art and lived close to each other in the halls of residence during their first year.
It was at a charity fashion show in March 2002, when Kate modelled a sheer black lace dress, that she was said to have first turned the Prince's head.
They moved in together with friends in 2002 but are not thought to have become a proper item until around Christmas 2003.
Their romance was exposed on a skiing holiday in Klosters in 2004 but William famously proclaimed: 'I don't want to get married until I'm at least 28 or maybe 30' - setting the stage for a very long wait.
They split up in April 2007 as William became increasingly involved in his career in the Armed Forces but were secretly united within weeks.
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are joined by their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis as they join clap for NHS carers as part of the BBC Children In Need and Comic Relief 'Big Night In at London on April 23, 2020 in London
Prince William, Kate Middleton and their children attend a special pantomime performance at London's Palladium Theatre, hosted by The National Lottery, to thank key workers and their families for their efforts throughout the pandemic on 11 December 2020
'OK? Look at me... Let's do it!' Ten years ago, 2.4billion watched William and Kate tie the knot. Now, in sublime detail, master storyteller JONATHAN MAYO retells each glorious moment - and the words that sparked THAT kiss
By Jonathan Mayo for the Daily Mail
Legend has it that, when she was at school, young Kate Middleton had a picture of Prince William on her dormitory wall.
They finally met as students at St Andrews University and dated for eight years, splitting up briefly in 2007. Then in October 2010, on holiday in Kenya, they became engaged.
William had brought with him in his rucksack his mother's engagement ring. His girlfriend was 'Waity Katie' no more. When the date for the wedding was set, William told his team he wanted the day to be 'as enjoyable as possible, for as many people as possible'.
Magic moments: The first kiss on the balcony. Legend has it that, when she was at school, young Kate Middleton had a picture of Prince William on her dormitory wall
Friday, April 29, 2011
7am
Catherine Elizabeth Middleton is waking up in her £5,000-a-night suite in the exclusive Goring Hotel, close to Buckingham Palace. This is her last day as a commoner. The Middletons have booked all of the Goring's 69 rooms for family and friends.
The wedding cost is being split between the Queen, Prince Charles and the Middletons. Policing is being paid for by the taxpayer. There is speculation that the wedding has cost the Middleton family alone £250,000.
7.15am
Thousands of people from all over the world are standing on the processional route between the Palace and Westminster Abbey. Some have slept overnight in nearby parks. So far, the rain that was forecast has held off. Despite the early hour, well-wishers are loudly singing Rule Britannia and drinking champagne.
There are 5,000 police and troops on duty; in the days before the wedding, the Met has rounded up scores of potential troublemakers, including a group of anarchists who had planned to behead effigies of the Royal Family with a mock guillotine.
Maid of Honour Pippa helps her sister to the Abbey at the Royal Wedding of Prince William of Wales to Kate Middleton on April 29, 201
7.30am
The Government has declared today a public holiday, and thousands of street parties are being set up nationwide. Some pubs are selling 'Kiss Me Kate' ale and 'Fashionably Kate' cocktails.
Not all employers have given their workforce the day off. Brendan Barber, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, says: 'A significant minority of tight-fisted companies have decided to ignore the national mood. They are insisting on keeping staff chained to their desks while everyone else is enjoying the Bank Holiday.'
Tesco has said that its staff who work today will be given up to triple pay.
7.45am
Princes William and Harry have spent the night at Clarence House. William hasn't had much sleep because of the noise outside. The previous evening, the brothers popped out to talk to the crowds on the Mall; William gave his police detail just five minutes' warning of their impromptu walkabout.
To one family member, William admitted that he was 'terrified of fluffing his lines'. He asked another: 'Will you wave? I'll wave back.'
William and Kate have said to the public, friends and family that instead of wedding presents, they would like a donation made to one of 26 small charities. More than £1 million has already been raised so far.
8.30am
WhilE her brother James is having breakfast at Clarence House with William and Harry, Kate is in her bedroom at the Goring Hotel, having her hair done by the stylist Richard Ward. She tells him his only job is to ensure that 'by the time I get to the altar, William must be able to recognise me!'
It will take three hours to get her hair properly styled. Ward later describes today as 'the hair gig of the century'.
