57 facts about the wedding of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip that you may not know 0 4

Wedding Day and Engagement

1. Their engagement was officially announced on July 9, 1947, and the wedding took place just four months later — at 10:30 AM on November 20 at Westminster Abbey.
2. Elizabeth became the 10th member of the royal family to marry at the abbey.
3. Before the wedding, Philip received the titles of Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich.
4. The princess arrived at the abbey with her father, George VI, in the Irish State Coach.

Wedding Procession

5. Elizabeth had eight bridesmaids, including Princess Margaret and Princess Alexandra of Kent.
6. The pages were Princes William of Gloucester and Michael of Kent.
7. Philip's witness was David Mountbatten.
8. The ceremony was attended by 2,000 guests, including representatives of foreign monarchies.

Ceremony and Music

10. The wedding service was conducted by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.
11. BBC Radio broadcast the ceremony to 200 million listeners.
12. The musical director — Australian William Neil McKee — composed a motet specifically for the wedding.
13. The service concluded with Mendelssohn's "Wedding March," with the harp and choirs conducted by professionals from the Royal Chapel.

Outfits and Jewelry

18. The ring was made of Welsh gold.
19. The wedding dress was created by Sir Norman Hartnell, inspired by Botticelli's painting "Primavera."
20. The dress's train, measuring 4.5 meters, was adorned with pearls, crystals, and transparent appliqué.
21. For the wedding, the queen borrowed a tiara, and the jewelry included historic necklaces passed down to the Crown.

Flowers, Reception, and Gifts

34. The bride's bouquet included white orchids and a sprig of myrtle, which became a royal family tradition.
35. The wedding breakfast took place in the Ballroom of Buckingham Palace with a string orchestra of the guards.
36. The couple received over 2,500 gifts and around 10,000 telegrams from around the world.
37. The official cake, nine feet tall, was decorated with the crests and symbols of both families.

Honeymoon and Anniversaries

50. The newlyweds spent their first night at Broadlands, then traveled to Birkhall on the Balmoral estate.
51. Their sixth wedding anniversary, coinciding with the coronation, was celebrated with dancing at Clarence House.
52. Their golden wedding anniversary in 1997 was marked with a lunch at Banqueting House in London.
53. In 2007, Elizabeth became the first British monarch to celebrate a diamond wedding anniversary.