The Biggest Mistakes Made At Royal Weddings
Even the most carefully planned royal weddings aren’t immune to little mishaps. These grand celebrations have had their fair share of unexpected moments, from messed-up vows to runaway horses. Let’s look at some of the most famous royal wedding blunders over the years.
Queen Elizabeth Had A Broken Tiara
Queen Elizabeth's tiara unexpectedly broke on the morning of her wedding to Prince Philip in 1947. Her hairdresser accidentally snapped the Fringe Tiara, causing a royal panic. With a police escort, the tiara was rushed to the royal jeweler, House of Garrard, for emergency repairs. Luckily, it was fixed in time, and the Queen walked down the aisle without a hitch.
Queen Elizabeth's Bouquet Went Missing
A broken tiara wasn’t the only wedding day mishap for the Queen. Just before heading to Westminster Abbey, her bouquet mysteriously went missing, adding to the wedding day stress. Luckily, a thoughtful footman tucked it away in a coolbox to keep it fresh.
Associated Press, Wikimedia Commons
Princess Diana Said Prince Charles’ Name Wrong
Princess Diana accidentally mixed up Prince Charles’ name during her wedding vows, saying “Philip Charles” instead of “Charles Philip”. His full name is Charles Philip Arthur George, but in the moment, nerves got the best of her.
Express Newspapers, Getty Images
Prince Charles Also Messed Up His Vows
Prince Charles also had a minor slip-up during his wedding vows, forgetting to say “worldly” when promising to share “all his worldly goods”. Instead, he said, “All my goods with thee I share,” slightly altering the traditional vow. It was a tiny mistake but added to the wedding’s memorable moments.
Princess Diana’s Dress Got Wrinkled
Princess Diana’s stunning taffeta wedding gown ended up wrinkled after being squeezed into the carriage. Designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, the dress was adorned with 10,000 pearls and mother-of-pearl sequins. Seeing the creases, Elizabeth Emanuel recalled telling David, “Oh my God, it’s creased,” and wishing they could smooth it out before she walked down the aisle.
Prince Charles Forgot To Kiss Diana At The Altar
After their wedding ceremony, Prince Charles forgot to kiss Princess Diana at the altar. However, he made it up by kissing her on the balcony, leading to the now-traditional balcony kiss.
July 29th, 1981: The royal wedding, CBS
Princess Diana Spilled Perfume All Over Her Wedding Dress
As Princess Diana walked down the aisle in her iconic wedding dress, no one knew it had a hidden perfume stain. She accidentally spilled her favorite scent, Quelques Fleurs, on the gown just before the ceremony. Her makeup artist advised her to hold the spot as if she were lifting the dress to avoid stepping on it. Some guests even noticed her subtly covering the stain with her hand as she approached the altar.
July 29th, 1981: Royal Wedding, CBS News
One Of Diana’s Bridesmaids Tripped On Her Dress
One of Princess Diana’s bridesmaids, five-year-old Clementine Hambro, tripped over Diana’s 25-foot train to the Buckingham Palace balcony. She slipped on the wooden floor and bumped her head, but Diana quickly picked her up and comforted her. With a smile, Diana sweetly asked if she had hurt her bottom, turning the little mishap into a tender moment.
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Princess Diana Had An Awful Headache On Her Wedding Day
Princess Diana wore the Spencer family tiara on her wedding day, but it wasn’t all glamour; it gave her a terrible headache. Her brother, Charles Spencer, recalled that she looked happy and relaxed at a private party that evening but admitted she was in pain from wearing the tiara all morning.
July 29th, 1981: The royal wedding, CBS
A Horse Ran Loose After Prince William And Kate’s Wedding
During Prince William and Kate Middleton’s 2011 wedding carriage ride, a horse got spooked by the crowds and ran off. The horse, part of the Blues and Royals guard, threw off its rider, but luckily, both were unharmed.