The crowd of thousands of people waving British flags as they wait for Britain's Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, to appear at the balcony of Buckingham Palace
9am
The doors of Westminster Abbey are opened for the congregation to take their places. The first guest list drawn up by the Lord Chamberlain had 777 names on it, mostly dignitaries and officials of whom William and Kate had never heard. William recalled: 'They said: 'These are the people we should invite.' I looked at it in absolute horror and said: 'I think we should start again.' '
William rang the Queen for advice: 'I asked 'Do we need to be doing this?' and she said 'No. Start with your friends first and go from there.' She made the point that there are certain times when you have to strike the right balance.'
In fact, William and the Queen have either met in person or spoken on the phone (sometimes on the monarch's mobile) every day in the run-up to the wedding.
10am
Among the guests arriving at the Abbey, alongside celebrities such as Elton John and Rowan Atkinson, are people from Kate's home village of Bucklebury, including the butcher, the pub landlord and the postman.
David Beckham arrives with his pregnant wife Victoria. The footballer is wearing his OBE on the wrong side of his Ralph Lauren morning suit (it should be worn on the left).
London Mayor Boris Johnson arrives in wedding tails that he claims he has hired from the High Street store Moss Bros. His wife Marina Wheeler, who is half-Indian, is wearing a traditional shalwar kameez.
10.15am
More than a million people are now on the streets of Central London, and in some places the pavements are 20 deep. William and Harry arrive at the Abbey, having paused briefly at the Cenotaph to pay their respects to their fallen comrades.
The groom is in the uniform of a Colonel of the Irish Guards and his best man in the uniform of a captain of the Blues and Royals. Harry's uniform has a pocket specially sewn into it for the ring.
William had wanted to choose what he wore on his wedding day, but the Queen insisted he should marry in his Irish Guards uniform. 'You don't always get what you want [with the Queen], put it that way!' he later joked.
However, that day his grandmother has made him His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus.
The princes make their way down the aisle and towards the Chapel of St Edmund, where traditionally the groom waits for his bride to arrive.
10.27am
Kate's mother Carole steps out of a limousine with her son James. She is under particular scrutiny. The granddaughter of a miner, she once worked as ground staff for British Airways and has had many months of jibes about her humble beginnings. Carole is wearing a pale blue crêpe coatdress by one of Princess Diana's favourite designers, Catherine Walker.
Carole's brother Gary, the family black sheep, who lives in a house in Spain called 'La Maison de Bang Bang', slips into the Abbey unobserved by the television cameras.
Eagle-eyed TV viewers spot that David Beckham is now wearing his OBE on the correct side of his jacket.
10.30am
Next to arrive are Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. All eyes are on Beatrice's flamboyant tall, pale pink Philip Treacy hat. 'Is that an octopus on her head, or a pair of antlers?' asked the Daily Mail the next day.
In May 2011, Beatrice sells the hat for £80,000 and gives the money to charity.
Fashion parade: Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice at the Royal Wedding in 2011
10.51am
Kate emerges from the Goring Hotel and gets into a Rolls-Royce. The world has a brief glimpse of the wedding dress, designed by Sarah Burton of the fashion house Alexander McQueen.
It is made of satin and lace, with a 9ft train and a veil of ivory silk tulle, held in place by a tiara loaned to Kate by the Queen. On the dress are embroidered the national emblems of the rose, the thistle, the daffodil and the shamrock. Kate's bouquet contains Sweet William, lily of the valley, ivy and a stem from a myrtle planted by Queen Victoria in 1845.
Michael Middleton gets into the car after his daughter and carefully arranges the train.
In a marquee in Bucklebury, a crowd is watching the TV coverage on a big screen. A woman says: 'Oh my God! Oh my God! Look at her! She's so slim and beautiful, she's like a princess!'
'She is a princess, you idiot,' someone else in the throng replies.
10.54am
Pippa Middleton, Maid of Honour, the bridesmaids and page boys get out of their car by the West Door of the Abbey. The bridesmaids are all wearing ballerina-length white frocks with pale gold silk sashes, tied at the back with a bow. The pageboys, dressed in the Regency-style red tunic of a Foot Guards officer, echo William's Irish Guards attire. Pippa is wearing a slim ivory dress, also designed by Sarah Burton. Her bottom immediately inspires tribute sites on Facebook.
11.01am
A minute late, the bride arrives at Westminster Abbey. Pippa helps her sister out of the car and takes hold of the train. A relaxed Kate waves to the crowd and then takes her father's hand. Michael Middleton is looking distinctly nervous.
11.03am
As Parry's Coronation Anthem 'I Was Glad' plays, the bride walks down the aisle between a 'living avenue' of eight 25ft-high trees: six field maples and two hornbeams. The maples are chosen because they symbolise humility and the hornbeams resilience. They will later be replanted at Prince Charles's holiday house in Wales.
