Grace Thompson
Royal weddings have been a source of fascination for centuries, with the public eagerly following the love stories of their monarchs and heirs. While the traditions and customs of these grand affairs have evolved, one constant question remains: what role does religion play? With the Church of England as the established church in Britain, the royals' choice of wedding venue and rituals often spark interest and debate, especially when one or both parties have a different religious background, such as Catholicism or Anglicanism. The dynamics between the Church of England and other faiths, including Catholicism, have shifted over time, influencing how royal weddings are conducted and how the public perceives them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wedding colour | Yellow |
| Veil colour | Yellow |
| Veil length | Head to toe |
| Bride's slippers | Given to groom by father |
| Bride's dress | White |
| Royal weddings at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle | 17 |
| Royal weddings at Hampton Court | 1 |
| Royal weddings at Canongate Kirk | 1 |
| Royal weddings at the Cathedral in Speyer, Germany | 1 |
| Royal weddings at Private Chapel at Windsor Castle | 1 |
| Royal weddings at the Minster | 2 |
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What You'll Learn
Royal weddings throughout history
Royal weddings have a long and fascinating history in Britain, with traditions that have evolved over the centuries. One of the earliest recorded royal weddings was in 1236 when Henry III married Eleanor of Provence. In the Middle Ages, royal weddings were often lavish affairs, with colourful outfits and rich symbolism. For instance, during the Anglo-Saxon era, yellow was the traditional colour for weddings, with the bride wearing a yellow veil. The bride's father would also give the groom one of her slippers to symbolise the transfer of authority.
In the Tudor period, royal weddings became even more extravagant. In 1554, Mary Tudor married Philip II of Spain, and the nave of the cathedral was hung with Flemish tapestries. Another famous Tudor wedding was that of Henry VIII and Catherine Parr in 1543. Henry VIII also installed a vaulted ceiling in the chapel at Hampton Court, which became the grand setting for many subsequent royal weddings.
The tradition of wearing a white wedding dress is also believed to have originated during this time, with Anne of Brittany wearing white in 1499, followed by Margaret Tudor, the daughter of Henry VII, in 1530. However, it was not until the 19th century that the white wedding dress became popularised by Queen Victoria. She married Prince Albert in 1840, and their wedding started traditions such as the white dress and a large cake.
Over time, royal weddings have adapted to reflect the changing social norms and values of British society. For example, in the 20th and 21st centuries, royal weddings have become more inclusive, with a greater acceptance of divorce and interfaith marriages. In 2015, the law was changed to permit senior members of the royal family to wed Catholics, and in 2019, British law was amended to allow monarchs to marry Catholics, ending a ban that had been in place for over 300 years.
Notable royal weddings of the 21st century include Prince William and Kate Middleton, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, all of whom wed at Windsor Castle, continuing the long tradition of royal weddings in Britain.
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Anglo-Saxon wedding customs
Marriage by purchase eventually became the preferred practice, with the bride's family receiving a dowry from the groom, often in the form of a sword and shield, cattle, or a bridled horse. The groom also had to pay a handgeld, or bride-price, to the bride's family, and the bride received a morning gift, or morgengifu, from the groom on the morning after the wedding. The bride's family also had to pay a dowry, or brýdgifu, which was intended to provide for the bride and her children in the event of the husband's death or divorce.
The word "wedding" is believed to come from the Anglo-Saxon word "wedd," meaning to wager or gamble. The tradition of the bride's maid also originated with the Anglo-Saxons, as did the custom of throwing shoes at the bridal couple, which continued through Victorian times and evolved into tying shoes to the departing vehicle.
The veil tradition, which symbolised virginal humility, also has its roots in Anglo-Saxon culture. Brides wore yellow veils from head to toe from the time they left their mother's house until the groom unveiled them on the wedding night. During the Dark Ages, blue veils became the symbol of purity, as the Virgin Mary is often portrayed wearing blue.
While these customs are fascinating, it is important to note that there is limited evidence of how weddings were performed by Germanic Heathen folk, and some of these traditions may be reconstructed based on elements from Icelandic sagas and other sources that could be Heathen in origin.
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Catholic vs. Anglican beliefs
The royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry was Anglican. However, there are several differences between Anglican and Catholic beliefs and practices.
Anglicanism, or the Church of England, was founded in the 16th century by King Henry VIII, who wanted to separate the Church of England from the Church of Rome due to his discontent with papal authority. Anglicanism has its roots in the Catholic Church, but there are several key differences in beliefs and practices.
Firstly, Anglicans do not recognize the authority of the Pope, who is considered the head of the Catholic Church and the successor of St. Peter. Each church within the Anglican Communion has its own archbishop or presiding bishop, and the Archbishop of Canterbury is considered the "first among equals".
Secondly, the two traditions differ in their recognition of sacraments. The Catholic Church recognizes seven sacraments, while the Anglican Church only recognizes two: Baptism and the Eucharist. The Eucharist is offered to all in the Anglican Church, including divorced and cohabiting individuals, whereas the Catholic Church denies it to those who are divorced or cohabiting.
Additionally, the Anglican Church is more open to same-sex marriages and does not require that both spouses be baptized or confirmed. The Anglican Church also allows women to be ordained as priests, while the Catholic Church affirms that only men can receive the sacrament of Holy Orders.
Anglicans also reject the Catholic dogmas related to the Virgin Mary, such as the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption, and do not recognize devotion to saints.
Despite these differences, Anglicans have historically demonstrated greater openness towards Catholics compared to other Protestant denominations.
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Royal wedding venues
Royal weddings are often seen as important occasions of state, attracting significant national and international attention. The venues for these weddings are usually historic churches or chapels with rich histories of links with royalty.
Westminster Abbey, London
Westminster Abbey has been the British royal family's go-to coronation venue since 1066 and has also been chosen as a wedding venue by several royals. King Henry I was the first royal to kick off the wedding tradition at this locale in 1100. The Queen and the Queen Mother also said "I do" at Westminster Abbey. Princess Patricia of Connaught was married to Commodore The Hon. Alexander Ramsay at Westminster Abbey in 1919.
St. Paul's Cathedral, London
St. Paul's Cathedral, located in London, is another venue that has been chosen for royal weddings. It was built between 1675 and 1710 and sits at the highest point in the city. It boasts the second-largest dome in Europe, with frescoes and mosaics decorating the interior. Prince Charles and Princess Diana, as well as King Henry VII's son, Prince Arthur, and his bride, Princess Catherine, chose this venue for their weddings.
St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, Windsor
St. George's Chapel has hosted several royal weddings, including those of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Prince Edward (Queen Elizabeth II's youngest son), and Sophie Rhys-Jones, and Princess Eugenie and her fiancé. Four of Queen Victoria's children and two of her grandchildren also wed their spouses at this chapel, which can accommodate up to 800 guests.
Chapel Royal, St. James's Palace, London
The Chapel Royal at St. James's Palace in London has been the venue for several royal weddings. In 1840, Queen Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom, married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha here. In 1893, Prince George, Duke of York, and grandson of Queen Victoria, married Victoria Mary of Teck.
Kensington Palace, London
Kensington Palace has been the venue for royal weddings and is also where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle posed for their engagement photos in 2017. The Orangery, located within the grounds of Kensington Palace, is the only spot licensed for civil ceremonies and can accommodate 150 guests for the ceremony, 120 for dinner and dancing, and up to 300 for a reception.
Other Notable Royal Wedding Venues
Other notable royal wedding venues include the Royal Chapel of All Saints, where Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi were married in a private ceremony, and Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, where the Queen's granddaughter, Zara Phillips, married England rugby player Mike Tindall in 2011.
Royal weddings have also taken place at various cathedrals and chapels around the world, including Notre-Dame de Paris, the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Winchester Cathedral, and the Royal Chapel at Stockholm Palace.
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Royal wedding traditions
Royal weddings are steeped in tradition, with many rituals and customs that have been passed down through the generations. While each royal wedding is unique, reflecting the personalities and preferences of the couple, there are several traditions that have been upheld over the years.
One of the most well-known traditions is the choice of attire. Royal brides often wear elaborate white gowns, a custom that was started by Queen Victoria when she married Prince Albert in 1840. She chose to wear a white silk and satin dress, breaking with the tradition of brides simply wearing their best dress. Victoria's dress was also adorned with orange blossom, which became a popular feature in royal wedding dresses for generations. The long silk train of Queen Victoria's dress was bordered with sprays of orange blossom, and she wore matching garlands around her head. This custom continued into the 20th century, with Princess Mary of Teck, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Diana, and the Duchess of Cambridge all incorporating orange blossom into their bridal bouquets.
Another tradition that began with Queen Victoria is the inclusion of a sprig of myrtle in the bridal bouquet. Myrtle, which represents love, fertility, and innocence, was first given to Queen Victoria by Prince Albert's grandmother in 1845. The descendants of this plant are still grown at Osborne House, Queen Victoria's holiday home, and it has been used in many royal brides' bouquets across generations.
The wedding rings of several royal brides, including Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret, Princess Anne, and Diana, Princess of Wales, were made from the same nugget of Welsh gold. There is still a small amount of this gold left, which is kept by the Privy Purse Office. More recently, the royal wedding rings have been made from a 36-gramme piece of 21-carat Welsh gold presented to the Queen in 1981.
Royal weddings have also been traditionally captured by official photographs, with the wedding of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra being the first royal wedding since the introduction of photography as a reliable medium. These photographs were often hand-coloured to resemble paintings and were widely shared with the public through postcards in the early 20th century.
While these traditions have been upheld, royal weddings have also evolved over time, with couples adding their own personal touches. For example, Princess Diana chose to break with tradition by selecting a young couple, David and Elizabeth Emanuel, as the designers of her wedding dress.
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Frequently asked questions
A Catholic wedding is a sacrament and is more than just a contract. The Church of England has been likened to an Anglo-Saxon Shinto and is used for state occasions.
British law dating back more than 300 years has banned monarchs from marrying Catholics. However, in 2019, Prime Minister David Cameron announced planned changes to this law.
In 1785, the King's eldest son, George, married Maria Anne Fitzherbert, a practicing Catholic. This marriage was invalid under the Royal Marriages Act 1772. In 2018, Prince Harry married Meghan Markle, who attended a Catholic school in LA and was previously married, which is not in good standing with the Catholic Church.
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