It was one of the most widely watched weddings of all time—the nuptials of Prince William to Kate Middleton on April 29, 2011. We all saw them kiss after the ceremony on the Buckingham Palace balcony—twice!—but what exactly did William say to his bride that day, as they stood on the balcony with the eyes of the world on them?
When Kate walked onto the balcony and noticed the throng of onlookers below her, her first reaction was an astonished “Wow,” reports MyLondon, via the Mirror. The euphoric crowd below the newly minted Cambridges chanted “We want Kate! We want Kate!” and, to William, “Kiss her! Kiss her!”
The couple soaked in the moment before William turned to Kate and said, cheekily, “Go on, a little kiss, go on.”
Their first kiss was “modest and quick, but the crowds still cheered with delight,” the Mirror reports.
And, though the pair normally shy away from PDA, caught up in the exuberance, William turned to Kate again and said “Let’s give them another one. I love you. One more kiss, one more kiss. Okay?” The second kiss, of course, delighted the crowd, to the point where one of the bridesmaids covered her ears. Meanwhile, best man and William’s brother Prince Harry shared a joke with his grandfather, Prince Philip.
Thinking back on that fantastic day, lipreaders studied not just what was said on the balcony but also what was said inside Westminster Abbey, where William and Kate’s wedding ceremony was held. As Kate walked down the aisle toward her groom, William stuck to tradition and avoided looking at his bride; Harry, however, snuck a glance, and whispered to William “Right, she is here now,” according to royal author Marcia Moody in her 2013 book Kate: A Biography. “Well, she looks beautiful, I can tell you that.”
When Kate finally met William at the altar after her long walk down the aisle, “the couple set eyes on each other, and William murmured to Kate, ‘You look beautiful,’” Moody wrote.
Fun fact about the Buckingham Palace balcony kiss tradition: Because Prince Charles and Princess Diana were so nervous at their 1981 wedding ceremony, he forgot to kiss his bride at the end of the ceremony at St. Paul’s Cathedral—so they made up for it with a kiss on the balcony afterwards.
-
Annoyed By Your Overly Visible Nose Hairs? Here's What the Pros DoPutting the best removal methods to the test.
-
Doja Cat Gives Celine's Triomphe Bag the Butter Yellow TreatmentHer style is taking a turn toward the demure.
-
No One Would Guess These H&M and Zara Finds Aren’t DesignerThese under-the-radar finds look triple the price.
-
Royal Historian Predicts Prince William Will Plan His Coronation "In a Way People Won't Expect"Royal experts weighed in on how the future King William might switch things up on his coronation day.
-
Prince William and Princess Kate Swapped a Luxury Hotel for a Low-Key Cottage During Romantic 14th Anniversary TripThe couple opted for privacy while visiting Scotland's Isle of Mull.
-
All Kate Middleton Wanted Under Her Christmas Tree Was...a Chainsaw?The Princess of Wales revealed her unusual gift during a visit to Scotland.
-
Kate Middleton Throws it Back to Her College Days in Ultra-Skinny PantsThe Princess of Wales revisited her time in Scotland on her 14th anniversary.
-
Former Royal Butler Says Prince William and Princess Kate's "First Priority" Is "Very Different" Than Queen Elizabeth's WasThe Prince and Princess of Wales are changing the modern monarchy.
-
Princess Kate Is "Allergic to Any PR Gimmicks" and Takes Inspiration From This Unexpected Royal as She Prepares to be Queen"She’s hugely influential behind the scenes in hiring and decision-making," a royal source said.
-
Prince William Is Tired of "Too Much Talk," Says He Wants to Make This Major Change When He's KingThe Prince of Wales is said to be "tough" and results-driven.
-
Body Language Expert Details the Moment Prince William Showed Himself to Be the "Ideal" Future King at Pope Francis's Funeral"It is probably the biggest compliment to William to say that he was close to invisible."