The Abbey is also decorated with almost 30,000 flowers. Harry turns and looks back down the aisle, then whispers something into his brother's ear and they both laugh. Harry had said to the Press a few days ago, 'It's great that she's now becoming part of the family. I always wished for a sister and now I have one.'
Kate reaches William's side. 'You look beautiful, babe,' he says, then leans over to joke to his soon-to-be father-in-law: 'Just a small family affair . . .'
11.15
The crowds outside the Abbey sing along to the hymns, which are William and Kate's favourites. The service is led by Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and as he says 'Catherine Elizabeth, wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband, to live together according to God's law in the holy estate of Matrimony?' Kate looks nervous for the first time.
11.20
William pushes a band of Welsh gold on to Kate's finger. On her other hand, Kate is wearing Princess Diana's diamond and sapphire engagement ring. William said he chose his mother's ring 'because obviously she's not going to be around to share any of the fun and excitement . . . this was my way of keeping her sort of close to it all'.
When the Archbishop says: 'I pronounce that they be man and wife together', the congregation can hear the crowd outside roar. An estimated 2.4 billion are now watching the service around the world on television.
11.35am
Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London, turns to William and Kate and starts his sermon with a quote from St Catherine of Siena, whose feast day is today: ' 'Be who God meant you to be and you'll set the world on fire.' Marriage is intended to be a way in which man and woman help each other to become what God meant each one to be — their deepest and truest selves.'
He ends his sermon by saying: 'I pray that all of us present, and the many millions watching this ceremony and sharing your joy today, will do everything in our power to support and uphold you in your new life.' Fourteen years earlier, on the night before Princess Diana's funeral, the bishop had kept a vigil by her coffin at Kensington Palace.
12.15pm
The service ended, the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge emerge through the West Door. The crowd cheer and the Abbey bells ring. The couple climb into the 1902 State Landau for the journey to Buckingham Palace, the same carriage Charles and Diana used 30 years before. The Queen turns to the Duke of Edinburgh and says: 'Well, that was excellent, wasn't it?'
The Beckhams attending the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in April 2011
12.25pm
As the carriage turns into the Mall, the sun comes out for the first time. Kate says to William: 'Now are you happy?'
'Yes! It was a beautiful service. It really was. It was amazing. I'm so proud you're my wife!'
As they pass the Cenotaph, William salutes the memorial and Kate bows her head. When the couple reach Buckingham Palace, demand for electricity suddenly surges by 2,400 megawatts — the power needed to boil nearly a million kettles. It is the fourth highest power surge of all time, behind the increase that followed England's semi-final penalty shootout defeat by West Germany in the 1990 World Cup, England's 2002 World Cup semi-final against Brazil and a 1983 episode of The Thorn Birds.
12.45pm
The guests at Westminster Abbey have now gone and the staff are beginning to clear up. Ben Sheward, a verger at the Abbey, runs back into the building and cartwheels down the nave between the trees. ITV cameras capture this spontaneous display and beam the pictures around the world; Ben becomes an instant international celebrity.
A Westminster Abbey spokesman says: 'The verger, like all of us, was very pleased the service had gone according to plan, and was expressing his exuberance.'
In the Buckingham Palace Throne Room, the official photographs are being taken by society photographer Hugo Burnand; he has been preparing for three days. His team of six includes his mother Ursy, also a photographer, who is keeping the bridesmaids and page boys happy with bowls of jelly beans.
Hugo Burnand later says: 'We were very prepared and had done a second-by-second stopwatch dress rehearsal of the entire day. Not only did we have spare parts for every piece of equipment, we also had spares for the spares, so come the day we were more excited than fearful. The atmosphere among our team was more along the lines of 'Bring it on!' ' His pictures will be edited in the Throne Room and released to the world within hours.
1.25pm
The balcony doors open and William and Kate step forward. 'Wow!' Kate exclaims when she sees the crowd below them. Then they are joined by the rest of the Royal Family, the Middletons and the bridesmaids and pageboys. Tens of thousands of people are chanting for the newlyweds to kiss.
William looks at Kate and says: 'OK? Look at me — let's do it.'
After they have kissed, he shouts over to his brother, who is standing next to sister of the bride and Maid of Honour Pippa Middleton: 'Harry! Your go!' Then William kisses Kate once more.
