Prince William, who is soon to be the King of England, met Kate Middleton while in college together. They both attended the University of St. Andrews and began dating while in school. After many years of dating, Prince William proposed and they were married on Friday, April 29, 2011 at the Westminster Abbey.

Pre-Wedding Details and The Proposal

Kate Middleton, being Prince William’s former classmate and long time girlfriend, is 28 years old and is working as a fashion buyer. After being with Prince William for quite some time the tabloids started giving her the nickname “Waity Katie”. The nickname was referred to Kate waiting on the proposal from William. While the couple was vacationing together in Kenya, Prince William took Kate on a helicopter ride to a secluded lake on Mount Kenya and asked for her hand in marriage. The beautiful engagment ring that William gave to her was the same ring that Prince Charles gave to Princess Diana in 1981. The ring was made to look almost exactly like the original, and is made out of 18 carat white gold with an oval shaped saphire surronded by 14 diamonds that is worth about $45,000.

After the couple became engaged, Britain went crazy with producing souvenirs for the couple such as mugs, coins, and playing cards for the royal wedding. Word traveled fast and not everyone was pleased with what they heard. The Bishop of Willesden stated that the royal couple is costing them too much money and believes that the press will catch up with them and that their marriage would only last seven years. Others also believed that the royal wedding would be coming out of their taxes. Other than the few who were not so thrilled the rest of Britain was getting ready for the big event of a royal marrying a commoner.

The Royal Wedding

The Royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton was held at Westminster Abbey in London. This is where William’s grandmother was married as well as where she was crowned Queen. Another special importance to this venue was that William’s mother was placed to rest there in 1997. The British government announced the royal wedding would be a public holiday so that the citizens could watch the marrying of the couple. On the day of the wedding, Kate was driven past London’s most famous sites in a private car. The Archbishop of Canterbury was the one to marry the couple who rode in a horse and carriage from The Westminster Abbey to the Buckingham Palace. The wedding started at 6am and was live on the internet for everyone to tune in and see. This decision was made by William and Kate to include the rest of the world with their special day. When they arrived at the Buckingham Place they enjoyed a kiss on the balcony in which William’s parents did 30 years ago. This year would have been his parent’s 30 year anniversarry with Princess Diana being 50 years old. For the reception, it was held at the Buckingham palace the night of the wedding that was held and hosted by Prince Charles.

The total price of their wedding was assumed to be $18 million with another $30 million for security that was paid by tax holders. The wedding was paid for equally by the royal family along with Kate’s parents. Their wedding held great importance with them being married in the same place as William’s parents as well as it being the same year of their anniversarry.

Kate Middleton’s wedding gown was held secret for months before the wedding, but her dress was found to be traditional with a modern twist to it. Critics stated that the choice of dress the Queen of England chose was to encourage copy cat creations by many people. Kate Middleton now holds the title of Princess Catherine but if William is made duke she will become a dutchess. Her title is held through her marriage and when William takes the throne she will become Queen Catherine, which would be the sixth in history of the British monarchy.

After the wedding ended the couple was seen leaving in a helicopter to spend the next couple days in Britain in a secluded place and there honeymoon will be post-poned. Rumors have it that their honeymoon is going to be in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia where they will celebrate their new life together as a royal married couple.

Image 1, 3 & 4 via UK Telegraph

Image 2 via Super Gorge