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Ceremony and Symbol

Ceremonies

Wedding of The Prince of Wales and Mrs Camilla Parker Bowles at St. George's Chapel, Windsor

The wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten took place at Westminster Abbey
© Cecil Beaton / Camera Press

WEDDINGS

Since the arrival of television, Royal weddings have attracted enormous public attention, with millions of people all over the world watching in addition to the invited guests.

In contrast, the marriage of the future King George V to Princess May of Teck (later Queen Mary) in 1893 in the Chapel Royal, St. James's Palace, was a quiet affair: the chapel seats only 100.

Various venues have been used for Royal weddings over the last century. Since 1904, most members of the Royal Family have chosen to be married in London.

The Chapel Royal in St. James's Palace was a popular setting for marriage during the reign of Queen Victoria. She married her husband, Prince Albert, in the Chapel Royal on 10 February 1840. Their eldest daughter, Victoria, was also married there in 1858.

Westminster Abbey became a popular venue for Royal weddings when Princess Patricia of Connaught chose it for her marriage to the Honourable Alexander Ramsay in 1919. It was the first time for 650 years that the Abbey had been used for a Royal wedding.

Westminster Abbey was also chosen for the marriage of King George V's daughter (Mary, Princess Royal) to Viscount Lascelles (later Earl of Harewood) in February 1922.

It was later the setting for the weddings of two of the King's sons: Prince Albert, Duke of York (later King George VI) to Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (later Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) in April 1923, and Prince George, Duke of Kent, to Princess Marina of Greece in November 1934.

Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, was due to marry Lady Alice Montagu-Douglas-Scott in Westminster Abbey. Because of the sudden death of the bride's father, the Duke of Buccleuch, they were married instead in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace in November 1935.

Westminster Abbey was also the scene of the weddings of The Queen (as Princess Elizabeth) and The Duke of Edinburgh on 20 November 1947; Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones (later Earl of Snowdon) on 6 May 1960; Princess Alexandra and Sir Angus Ogilvy in 1963; Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips on 14 November 1973; and Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah Ferguson on 23 July 1986.

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Not all Royal marriages have taken place in London. The Duke of Kent married Katharine Worsley in 1961 in York Minster.

In 1992 The Princess Royal married Commander Timothy Laurence, Royal Navy (now Rear Admiral Laurence), at a private ceremony at Crathie Church, near Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

The Prince of Wales, by contrast, married Lady Diana Spencer in St. Paul's Cathedral on 29 July 1981.

During the nineteenth century, St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, was a popular venue for Royal weddings. Probably the grandest wedding to take place in the chapel was in 1863, when The Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) and Princess Alexandra of Denmark were married there.

The ceremony was witnessed by Queen Victoria from the Catherine of Aragon closet, as she was in mourning for her husband, Prince Albert.

Many of Queen Victoria's other children also married in St. George's Chapel, including Princess Helena, Princess Louise, Prince Arthur and Prince Leopold.

More recently, Prince Edward (now The Earl of Wessex) married Miss Sophie Rhys-Jones in St. George's Chapel on 19 June 1999 in a traditional service attended by 560 guests.

The marriage of The Prince of Wales to Mrs. Camilla Parker Bowles was dedicated in St. George's Chapel following a civil ceremony in Windsor's Guildhall on 9 April 2005.

Most Royal marriages are solemnised by the Archbishop of Canterbury, with carriage processions taking the Royal couple and members of the Royal Family to and from the marriage venue.

During a Royal wedding, the Royal Family traditionally sits on the right-hand side of the church, with the guests of the bridegroom, if he is not a member of the Royal Family, on the left.

If the bridegroom is a member of the Royal Family, he has a supporter (for example, Prince Edward to The Duke of York) or supporters (for example, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward to The Prince of Wales), instead of a best man. A non-Royal bridegroom marrying a Royal bride does have a best man.

Princess Elizabeth marries Lt Philip Mountbatten in 1947

The marriage of The Prince of Wales to Mrs. Camilla Parker Bowles was dedicated in St. George's Chapel following a civil ceremony in Windsor's Guildhall on 9 April 2005
© Press Association

In earlier centuries it was the custom for weddings to be celebrated late in the day and with greater pomp and ceremony than is the case today. For the marriage of Queen Victoria to Prince Albert, the evening hour was abandoned in favour of the afternoon.

Since then the time has shifted to the morning, with the exception of The Earl and Countess of Wessex, whose marriage took place in St. George's Chapel, Windsor, at 5pm in the afternoon.

Royal honeymoons have varied. Queen Victoria spent her honeymoon at Windsor Castle; King George V spent his at Sandringham. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh spent part of their honeymoon at Broadlands, the home of Earl Mountbatten of Burma. The Prince and Princess of Wales, as well as The Duke and Duchess of York, spent part of their respective honeymoons on board the Royal Yacht BRITANNIA.

The arrangements for Royal wedding services are the responsibility of the Lord Chamberlain and the Lord Chamberlain's Office at Buckingham Palace, whilst the Master of the Household's Department is responsible for wedding breakfasts and receptions.

Royal weddings (and baptisms) are recorded in the Royal Register. The current Royal Register began in 1963, and is bound in brown leather with the Royal Arms in gold on the cover.

Each entry in the Register describes the event and gives the full names of the bride and groom. The entry is signed by the person officiating at the marriage, all those members of the Royal Family attending the wedding, and also members of the spouse's family. If members of foreign Royal families are present, they also sign the Register.

