34 stunning photos of royal weddings around the world
Talia Lakritz
- Royal weddings often involve country-wide celebrations.
- Traditional ceremonies are followed by lavish receptions in palaces.
Royal weddings are often lavish events. But they're not just happy occasions for the couple and their families — they attract global media attention, high-profile guests, and jubilant crowds.
From horse-drawn carriages to decadent cakes and wedding dresses with trains that seem to billow for miles, here are stunning photos from royal wedding celebrations around the world.
Read the original article on InsiderKei Moriya and Princess Ayako visited the Meiji Shrine after their wedding ceremony in Tokyo, Japan.
Ayako gave up her royal status to marry a commoner in 2018.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married at St. George's Chapel in Windsor, England, in 2018.
They have since decided to step back from their royal positions.
Jack Brooksbank and Princess Eugenie also held their wedding at St. George's Chapel.
Prince Andrew, Duke of York, walked her down the aisle.
Prince Joel Dawit Makonnen Haile Selassie and Princess Ariana Makonnen of Ethiopia got married in Washington, DC, in 2017.
The couple wed at Debre Genet Medhane Alem Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church.
Prince Willem Alexander and Princess Maxima Zorreguieta of the Netherlands rode in a golden horse-drawn carriage after their wedding ceremony.
They arrived at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, Holland, after their wedding in 2002.
Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia of Sweden held their reception at The Royal Palace in Stockholm.
They shared their first dance in the ballroom.
Indonesia's Prince Notonegoro and Princess Hayu's wedding lasted three days, from October 21 through 23, 2013.
They waved to crowds while riding in a carriage on the last day of the festivities.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana's 1981 wedding would have cost $110 million dollars today.
Like all royal weddings, they also spent a majority on security for the celebrations, but a good chunk of it also went to Diana's dress, which was fitted with a 25-foot train and covered in 10,000 pearls, as well as the 225-pound, 5-foot-tall cake.
Prince Felix and Princess Claire of Luxembourg said "I do" in 2013 in in Saint-Maximin-La-Sainte-Baume, France.
The bride wore a wedding gown by designer Elie Saab.
Princess Suga of Japan gave up her royal status to marry bank clerk Hisanaga Shimazu in 1960.
They laughed together during a news conference following their wedding ceremony in Tokyo.
Christopher O'Neill and Princess Madeleine of Sweden waved to well-wishers from a horse and carriage after their wedding in 2013.
Their wedding ceremony was held at the Royal Palace of Stockholm.
American actress Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier of Monaco in 1956.
The wedding was held in the Monaco Cathedral.
Prince Daniel, Duke of Vastergotland and Princess Victoria of Sweden shared a piece of wedding cake in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2010.
They held their wedding banquet at the Royal Palace in Stockholm.
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Ashi Jetsun Pema held their marriage ceremony at The Dzong in Punakha, Bhutan, in 2011.
The king's 2008 coronation ceremony also took place at The Dzong.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip wed at Westminster Abbey in 1947.
They've now been married for 72 years.
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene Wittstock of Monaco celebrated their nuptials with fireworks in 2011.
Citizens of Monaco celebrated their wedding with a two-day public holiday.
Prince William and Kate Middleton married in Westminster Abbey in 2011.
They shared their first kiss as a married couple on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
King Constantine and Princess Anne Marie of Greece married in 1964.
They held their wedding at Athens Orthodox Cathedral.
Prince Carlos de Bourbon de Parme and Princess Annemarie Gualtherie van Weezel of Belgium dodged rice thrown by guests after their wedding in 2010.
They held their royal wedding at Abbaye de la Cambre in Brussels, Belgium.
Yoshiki Kuroda and Sayako Kuroda of Japan raise glasses of Champagne in a toast at their 2005 nuptials.
Sayako, the daughter of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, gave up her royal status as princess by marrying Kuroda, a Tokyo government employee.
Prince Frederik and Princess Mary of Denmark kissed on the balcony of Christian VII's Palace after their wedding in 2004.
Their romance began in 2000 when Mary Elizabeth Donaldson met the prince over drinks at the Sydney Olympics, where he was with the Danish sailing team.
Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah and Sarah Salleh of Brunei held their wedding ceremony at Istana Nurul Iman in Bandar Seri Begawan in 2004.
The traditional ceremony was attended by world leaders from Asia and Arab royalty.
Prince Felipe and Letizia Ortiz of Spain wed in Madrid in 2004.
They attended a service in Atocha church following their wedding.
Prince Jaime de Bourbon Parme and Viktoria Cservenyak of the Netherlands tied the knot in 2013.
They held their wedding at The Church Of Our Lady At Ascension in Apeldoorn, Netherlands.
French actress Clotilde Courau married Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, Prince of Venice, in Rome in 2003.
Their wedding took place at Rome's elite Santa Maria degli Angeli church.
Princess Martha Louise of Norway and writer Ari Behn waved to onlookers at their 2002 wedding.
They walked to the Stiftsgarden Palace in Trondheim, Norway, after their ceremony.
Prince Joachim married Marie Cavallier of France in Moegeltoender in 2008.
Joachim is Queen Margrethe's youngest son and fourth in line to Denmark's throne.
King Mohamed VI and Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco broke a tradition of keeping royal wives hidden for their 2002 wedding.
They held the wedding at the royal palace in Rabat, Morocco.
King Letsie III and Karabo Motsoeneng of Lesotho married in a traditional Catholic wedding ceremony in 2000.
They said their vows in the national stadium in Maseru, Lesotho.
Princess Tatjana of Liechtenstein and Philipp von Lattorff rode in a convertible after their wedding in 1999.
Princess Tatjana married a commoner, German businessman Philipp von Lattorff, in the cathedral of Vaduz.
Prince Abdul Malik and Dayangku Raabi'atul 'Adawiyyah Pengiran Haji Bolkiah of Brunei held their traditional "bersanding," or enthronement ceremony, at their wedding in 2015.
Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah is one of the world's richest men.
Prince Laurent and Claire Coombs of Belgium wed at a ceremony in Brussels' town hall in 2003.
They waved to crowds of well-wishers from the balcony of Brussels' Royal Palace.
Prince Ali and Reem Ibrahimi of Jordan held their wedding privately in the Royal Palace in Amman in 2004.
Jordan's Prince Ali is the half brother of the Jordanian monarch King Abdullah, and Reem Ibrahimi is the daughter of UN's Akhdar al-Ibrahimi.
Prince Mweli Mzizi of the Zulu Royal household married radio announcer Debra Patta in 1996.
Prince Andrew, Duke of York, walked her down the aisle.
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