7 British royal wedding rules and how the protocols have been followed and broken: from Meghan M
Most grooms-to-be will traditionally ask the bride’s father for his blessing on their marriage, however, according to the Royal Marriages Act of 1772, royals must ask the monarch for approval. Queen Elizabeth has given her royal consent recently to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice of York.
Famously, as seen on The Crown, she did not approve of her sister Princess Margaret’s request to marry Peter Townsend. She instead finally married Anthony Armstrong Jones, which ended in separation in 1978 and marked the first British royal divorce in 400 years.Thanks, Gran! Queen Elizabeth gifted all these epic pads to her family
Dress British
The bridal entourage
There are always little bridesmaids and pageboys at a royal wedding, but traditionally it’s the children from the royal side of the family who walk down the aisle. Even as recently as Kate Middleton’s wedding to Prince William, in 2011, the bridal party was connected to William with figures such as his goddaughter Grace van Cutsem and Camilla’s granddaughter Eliza Lopes, Prince Edward’s daughter Lady Louise Windsor and William’s second cousin Margarita Armstrong-Jones. However, at Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding, the bridal procession of six bridesmaids and four pageboys were split with children from both sides, including super cute siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince George.Maid of honour
There usually isn’t a maid of honour at a royal wedding, but Kate Middleton broke this protocol by having her sister Pippa fill that role.
Were Diana and Charles related? 5 UK royals who married distant ‘relatives’
The balcony kiss
The famous balcony kiss tradition is one that many royal wedding fans hold dear to their hearts. Prince Charles and Princess Diana were the first to kiss on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, in front of cheering crowds after their wedding in 1981. Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson followed suit a few years later, and then William and Kate in 2011. Prince Harry and Meghan were married at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, so they did not follow in this more recent tradition.
Fergie flops: 5 hilarious mishaps on Sarah Ferguson’s YouTube kids’ show
The bouquet
When Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in 1840, she chose the herb of love, fertility and innocents, myrtle to adorn her wedding bouquet. She planted a myrtle shrub in the garden of her home in the Isle of Wight, Osborne House, and every British royal since has pick a sprig from the same shrub for their wedding bouquet.
Who gave Queen Elizabeth her most sentimental jewellery?
The wedding rings
Royal men have traditionally chosen not to wear a wedding ring. While this is more preference than protocol, Prince Philip, Andrew and William all chose to opt out of having a ring. Prince Charles stacks his wedding ring to Camilla on top of his signet ring on his pinkie finger, rather than the ring finger. Prince Harry and Meghan however chose to have an exchange of the rings section in their wedding ceremony, and the prince now wears his ring proudly.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tK%2FMqWWcp51kuqKzwLOgp52jZMC1xcueZpydnJqvs7XTsmaaqqSesK2xjmxobW1oaYVwg4ybqaKsmai1br7OspilZaeasaW1zaBkq62cmsBurc2dZKGnp2K9s7vTqJqopKNitaLCxGaZnp2e