11 Unforgettable Royal Weddings During Queen Elizabeth II’s Reign

The wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, 2011. Image: BBC

Royal weddings have always caught the fascination of people. These once-in-a-lifetime occasions temporarily pluck us away from the clichés of day to day life, transporting us to true-to-life fantasies that eventually make us realize that life could always get better. Queen Elizabeth II’s reign has seen over a dozen weddings in her family, but these 11 weddings are the most unforgettable, adding color to Her Majesty’s already enthralling reign.

The Wedding of Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong Jones

Princess Margaret’s wedding to Anthony Armstrong Jones at Westminster Abbey on May 6, 1960 was the first royal wedding to be broadcast live on television. Some 300 million people around the world tuned in to witness the festive occasion. The princess’ wedding dress was designed by Norman Hartnell using silk organza. Vogue hailed it as “stunningly tailored.” The couple honeymooned onboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. The groom was later ennobled by the Queen, taking the title Earl of Snowdon and Viscount Linley. Image: BBC.

The Wedding of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, and Miss Katharine Worsley

On June 8, 1961, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, eldest son and child of Prince George, Duke of Kent, fifth child of King George V and Queen Mary, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, married Miss Katharine Worsley at York Minster.  This was the first royal wedding to be celebrated in that since 1328, after King Edward III married Philippa of Hainault. Image via Pinterest.

The Wedding of Princess Alexandra of Kent and Sir Angus Ogilvy

Princess Alexandra, the only daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, married Sir Angus Ogilvy,  the second son of the 12th Earl of Airlie,  on April 24, 1963, at Westminster Abbey. Their wedding was watched by over 200 million people around the world. The bride’s wedding gown was Valenciennes lace matched with veil and train and designed by John Cavanagh. After the wedding, Sir Angus Ogilvy was offered an earldom but declined the offer. Image via Royal Forums.

The Wedding of Princess Anne and Capt. Mark Phillips

The wedding of Princess Anne to her first husband, Capt. Mark Phillips, on Nov. 14, 1973 at Westminster Abbey was watched by over 500 million people around the world. The day was proclaimed a bank holiday. Image: The Times.

The Wedding of Prince Richard of Gloucester to Miss Birgitte Van Deurs

The marriage of Prince Richard of Gloucester to Danish-born Birgitte van Deurs was celebrated in a rather quiet manner, owing to the fact that the groom’s father was ill after suffering from debilitating stroke. Prince Richard is second son of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, fourth child of King George V and Queen Mary, and of Lady Alice Montagu-Douglas-Scott, a daughter of the Duke of Buccleuch. Their wedding was held at St. Andrews Church, Barnwell, Northamptonshire. Image: Order of Sartorial Splendor. 

The Wedding of Prince Michael of Kent to Baroness Marie-Christine Von Reibnitz

Prince Michael of Kent is the youngest son of the Duke and Duchess of Kent. He married Baroness Marie-Christine von Reibnitz at a civil ceremony in Vienna, Austria on June 30, 1978. Baroness Marie-Christine  was a divorcee who was married to English banker Thomas Troubridge until they divorced in 1977. It was after the Pope annulled their marriage in May 1978 that she and Prince Michael were married. Image: Getty.

The Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer

Prince Charles married 22-year-old Lady Diana Spencer, daughter of the 8^th Earl Spencer, on July 29, 1981. The ceremony was unusually held at St. Paul’s Cathedral, not the favorite royal wedding place, Westminster Abbey, because of space constraint. Considered as the “Wedding of the Century,” the “fairy-tale wedding” was watched by about 750 million people, while 600,000 people lined the streets of London to catch a glimpse of the new couple.  The couple separated in 1992 and were divorced in 1996. Image: Wikipedia.

The Wedding of Prince Andrew and Miss Sarah Ferguson

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson have known each other since childhood before they tied the knot on July 23, 1986, at Westminster Abbey. They got reacquainted at the Royal Ascot in 1985. Prince Andrew was given the title Duke of York by Her Majesty 90 minutes before the ceremony. The guests included US First Lady Nancy Reagan and 17 members of foreign royalty. The marriage ended in divorce in 1996. Image: BBC.

The Wedding of Prince Edward and Miss 
Sophie Rhys-Jones

The wedding of Prince Edward and Miss Sophie Rhys-Jones were celebrated at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. The prince had met Miss Rhys-Jones at a tennis event in 1993 and their engagement was announced in 1999. The couple wanted their wedding to be private and not a public event, so guests were requested to wear formal evening gowns, instead of court dress. Also, hats were not to be worn, but Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother still worn a hat, as she was never seen in public without wearing one. Before the wedding, the prince was conferred the title Earl of Wessex, unusual for a son of a sovereign who usually takes the title Duke. Image: Camera Press Digital.

The Wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles

On April 9, 2015, a civil ceremony was held to seal the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles. A church service followed after the wedding at Windsor Guildhall. Although Camilla was entitled to be called Princess of Wales, she, however, preferred to styled Duchess of Cornwall, out of respect to the memory of the late Princess of Wales. Image: Canada.com

The Wedding of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton

The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29, 2011, was one of the most anticipated events up to that time, with thousands of people around the world going to London to witness the festivity. A public holiday was proclaimed and around 5,000 street parties were held across Britain. More than one million people lined the streets from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace to catch a glimpse and cheer the couple. There were 1,900 VIP guests were invited to the wedding. Image: Zimbio