Wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones

The wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones took place on 19 June 1999 in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Prince Edward, youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II, met Sophie Rhys-Jones for the first time in 1987 when he was dating her friend.

[3][4] Edward proposed to Sophie with a delicate engagement ring featuring a two-carat oval diamond flanked by two heart-shaped gemstones set in 18-carat white gold.

[6] Children of the couple's friends served as bridesmaids and page boys: Camilla Hadden, Olivia Taylor, Felix Sowerbutts, and Harry Warburton.

[13] The three royal brothers chose to leave their limousines behind and walk past the onlookers into the church,[10] twenty minutes before the start of the ceremony.

[11] Sophie arrived with her father Christopher Rhys-Jones in a Rolls-Royce owned by the Queen, and he walked her down the aisle while a fanfare by the Royal Marines was being played.

[10] The couple said their respective vows properly, though some onlookers noted Edward had a little difficulty placing the wedding ring on Sophie's finger.

[17] After the ceremony, Edward and Sophie rode in an open, horse-drawn carriage to the reception in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle, passing thousands of people en route.

[20][21][22] The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, the London Mozart Players and the band of the Royal Marines were in charge of providing the music for the reception ceremony.

Shakerley later admitted that Prince William's face was digitally enhanced by taking a happier smile from another photograph and placing it on some of the released shots to the press.

The publishing director of Burke's Peerage, Harold Brooks-Baker, noted that Edward was the first son of a monarch since George I to not be made a duke.

St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle