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Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Wedding Is Still One of the Most Lavish Royal Events of All Time

What’s better than a royal wedding?! When Kate Middleton and Prince William tied the knot on Friday, April 29, 2011, the special event quickly became one of the most memorable weddings of all time. Now that William’s younger brother, Prince Harry, is just days away from tying the knot with Meghan Markle, we’re taking a look back at the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s nuptials — scroll down to see everything you need to know about Kate and William’s royal wedding!

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Where did William and Kate’s wedding take place?

Just six months after they got engaged in October 2010, William and Kate tied the knot at London’s Westminster Abbey in April 2011. The wedding was officiated by the Dean of Westminster, John Hall. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, served as celebrant of the marriage and Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London, gave the sermon. In their vows, William and Kate promised to “love, comfort, honor, and keep” each other before they exchanged wedding bands. Following the ceremony, Queen Elizabeth hosted a private lunchtime reception for family and friends of the bride and groom at Buckingham Palace. That evening, William’s father, Prince Charles, hosted another reception at Buckingham Palace that included dinner and dancing — how fun!

Who designed Kate’s wedding dress?

On her royal wedding day, Kate wore a bespoke, long-sleeved gown designed by Sarah Burton under the fashion brand Alexander McQueen. The beautiful lace on the white dress as well as the memorable flowers on her veil — which was famously held in place by Queen Elizabeth’s gorgeous Cartier tiara — were both made at the Royal School of Needlework in East Molesey, England. Team members at the school had trouble matching the color of all the lace because it was made out of hand-cut English and Chantilly lace. The back of the gown included 58 organza-covered buttons and Rouleau loops and the train measured 8.85 feet long.

And if the lace details on the veil and sleeves weren’t stunning enough, roses, thistles, daffodils, and shamrocks were featured on both the area above Kate’s waist as well as the skirt with a technique called Carrickmacross. The symbols represented England, Ireland, and Scotland. Shortly after Kate and William’s special day, the Duchess’ wedding dress was put on display at Buckingham Palace for her fans to appreciate up close.

Who walked Kate down the aisle?

As Kate entered Westminster Abbey, her father, Michael Middleton, walked her down the aisle while her younger sister, Pippa Middleton, famously held the Duchess’ long wedding dress train.

Who attended William and Kate’s wedding?

The couple’s royal wedding was attended by 1,900 guests — yes, seriously! Kate’s sister, Pippa, served as her maid of honor while William’s younger brother, Prince Harry, was his best man. Their wedding party also included four bridesmaids and two page boys. Their ceremony was attended by the bride’s and groom’s families, as well as members of foreign royal dynasties, diplomats, and the couple’s personal guests. William and Kate’s wedding was also televised and watched by more than 24 million people in the UK alone. The event was broadcast in 180 countries around the world.

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How much did William and Kate’s wedding cost?

William and Kate’s wedding cost around $34 million and was paid for primarily by Queen Elizabeth and the royal family with a little help from Kate’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleton.

Where did William and Kate honeymoon?

Following their April 2011 nuptials, the newlywed couple honeymooned for 10 days in a secluded villa on a private island in the Seychelles. Though many outlets believed the couple would leave for their trip the day after their wedding, they actually embarked on the vacation 10 days after saying “I do.”

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