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Windsor Castle
Information about The Queen's Berkshire residence

The Chapels Royal
Information about the chapels in St. James's Palace

Ceremony and Symbol
	Ceremonies Wedding of The Prince of Wales and Mrs Camilla Parker Bowles at St. George's Chapel, Windsor The wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten took place at Westminster Abbey © Cecil Beaton / Camera Press WEDDINGS Since the arrival of television, Royal weddings have attracted enormous public attention, with millions of people all over the world watching in addition to the invited guests. In contrast, the marriage of the future King George V to Princess May of Teck (later Queen Mary) in 1893 in the Chapel Royal, St. James's Palace, was a quiet affair: the chapel seats only 100. Various venues have been used for Royal weddings over the last century. Since 1904, most members of the Royal Family have chosen to be married in London. The Chapel Royal in St. James's Palace was a popular setting for marriage during the reign of Queen Victoria. She married her husband, Prince Albert, in the Chapel Royal on 10 February 1840. Their eldest daughter, Victoria, was also married there in 1858. Westminster Abbey became a popular venue for Royal weddings when Princess Patricia of Connaught chose it for her marriage to the Honourable Alexander Ramsay in 1919. It was the first time for 650 years that the Abbey had been used for a Royal wedding. Westminster Abbey was also chosen for the marriage of King George V's daughter (Mary, Princess Royal) to Viscount Lascelles (later Earl of Harewood) in February 1922. It was later the setting for the weddings of two of the King's sons: Prince Albert, Duke of York (later King George VI) to Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (later Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) in April 1923, and Prince George, Duke of Kent, to Princess Marina of Greece in November 1934. Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, was due to marry Lady Alice Montagu-Douglas-Scott in Westminster Abbey. Because of the sudden death of the bride's father, the Duke of Buccleuch, they were married instead in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace in November 1935. Westminster Abbey was also the scene of the weddings of The Queen (as Princess Elizabeth) and The Duke of Edinburgh on 20 November 1947; Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones (later Earl of Snowdon) on 6 May 1960; Princess Alexandra and Sir Angus Ogilvy in 1963; Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips on 14 November 1973; and Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah Ferguson on 23 July 1986.
How the Monarchy works? Queen and State Queen and public Queen and Commonwealth Royal finances The Royal Household	Did you know? Not all Royal marriages have taken place in London. The Duke of Kent married Katharine Worsley in 1961 in York Minster. In 1992 The Princess Royal married Commander Timothy Laurence, Royal Navy (now Rear Admiral Laurence), at a private ceremony at Crathie Church, near Balmoral Castle in Scotland. The Prince of Wales, by contrast, married Lady Diana Spencer in St. Paul's Cathedral on 29 July 1981. During the nineteenth century, St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, was a popular venue for Royal weddings. Probably the grandest wedding to take place in the chapel was in 1863, when The Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) and Princess Alexandra of Denmark were married there. The ceremony was witnessed by Queen Victoria from the Catherine of Aragon closet, as she was in mourning for her husband, Prince Albert. Many of Queen Victoria's other children also married in St. George's Chapel, including Princess Helena, Princess Louise, Prince Arthur and Prince Leopold. More recently, Prince Edward (now The Earl of Wessex) married Miss Sophie Rhys-Jones in St. George's Chapel on 19 June 1999 in a traditional service attended by 560 guests. The marriage of The Prince of Wales to Mrs. Camilla Parker Bowles was dedicated in St. George's Chapel following a civil ceremony in Windsor's Guildhall on 9 April 2005. Most Royal marriages are solemnised by the Archbishop of Canterbury, with carriage processions taking the Royal couple and members of the Royal Family to and from the marriage venue. During a Royal wedding, the Royal Family traditionally sits on the right-hand side of the church, with the guests of the bridegroom, if he is not a member of the Royal Family, on the left. If the bridegroom is a member of the Royal Family, he has a supporter (for example, Prince Edward to The Duke of York) or supporters (for example, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward to The Prince of Wales), instead of a best man. A non-Royal bridegroom marrying a Royal bride does have a best man. Princess Elizabeth marries Lt Philip Mountbatten in 1947 The marriage of The Prince of Wales to Mrs. Camilla Parker Bowles was dedicated in St. George's Chapel following a civil ceremony in Windsor's Guildhall on 9 April 2005 © Press Association In earlier centuries it was the custom for weddings to be celebrated late in the day and with greater pomp and ceremony than is the case today. For the marriage of Queen Victoria to Prince Albert, the evening hour was abandoned in favour of the afternoon. Since then the time has shifted to the morning, with the exception of The Earl and Countess of Wessex, whose marriage took place in St. George's Chapel, Windsor, at 5pm in the afternoon. Royal honeymoons have varied. Queen Victoria spent her honeymoon at Windsor Castle; King George V spent his at Sandringham. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh spent part of their honeymoon at Broadlands, the home of Earl Mountbatten of Burma. The Prince and Princess of Wales, as well as The Duke and Duchess of York, spent part of their respective honeymoons on board the Royal Yacht BRITANNIA. The arrangements for Royal wedding services are the responsibility of the Lord Chamberlain and the Lord Chamberlain's Office at Buckingham Palace, whilst the Master of the Household's Department is responsible for wedding breakfasts and receptions. Royal weddings (and baptisms) are recorded in the Royal Register. The current Royal Register began in 1963, and is bound in brown leather with the Royal Arms in gold on the cover. Each entry in the Register describes the event and gives the full names of the bride and groom. The entry is signed by the person officiating at the marriage, all those members of the Royal Family attending the wedding, and also members of the spouse's family. If members of foreign Royal families are present, they also sign the Register. Next section Have you seen... Windsor Castle Information about The Queen's Berkshire residence The Chapels Royal Information about the chapels in St. James's Palace