Royal Weddings on Film: Footage of Windsor Marriages from the 20th Century

Today marks the long-awaited wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, in an event that will be broadcast around the world for millions (perhaps even billions) to watch.

Even if the marriage is not broadcast in your area, you can watch it online here.

We thought we’d celebrate this by showing some footage from a selection of Royal weddings of the past century – some recent, and some going back to the 1920s. Most of these were held at Westminster Abbey, where today’s ceremony will also take place.

If you’re interested in the genealogy side of things, why not also take a look at our Royal family tree? This details the ancestry of the royal family and shows you how the family fits together. You can find the tree here.

We hope you enjoy these videos – and today’s celebrations!

Prince Edward and Sophie (1999)
This is a clip from Prince Edward’s marriage just over ten years ago. Edward’s marriage was perhaps more low-key than those of his brothers, taking place at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, rather than in central London.

Prince Andrew and Sarah (1986)
Prince Andrew married Sarah Ferguson in summer 1986, and on the same day was made Duke of York by the Queen. Andrew had known the bride since childhood, where they met at polo matches.

Prince Charles and Diana (1981)
These are some clips from Charles and Diana’s wedding, held at St Paul’s Cathedral. The full ceremony can also be seen online, (part 1 here).

Princess Elizabeth and Philip (1947)
In 1947, Princess (now Queen) Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten. Below is some excellent footage of the event, with suitably vintage commentary!

Prince Albert (later King George) and Elizabeth (1923)
This video, without sound, marks the wedding of the then Prince Albert and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, perhaps best known today as the Queen Mother.