2. Prince William and Catherine Middleton were engaged in
October 2010 while on a private holiday in Kenya. William gave
Middleton the same engagement ring that his father had given
to William's mother, Diana, Princess of Wales—an 18-carat
white gold ring with a 12-carat oval sapphire and 14 round
diamonds.
3. Prince William is the elder son of Prince
Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana,
Princess of Wales, and grandson of
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip,
Duke of Edinburgh.
William was educated at Ludgrove
School, Eton College. After completing
his studies at Eton, the Prince took a
gap year, during which he took part in
British Army.
By 2001 William was back in the United
Kingdom and had enrolled at the
University of St Andrews. He embarked
on a degree course in art history, later
changing his main subject to geography
and going on to earn a Scottish Master
of Arts degree.
4. Catherine "Kate" Middleton was born
on 9 January 1982. She is the eldest of
three children born to Michael and
Carole Middleton. She was educated
at St Andrew's School in Pangbourne
and the University of St Andrews.
Catherine’s interest in hockey
continued into her university years
and while at St. Andrews studying
History of Art, she played for the
university team. Other hobbies
include more recreational sports such
as hill walking, tennis, sailing,
swimming, and the arts, including
photography and painting.
5. The wedding attracted much media attention and being compared and
contrasted in many ways with the 1981 marriage of William's parents, Prince
Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. It was estimated that the wedding would be
watched by a global television audience of two billion people.
6. Much of the attention focused on Middleton's status as a
commoner (i.e., not of royal blood or a part of the aristocracy)
marrying into royalty. Middleton became Her Royal Highness
The Duchess of Cambridge, but is not styled as 'Princess
Catherine'.
7. The guest list was about 1,900. It was a public holiday in the
United Kingdom. It was attended by most of the Royal Family,
many foreign royals, diplomats and the couple's chosen personal
guests. Middleton wore a white dress by British designer Sarah
Burton.
8. Prince William wore the uniform of his honorary rank of Colonel
of the Irish Guards. William's best man was his brother, Prince
Harry, while the bride's sister, Pippa, acted as her maid of
honour.
9. After the ceremony the newly married couple travelled
in procession to Buckingham Palace for the traditional
appearance on the balcony.
10. Prince William and his wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge
kissed on the balcony in Buckingham Palace after their
wedding service.
11. Later the Prince drove his Duchess the short distance to
Clarence House in his father's classic Aston Martin
Volante, decorated by Prince Harry and James
Middleton with a number plate "JU5T WED".
12. The cost of the wedding was reportedly £20
million, it has generated a £2 billion boost for
UK tourism.
13.
14. Prince George of Cambridge (born 22 July 2013) is the son of
the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and the only grandchild of the Prince of
Wales. After his grandfather and father, he is third in line to succeed his
great-grandmother,Queen Elizabeth II. Prince George's official title is His
Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge.