John Pannell, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Cold Ruined Prince Harry’s Plan For Meghan’s Bouquet
Prince Harry had planned to pick flowers from their Kensington Palace garden for Meghan Markle’s wedding bouquet, but an unexpected cold snap spoiled the plan. Meghan shared in a 2018 exhibit that an Easter snowfall left them with fewer blooms than expected.
Beautiful Meghan Markle arrives in exquisite wedding dress - The Royal Wedding - BBC, BBC
Prince William Didn’t Get Any Sleep The Night Before
Prince William didn’t get much sleep the night before his wedding—not just from nerves, but because of the loud, excited crowds outside. Well-wishers sang and cheered all night long, making it impossible to rest.
Robbie Dale, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Prince William Was Extremely Nervous
Royal editor Duncan Larcombe, who attended Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding, said William looked terrified before the ceremony. Just before Kate arrived, William stepped away with Harry to compose himself. When they returned, he took a deep breath, clearly feeling the weight of the big moment.
Julio, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Kate Middleton’s Ring Was Too Small
Prince William had trouble slipping Kate Middleton’s wedding ring onto her finger during their vows. Kate had resized her engagement ring after it was too loose, so she made her wedding band smaller too. Luckily, he managed to get the ring on, and now the couple looks back on it with a smile.
Ann Porteus, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
David Beckham Made A Royal Error At Prince William’s Wedding
David Beckham looked sharp at Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding, but there was one small mistake: he wore his OBE medal on the wrong side. It was pinned to the right lapel when he arrived, but by the time he left the church, he had quietly fixed it and placed it on the proper left side.
An Unhappy Bridesmaid At Prince William And Kate’s Wedding
In British society, it’s a tradition to have young girls as bridesmaids at weddings, which is adorable but can also be tricky. At Kate Middleton’s wedding, little Eliza Lopes, Camilla’s granddaughter, was overwhelmed by the crowd cheering. Thankfully, Prince Harry saved the day by pulling a wiggly worm toy from his pocket, calming her down so well that she even held onto it for the official photos.
Magnus D, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
William Forgot To Release The Handbrake Of The Car
After the ceremony, William and Kate made a grand exit in his father’s Aston Martin. It was picture-perfect, right? Well, not quite. William forgot to release the handbrake. It's a little hiccup in an otherwise fairytale moment.
John Pannell, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Prince Harry Fumbled With Megan's Veil
Prince Harry looked adorably confused as he tried to lift Meghan’s veil during the ceremony. He wasn’t sure how to arrange it once he had it in his hands, making the moment even more endearing.
First hymn, first vows | Prince Harry and Meghan Markle - The Royal Wedding - BBC, BBC
Meghan Forgot To Curtsy To The Queen
Meghan was so excited about her wedding that she accidentally walked past the Queen without curtsying. The moment quickly sparked chatter online, proving that royal watchers catch every little detail.
God Save the Queen | Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leave the chapel - The Royal Wedding - BBC, BBC
There Was A Mistake In Prince Harry And Meghan's Wedding Program
Prince Charles walking Meghan Markle down the aisle at her wedding was a sweet moment, but it wasn’t the original plan. Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle, was supposed to give her away, but a paparazzi scandal and health issues led him to pull out at the last minute. The official wedding programs didn’t update this change and still had him listed.
Beautiful Meghan Markle arrives in exquisite wedding dress - The Royal Wedding - BBC, BBC
Harry And Meghan's Portraits Were Set Up Wrong
Royal wedding portraits usually follow strict traditions, with the royal family on one side and the non-royal family on the other. However, in Harry and Meghan’s photos, the royals stood on both sides, breaking tradition in a show of support for Meghan. Since her mother, Doria Ragland, was the only family member present, sticking to the usual setup would have left one side of the portrait empty, so they chose unity over tradition.
Alfred The Great Was In A Lot Of Pain
Alfred the Great, King of Wessex, married Ealhswith, and celebrations were in full swing when he was suddenly struck by severe pain in front of everyone. Historians believe he likely had Crohn’s disease, making his wedding day far from a fairy tale.
