HRH Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton to wed at Abbey

The Dean of Westminster, The Very Reverend Dr John Hall, said: ‘I am delighted on behalf of The Dean & Chapter of Westminster to congratulate HRH Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton on their engagement to be married. We assure them of our prayers and best wishes as they prepare for their wedding. May God bless and protect them with his love.

'We are very pleased they have chosen Westminster Abbey for their marriage and look forward to the detailed planning for what will be a great and happy occasion for the couple themselves, for their families and friends, for the country and Commonwealth and for well-wishers across the globe.’

Further details of the wedding will be announced in due course.

Historical Information

Fifteen royal weddings have been held in Westminster Abbey.

HM The Queen & Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten RN
On the 20th of November 1947, Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II), elder daughter of King George VI, was married to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten RN (later Duke of Edinburgh). The hymns were “Praise my soul, the King of Heaven” and “The Lord’s my Shepherd” and the couple left the Church to Mendelssohn’s Wedding March.

King George VI & Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
On 26th April 1923, The Duke of York (later King George VI), second son of King George V, was married to Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (later to become The Queen Mother). The hymns were “Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us” and “Praise my soul the King of Heaven” and the couple left to the Wedding March by Mendelssohn and C.V. Stanford’s “Marcia Eroica”.

Princess Margaret & Antony Armstrong-Jones
On 6th May 1960, Princess Margaret, second daughter of King George VI, was married to Antony Armstrong-Jones (later Earl of Snowdon). The hymns were “Christ is made the sure foundation” and “Immortal, invisible, God only wise” and the couple left the Church to Henry Purcell’s Trumpet Tune and Airs.

Prince Andrew & Sarah Ferguson
On 23rd July 1986, Prince Andrew, second son of Queen Elizabeth II, was married to Miss Sarah Ferguson. (The hymns were “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, The King of creation”, “Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us” and “Come down, O love divine”. The couple left to Edward Elgar’s “Triumphal March from Caractacus” and William Walton’s “Crown Imperial”).

Princess Anne & Captain Mark Phillips
On 14th November 1973, Princess Anne, only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II, was married to Captain Mark Phillips. (The hymns were “Glorious things of thee are spoken” and “Immortal invisible, God only wise” and the couple left to Widor’s Toccata in F major, Johann Strauss’ Radetzky March and the Finale from the Organ Symphony no.1 by Vierne)

Princess Alexandra of Kent & Angus Ogilvy
24th April 1963

The Duke of Kent, son of George V, & Princess Marina of Greece
29th November 1934

Princess Mary, daughter of George V, & Viscount Lascelles
28th February 1922

Princess Patricia of Connaught & Commander Alexander Ramsay
27th February 1919

Richard II & Anne of Bohemia
20th January 1382

Margaret, daughter of Edward I, & John, son of Duke of Brabant
8th July 1290

Joan of Acre, daughter of Edward I, & Earl of Gloucester
30th April 1290

Prince Edmund, son of Henry III, & Aveline de Forz
8th or 9th April 1269

Richard, Earl of Cornwall & Sanchia of Provence
4th January 1243

King Henry I & Princess Matilda of Scotland
11th November 1100