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    1. Celebrity
    2. Royals

    Princess Kate Found Herself “Overwhelmed” With One Realization After Her Wedding to Prince William

    The couple is celebrating their 15th anniversary on April 29.

    Kristin Contino's avatar
    By Kristin Contino
    Published 29 April 2026 In News

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    Prince William and Princess Kate riding in a convertible on their wedding day
    (Image credit: Getty Images)
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    It’s been 15 years since Prince William and Princess Kate walked down the aisle at Westminster Abbey. Their April 29, 2011 wedding was the biggest royal event since Prince Charles married Princess Diana 30 years prior, and although Kate Middleton looked perfectly calm and collected, she appeared to have one brief moment when the gravity of the day (and her new role) washed over her.

    Lip reader Nicola Hickling frequently comments on royal events, and she told the Daily Mail that William and Kate shared a sweet exchange after getting settled into their carriage after the ceremony. Per Hickling, Princess Kate took in the crowds and said, “Look at everyone,” with William replying, “Yes, I can see, let's wave now as a married couple.”

    The outlet continued that “a briefly overwhelmed Kate” took in his comment and said, “Oh gosh, we’re married.” It was likely the first time the term “married couple” took on its true significance for Kate as the future Queen, but Prince William took the moment in stride.

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    Princess Kate and Prince William waving on their wedding day

    Prince William and Princess Kate are pictured on their April 29, 2011 wedding day.

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Prince William and Princess Kate walking down the aisle

    Prince William and Princess Kate are pictured on their April 29, 2011 wedding day.

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Per Hickling, William told his new wife, “Ah, we'll be alright. Wave to everybody.”

    It's no wonder Princess Kate was bowled over by the crowds lining the streets of London, as it was reported that roughly one million people waited outside to get a glimpse of the couple's wedding procession.

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    In another exchange in the 1902 State Landau carriage, Prince William asked Kate—wearing a custom Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen gown—if she was “comfy,” while the princess wanted to know, “Are you happy?”

    “I am to be fair,” Prince William replied, per Hickling. “You look wonderful.”

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    Fortunately, Kate remained cool throughout her wedding day, with author Tina Brown writing in The Palace Papers, “I am told that the bride's only anxiety on the wedding day itself was that her stomach rumbling might be picked up by a hot mic.”

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    Princess Catherine Prince William
    Kristin Contino
    Kristin Contino
    Senior Royal and Celebrity Editor

    Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.

    Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central. Kristin has provided expert commentary for outlets including the BBC, Sky News, US Weekly, the Today Show and many others.

    Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel, history, horses, and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world, London.

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