Kate Middleton Quietly Broke a Major Royal Tradition at Her Wedding to Prince William
Prince William and Kate Middleton got married at a grand ceremony held at Westminster Abbey in 2011.
Royal weddings have long been seen as symbols of grandeur, blending centuries-old customs and traditions with moments of modern charm. These ceremonies include all the carefully choreographed events that capture the attention of millions of people worldwide. Prince William and Kate Middleton’s 2011 wedding ceremony, which took place at Westminster Abbey, was no exception. However, it has now been revealed that, while almost every detail of their wedding followed tradition, Kate had one surprising choice which broke a long-standing royal custom.
In his latest book, titled William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, royal commentator Russell Myers revealed some behind-the-scenes moments from William and Kate’s wedding, one of which highlighted how Kate allegedly caused 'panic' at the palace with a last-moment choice. As reported by Marie Claire, Myers wrote, "Courtiers were also surprised when Catherine announced her wish not to travel in the traditional horse-drawn Glass Coach, as used by Diana, Princess of Wales, as well as Queen Elizabeth." Such carriers were either used to take the bride-to-be to the church or to transport the newlywed couple from the church after the service.
Speaking of the reason behind this, the royal expert stated, "As much as tradition was at the forefront of her mind, Catherine wanted a modern slant on the proceedings and was of the view that she was not yet a 'princess' who would use such a mode of transport." But since the palace aides were not prepared for such sudden confusion, they were shocked by the unexpected demand, as Myers wrote, "This prompted panic at the palace, who feared that an alternative vehicle might be necessary."
He also gave an example, recalling how a car carrying King Charles and Queen Camilla was attacked by vandals on their way to the Royal Variety Performance in December 2010, leaving it splattered with white paint and a broken rear window. "An immediate review was undertaken by the Metropolitan Police, with extra briefings to all officers to remain vigilant for similar protests," the royal expert said. Eventually, on her special day, Kate arrived at the venue in a classic Rolls-Royce, along with her dad, Michael Middleton.
Meanwhile, during the ceremony, William followed a British tradition as he faced away from the congregation when Kate made her entrance, making their first look at each other even more special, as reported by BRIDES. Moreover, apart from such classic wedding traditions, the couple made another significant change to their vows. The bride chose not to include the word 'obey,' with the couple instead pledging to 'love, comfort, honor, and keep' one another. This reflected a more modern approach to their marriage.
