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The wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Frances Spencer took place on 29 July 1981 at St Paul's Cathedral, London, England. Their marriage was widely billed as a "fairytale wedding" and the "wedding of the century". It was watched by a global television audience of 750 million.[1][2] Diana was the first British commoner to marry the heir to the English or Scottish throne since James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, married Mary I of Scotland, the heir presumptive to the English throne. The United Kingdom had a national holiday on that day to mark the wedding. The couple separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996. Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris along with her companion Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul on 31 August 1997, and on 9 April 2005, Charles married Camilla Parker-Bowles.
[edit] EngagementPrince Charles had known Diana for several years, but he first took a serious interest in her as a potential bride during the summer of 1980, when they were guests at a country weekend, where she watched him play polo. The relationship developed as he invited her for a sailing weekend to Cowes aboard the royal yacht Britannia, followed by an invitation to Balmoral Castle, the Windsor family's Scottish home, to meet his family. Diana was well received at Balmoral by Queen Elizabeth II, by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and the Queen Mother. The couple then had several dates in London. Diana and Charles had been seeing each other for about six months when he proposed on 3 February 1981 at a dinner for two at Buckingham Palace. He knew she planned a vacation for the next week, and hoped she'd use the time to consider her answer.[3] Diana accepted, but their engagement was kept secret for the next few weeks.[4] Their engagement became official on 24 February 1981, after Diana selected a large £30,000 ring consisting of 14 diamonds surrounding a sapphire, similar to her mother's engagement ring.[5] [edit] WeddingThere were 3,500 people in the congregation at St Paul's Cathedral.[3] It was held at St Paul's rather than Westminster Abbey, which is generally used for royal nuptials, because St Paul's offered more seating. The service was a traditional Church of England wedding service. Another 750 million people watched the ceremony worldwide, making it the most popular programme ever broadcast,[6] and this figure rose to a billion when the radio audience is added in.[3] Two million spectators lined the route of Diana's procession from Clarence House, with 4,000 police and 2,200 military officers to manage the crowds.[3] Lady Diana arrived at the cathedral in a glass coach with her father, John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, escorted by five mounted military police officers.[3] She arrived almost on time for the 11:20 BST ceremony.[6] The carriage was too small to comfortably hold the two of them in her dress and train. She made the three-and-a-half minute walk up the red-carpeted aisle with the sumptuous 25 ft (7.62 m) train of gown behind her. At the altar Diana accidentally reversed the order of Charles's names, saying Philip Charles Arthur George instead.[6] She also did not say she would "obey," which caused a sensation at the time.[7] The couple's wedding cake was created by Belgian pastry chef S. G. Sender, who was known as the "cakemaker to the kings".[8] [edit] ClothingDiana's wedding dress, valued at £9000,[9] was a puff ball meringue wedding dress, with huge puffed sleeves and a frilly neckline. The dress was made of silk taffeta, decorated with lace, hand embroidery, sequins, and 10,000 pearls. It was designed by Elizabeth and David Emanuel, and had a 25-foot train of ivory taffeta and antique lace. Charles wore his full dress naval commander uniform.[3] [edit] AfterwardsAfter the ceremony, the couple went to Buckingham Palace for a dinner for 120.[3] Appearing on a balcony at 1310 BST, Diana and Charles kissed for the crowd below.[6][3] Afterwards they enjoyed toasts and a wedding breakfast with 120 family guests.[6] A "just married" sign attached to the landau by Princes Andrew and Edward raised smiles as the married couple were driven over Westminster Bridge to get the train to Romsey in Hampshire to begin their honeymoon.[6] [edit] Wedding guest listOfficiants at the wedding of Diana and Charles included the Archbishop of Canterbury and 25 other clerics from many denominations. [edit] References
[edit] External links
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