Meanwhile, three-year-old bridesmaid Grace van Cutsem, William's goddaughter, covers her ears because of the din of the crowd. The noise only gets louder, though, as the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and then RAF Tornados and Typhoons roar overheard.
1.40pm
William and Kate are having a luncheon reception for 600 people at Buckingham Palace, all of whom had been at the wedding service. An astonishing 10,000 canapes are served during the two-hour occasion, prepared by the Palace's 21-strong team of kitchen staff. Now she is a duchess, Kate is having to get used to the Palace policemen saluting her, and servants curtseying or bowing their heads.
Around the country, more than 5,500 celebratory street parties are getting under way.
The brothers in the Abbey. William and Harry arrived at the Abbey, having paused briefly at the Cenotaph to pay their respects to their fallen comrades
2.30pm
Prince Charles is making a speech and saying of his new daughter-in-law: 'We are lucky to have her.' He recalls William as a teenager playing music loudly in his bedroom for hours on end and his two-fingered response to advice not to slouch.
William then makes a speech praising his new wife and thanking his grandmother for hosting the reception.
The couple cut the eight-tiered wedding cake, which is made from 17 different cakes; it took pastry chef Fiona Cairns and her team two and half days to assemble and a Palace door had to be removed in order to get it safely inside.
'I hear you've been dismantling my house,' the Queen says to Fiona.
In 2013, the top tier of the wedding cake will be served at Prince George's christening.
3.30pm
The reception ends and the guests are ushered into the gardens at the rear of the Palace, where the Prince of Wales's dark blue open-topped Aston Martin Volante is waiting. The car, which the eco-conscious Prince Charles has adapted to run on wine, has been decorated by Prince Harry with balloons and ribbons and a 'JU5T WED' number plate.
Kate and her wedding dress with its 9ft train squeeze into the passenger seat and William drives through the delighted crowds the short distance to Clarence House.
A yellow RAF Sea King helicopter flies overhead and dips in salute to the couple. Flight Lieutenant Wales is a fully qualified search and rescue pilot at RAF Valley, on Anglesey.
5pm
In Clarence House, Kate and William are taking advantage of a break in the celebrations to relax and watch a replay of their wedding ceremony on television.
8pm
At the ballroom in Buckingham Palace, a party is starting for 300 close friends and family. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have stayed away to help keep the evening informal. Kate has changed into a floor-length white satin gown, William into black tie.
The guests are being served Welsh seafood, followed by lamb from Prince Charles's farm at Highgrove and a trio of puddings. Later in the evening, two vans in the Palace quadrangle will serve bacon butties and ice cream to the assembled revellers.
9.30pm
The party is hosted by Prince Charles but Prince Harry, seated next to his on-off girlfriend Chelsy Davy, is the master of ceremonies. Without notes, Harry speaks movingly about their mother, then teases William 'The Dude' about his receding hairline and how he used to beat Harry up and fire air rifles at him.
Harry says he loves Kate, 'The Duchess', like a sister. Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, whose son Billy was a pageboy, later says Harry was 'absolutely brilliant, cryingly funny, and held everybody and built everybody up with his speech but still made everybody howl with laughter'. Singer Ellie Goulding and her band are providing the entertainment. Their opening number for William and Kate's first dance is Elton John's 1970 hit Your Song.
3am
A DJ finishes his set with the Beatles' She Loves You and Kate and William get into his cousin David Linley's open-top yellow Fiat 500.
As a chauffeur drives them around the block and back to Buckingham Palace, the couple stand up and wave to their guests. Their wedding night will be spent in the Palace's Belgian Suite, where the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh lived in the early part of her reign.
Off in Dad's Aston. Instead of going on honeymoon, William goes straight back to work for RAF Search And Rescue at Valley
3.10am
Harry, wearing a black dinner jacket and white dress shirt with three buttons undone, emerges from Buckingham Palace to lead party-goers on to the second venue of the night — the nearby Goring Hotel.
William and Harry hadn't wanted their friends to speak to the Press as they left the Palace, so they have laid on three coaches to ferry them discreetly to the Goring, where butlers in bowler hats welcome them.
Afterwards
Instead of going on honeymoon, William goes straight back to work for RAF Search And Rescue at Valley.
The hotel the couple had originally wanted in the Seychelles was fully booked and William and Kate were not prepared to ask the mnagement to make room for them and cancel other people's bookings. 'There's no way that we're going to do that. It could be their honeymoon,' says William.
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The video is beautiful , they're a gorgeous happy ...
by FJCC 12258