Samuel Woodforde, Wikimedia Commons
Princess Nathalie Forgot Her Bouquet
Princess Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg’s wedding ceremony was delayed because she forgot her bouquet. Luckily, the church was only 10 minutes away, but the wait made her groom, Alexander Johannsmann, nervous. Ultimately, the bouquet arrived, and the wedding went as planned.
King George IV Was Extremely Intoxicated At His Wedding
Weddings can get a little wild, but it’s a whole different story when the groom is an intoxicated king. In 1795, King George IV was so intoxicated at his wedding that his bride, Catherine of Brunswick, reportedly left him under a grate afterward. Their first meeting wasn’t much better. When Catherine knelt before him, he barely spoke, turned away, and asked for a glass of brandy. Safe to say, their marriage didn’t start on the best note.
Sir William Beechey, Wikimedia Commons
Princess Sophie Fainted During Her Wedding
An Oxford doctoral student, Sophie married Ludwig, a descendant of Bavaria’s last king, in a beautiful ceremony in Munich. But during her vows, she suddenly fainted. Luckily, Ludwig caught her just in time. She felt better after a quick sip of Coke, and the wedding continued. Guests were relieved and happy to see the bride back on her feet.
picture alliance, Getty Images
Prince Charles Fell Asleep At Prince Harry’s Wedding
Even at a royal wedding, sometimes you just need a quick nap. Prince Charles was caught on camera dozing off during Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s ceremony. With all the excitement, the groom's father needed a moment to rest his eyes.
'Stand by Me' performed by Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir - The Royal Wedding - BBC, BBC
King Harthacnut Passed Away At His Friend's Wedding
Poor King Harthacnut didn’t get much love in artwork but made a mark in history. Ruling England from 1040 to 1042, he managed to ruin Tovi the Proud’s wedding by drinking too much and suffering a stroke.
OleryhlolssonC. N. Overgaard, Wikimedia Commons
Marie Antoinette's Wedding Dress Was Too Small For Her
Marie Antoinette’s wedding dress was stunning, but it didn’t fit. It was made with the wrong measurements, leaving part of her undergarment visible from behind. The Duchess of Northumberland even remarked that the misplaced lacing and shift didn’t look great between all the diamonds, though Marie still sparkled under the weight of her jewels.
Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, Wikimedia Commons
Princess Caroline Wasn’t Able To Walk In Her Dress
Princess Caroline struggled significantly on her wedding day. Her dress was so heavy that she could barely stand or walk. Made of velvet, ermine, lace, and silver tissue, it looked grand but impractical.
Gainsborough Dupont, Wikimedia Commons
The Wind Blew Up Lady Charlotte's Veil
When Lady Charlotte Wellesley married in 2016, a gust of wind sent her veil flying straight into the air. Instead of letting it ruin the moment, she laughed it off and enjoyed her big day. Now that’s how you handle a wedding surprise with style.
Europa Press Entertainment, Getty Images
Prince Harry's Beard Controversy
Before his wedding, Prince Harry asked the Queen for permission to keep his beard, despite military rules against facial hair in uniform. While the Queen was fine with it, Prince William wasn’t, sparking a week-long argument between the brothers. In the end, Harry stood his ground, and the beard stayed.
First hymn, first vows | Prince Harry and Meghan Markle - The Royal Wedding - BBC, BBC
Augusta Of Saxe-Gotha Vomited All Over Her Mother-In-Law
Poor Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, her wedding day couldn’t have gone worse. As she walked down the aisle to marry Frederick, Prince of Wales, she got so nervous that she threw up all over her dress and even on her mother-in-law. Who could blame her, considering she was only 17, in a new country, didn’t speak English, and was marrying a stranger?
William Hogarth, Wikimedia Commons
An Unhappy Princess Augusta
Princess Augusta was so unhappy about marrying Prince Frederick in 1736 that she vomited again right after the ceremony. The prince, not exactly a gentleman, even yelled in her ear when she messed up her vows. At just 17, she had never met her much older groom before and begged her mother, “Please don’t leave me”. Sadly, it was far from a fairytale wedding for the young princess.
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