EXCLUSIVE: Prince Harry ‘at his very best’ in huge Prince William moment before sad rift

The now estranged royal brothers were once thick as thieves and by each other’s sides at their most important life events, including the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on 29 April, 2011

Harry was William’s best man and number-one support at his wedding to Kate Middleton(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Shortly after midday on 29 April 2011, university sweethearts Kate Middleton and Prince William appeared at the top of the stairs outside Westminster Abbey, with the sounds of the church bells echoing from above them.After locking eyes for just a brief moment, the beaming newlyweds then proceeded to walk down the red carpeted stairs to begin their new life as husband and wife, much to the delight of the hundreds of cheering supporters gathered outside.

“It was the most perfect, magnificent day, a real show of the best of Britain,” recalls royal commentator Richard Palmer. “Many people really felt like they knew William and Kate as individuals, and while the popularity of the royal family had fluctuated over Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, the wedding between William and Kate really heralded a new era for the monarchy, and showcased the family at its very best.

“There was such an upsurge in interest in the royals at the time of their engagement, and this was the moment people wanted to see. They were a young and glamorous couple, and I think William being Princess Diana ’s son also added to the emotion of the day for many people.”

Kate revealed in ivory gown designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director at Alexander McQueen, when she stepped out of her wedding car(Image: WireImage)

From the Abbey, the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge travelled alone in the 1902 State Landau horse-drawn carriage to Buckingham Palace, passing crowds of well-wishers waving Union flags in celebration.

In fact, it was estimated that around one million people lined the streets of the capital to soak up the wedding fever, and this accounted for a large chunk of the £6.35 million spent on policing the occasion.

Royal broadcaster Katie Nicholl believes it is one of the most memorable royal occasions of recent generations. “It was an absolutely momentous day,” she says. “We had this lovely young woman marrying a prince, who she happened to meet and fall in love with at university, and it felt like the entire nation was invested in this fairy-tale royal romance. The whole day was beautiful. Her dress, the ceremony, the carriage procession from the Abbey back to Buckingham Palace… It was full of magical moments.”

For most of the 2,000 guests, the occasion officially kicked off at 9.45am, when they were welcomed into the Abbey via the Great North Door and seated in aisles lined with six 20ft English field maple and two hornbeam trees.

The couple said their vows at Westminster Abbey in a service led by the Archbishop of Canterbury(Image: Getty Images)

As well as royalty from around the world, such as the Sultan and Queen of Brunei and King and Queen of Swaziland, there were some stars from the world of entertainment on the guest list too, including Sir Elton John, David and Victoria Beckham, and singer Joss Stone.

And there was a further 24 million people tuning in from their homes around the world. “There was just so much interest in William and Kate’s story at that point and their wedding was the start of a golden time for the royal family in many ways,” Richard says. “In most people’s eyes Kate was this perfect English rose, marrying her prince. But their relationship was still seen as very authentic; we knew they had a genuine relationship and that the wedding day was a real declaration of love.”

Prince William, wearing his Irish Guards uniform, was next to arrive from nearby Clarence House, and spent the anxious moments before the start of the ceremony with his brother and best man Prince Harry.

Charles and Camilla, then the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, were the first of the royal family guests to be seated, with the father of the groom looking resplendent in his Royal Navy commander’s full-dress uniform and Camilla wearing an oyster-coloured coat dress by one of her go-to designers, Anna Valentine, and a hat by royal milliner Philip Treacy.

Groom William wore his Irish Guards uniform and chose Harry as his best man(Image: WireImage)

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, were there to witness the nuptials of their grandson(Image: Getty Images)

A few minutes later, the sound of the State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry rang out to signal the arrival of William’s paternal grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. The Queen wore an Angela Kelly dress in a sunny pastel yellow with a matching coat and hat, while Prince Philip wore his ceremonial military uniform adorned with medals and his Garter Star.

As the royal guests took their seats, Kate was en route from the nearby Goring Hotel, being driven in a Rolls-Royce Phantom VI down The Mall to Parliament Square with her father Michael Middleton. The car arrived outside Westminster Abbey as the nearby bells of Big Ben struck 11am, and the long wait to see one of the most talked-about wedding dresses of the century was over.

She stepped out of the car to reveal an ivory gown designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director at Alexander McQueen. Her ivory satin bodice was padded slightly at her hips and narrowed at the waist, “and was inspired by the Victorian tradition of corsetry that is a particular Alexander McQueen hallmark”, the Palace said, and included floral motifs appliquéd onto silk net by workers at the Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court Palace.

Kate’s bouquet was designed by London florist Shane Connolly and included sprigs of myrtle grown in the 175-year-old garden of Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, which was once the residence of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

It also included lily-of-the-valley, Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite flower, as well as sweet William to signify gallantry, and ivy and hyacinth. The dazzling look was completed with an art deco Cartier Halo Tiara, borrowed from the Queen, and Robinson Pelham diamond-and-oak-leaf earrings which were a gift from her parents.

After a moment’s pause to wave to the crowds, a somewhat nervous looking Kate entered the Abbey to walk the 97 metres to the High Altar, carefully stepping around the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, to meet her groom, while the Choir of Westminster Abbey performed I Was Glad by Charles Hubert Hastings Parry.

 

Around 24 million people tuned in to watch Kate and William say ‘I Do’(Image: POOL WPA/AFP via Getty Images)

The service was conducted by the Dean of Westminster, while the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, formally married the couple. Before the ceremony, the Archbishop described them as “sensible, realistic young people”.

“They have known what matters, what’s the heart of all this,” he told the BBC. “They have worked towards that because I think they are deeply unpretentious people and that message about taking that responsibility sensibly, realistically and courageously, and that comes over very strongly in conversation with them.”

The ceremony included a Lesson read by Kate’s brother James Middleton – the only reading made during the service – and one chosen by William and Kate, declaring “Let love be genuine”. The bride and groom made vows to “love, comfort, honour and keep” each other.

After just an hour, the couple – now titled Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – walked out onto the steps of the Abbey and set off for Buckingham Palace to attend a wedding reception hosted by the Queen and Prince Philip. Shortly before 1.30pm, the bride and groom appeared on the balcony with their families, including maid of honour Pippa and best man Prince Harry, to witness the RAF flypast – and famously treated the crowds to not one but two newlywed kisses.

Katie Nicholl says William driving the car to Clarence House was one of the most poignant moments of the day(Image: Getty Images)

“It was what everyone wanted to see, and it felt like a spontaneous moment in what was otherwise a feat of planning and organisation,” says Richard, who was covering the day as a royal journalist. “When I spoke to people coming out of the wedding reception at Buckingham Palace later on in the day everyone commented on what an incredible and fantastic time they had had – particularly listening to Harry’s funny best man speech, which I think showcased him at his very best.”

Another of the couple’s history-making moments occurred when they drove away from Buckingham Palace and headed for Clarence House in a royal blue Aston Martin Volante – with a “JU5T WED” number plate and two C and W balloons floating above them and blowing in the wind.

“There was a lot of tradition to the day, but also some wonderful twists and turns, such as the moment we saw William driving his bride away in the car,” royal author Katie says. “We’re so used to seeing royals being driven, so to see William in the driving seat with Kate as his passenger was very special, especially as the rescue helicopter swooped down to bid them on their way. It really symbolised them driving off towards their future together.”