A wedding is said to be the happiest day of a person’s life. If that person is royal, however, there are a few extra complications.
The royal world has never been short of scandal and drama, even on wedding days. Here are a few wild moments from the years:
Louis XVI didn’t attend his own wedding:
Their marriage was not an easy one. Seven years passed before they consummated the marriage, making them the laughing stock of the kingdom.
Henry VIII created a new church so he could divorce his wife
The Church of England was founded with a less-than-holy origin story. King Henry VIII wanted to end his marriage to Catherine of Aragon after their union failed to produce a son and he became interested in one of his wife’s ladies-in-waiting, Anne Boleyn. However, the Catholic Church does not allow divorce. King Henry VIII thus split from the church, built a new one and made himself the Supreme Head of the Church of England.
King Edward VIII abdicated the throne for love
Britain’s Edward VIII became King in 1936 after his father died. However, he was already in love with an ‘unsuitable’ woman: Wallis Warfield Simpson. Simpson was already married, had previously been divorced and was -gasp- American.
She got divorced but the royal family still could not accept her as an appropriate partner for the King. However, his love for Simpson proved too strong. King Edward abdicated later that same year to be with Simpson, thus causing his descendants to lose their place in line for the throne too.
The pair married in June 1937 but were shunned from the royal family for decades after.
The Queen did not attend Prince Charles and Camilla’s wedding ceremony
Prince Charles and Camilla’s relationship, which continued through his marriage to Princess Diana, was already a massive scandal on its own. Another huge scandal: his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, did not attend their wedding.
The Queen insists that her absence was a sign of her prioritizing her role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England over any motherly duties. However, the Queen and Prince Phillip did not approve of Camilla when she first began dating their son, and many reports suggest that disdain continued over the years, adding fuel to the fire.
Sarah Ferguson wasn’t invited to Will and Kate’s wedding
Prince William did not extend an invitation for his highly anticipated wedding to his aunt, Sarah Ferguson.
“It was so difficult because I wanted to be there with my girls and to be getting them dressed and to go as a family,” Ferguson told Oprah. “And also it was so hard because the last bride up that aisle was me.”
Princess Stéphanie of Monaco married her bodyguard
Princess Stéphanie of Monaco fell in love with Daniel Ducruet in 1988. Only problem? He was her bodyguard. The two carried on a relationship in secret, even having two children out of wedlock before marrying in 1995.
However, the pair split a year later after Ducruet was caught on tape having an affair, causing yet another scandal for the family.
Megan Markle only had one family member attend her wedding
Megan Markle’s family has received much coverage ever since her relationship with Prince Harry became public. Many family members went out against her to speak to the press, and created great scandal.
Markle’s father was meant to walk her down the aisle but days before the big day, he was caught staging paparazzi photoshoots to garner positive press about him. As a result, Markle had only one family member by her side for her big day: her mother. Doria Raglan stood proudly as she watched her daughter say ‘I do’.
The Prince of Hanover’s dad skips his wedding
Prince Ernst August married long term girlfriend, Russian designer Ekaterina Malysheva in 2017 without his father, Ernst August Sr., in attendance. In fact, the father did not approve of the nuptials at all.
The Prince refused to return an estimated $100 million worth of property he’d been given a decade earlier, causing his father to anger and skip the wedding.
Feature image: Instagram / The Royal Family
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A gracious groom knows that the attention is not only on him. He has to share it with his glowing bride, of course! However, would the groom be happy to share more of the spotlight with his famous groomsman?
Yes, apparently. At least in the instances we’ve seen, grooms are quite happy to share their special day with their famous friends! If you’re struggling to believe it, then we’re here to ensure you’re convinced.
Here are some of our favourite famous groomsmen:
David and Brooklyn Beckham
The father-son pair are perfect for the role of groomsmen. Their fun and positive personalities surely brought a lightness to Victorica’s brother Christian Adams and his partner Emma Strafford’s wedding in 2017.
Joe and Kevin Jonas
While all three brothers are famous (for the same thing), Nick ensured his brothers Joe and Kevin (and Frankie) were by his side on his big day when he married actress Priyanka Chopra. Their nuptials included a Christian ceremony and a Hindu ceremony.
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Prince Harry and Prince William
Each brother played the role of groomsman when the other got married. The Duke of Cambridge provided the utmost support for Prince Harry on his royal wedding day in 2018. Harry took on the same role 7 years earlier, when Prince William wed Kate Middleton.
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Ed Westwick
Best known for his role as Chuck Bass, from the popular teen drama Gossip Girl, Ed Westwick looked dapper as he stood as a groomsman at his friends wedding in 2016.
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Joe Manganiello
Magic Mike actor Joe Manganiello was the groomsman at a wedding in Malibu in June 2017.
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Derek Hough
Professional dancer popular for Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) was the best man for his friend, Mark Ballas who also appears on DWTS. He joined a fairly large group of groomsman at the 2016 wedding.
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Nsync
When Nysnc member Chris Kirkpatrick said his “I do’s” in 2013, his band members (Justin Timberlake, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone, and JC Chasez) stood by his side, despite the fact that the boyband was no longer going. The group looked happy as ever being by the grooms side.
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Image: Instagram / Nick Jonas
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If you’re living your best eco-friendly life, then a wedding venue that suits your lifestyle is a must. Although in South Africa it may be difficult to find a 100% self-sufficient, off the grid, carbon emission-free venue that also has a glam location, there are other options. Most of these options do require some flexibility, though. If you realistically want a sustainable wedding venue, you’re going to have to make it an outdoor affair.
A garden
If you or someone you know and love dearly has a gorgeous garden that can host a wedding, you’re sorted. Having a wedding in a garden gives you endless opportunities to create the setting of your dreams. Picture it: Strings and strings of solar powered fairy lights overhead, battery powered candles line the tables, in the distance, a bar serving guests drinks with paper straws, a solar-powered generator silently powering the entire event. There’s not a scrap of plastic in site and all your bins double into compost heaps. Even better? Have your wedding in the early afternoon so that you can take full advantage of all the warm and natural light. All is right with the world. Ps. we know the house which this garden belongs to may not be off the grid, but we forgive you.
A forest
Yes this may seem a bit far fetched, but think of Bella and Edward’s wedding in Breaking Dawn, just without the werewolf-vampire drama. A wedding in a forest, surrounded by nature is an authentic way to celebrate your wedding. Everyone is so set on the popular trends but don’t you want to look back on your wedding day and be glad you went a different route? Add some authenticity to your day by opting for a wildly different venue. There are a number of forest wedding venues across South Africa, where you can say “I do” to the sweet sounds of song birds overhead. Some venues may include an indoor reception area so you can still have the best of both worlds.
A farm venue
Yes technically this is a four-walled structure but not everyone wants an outdoor wedding. With a farm wedding venue, you get to enjoy the great outdoors and the great indoors. A classic, rustic mix is ensured with this style of venue. You get all the creature comforts of a traditional venue, with some wild Mother Nature thrown into the mix. Either your ceremony or reception area will be open-air with the other under a structured roof. A big body of water, manicured lawns and rose gardens make up the perfect farm venue feel.
Image: Unsplash
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If you lose your ring in the ocean, you most likely would be sad but accept that you’ve lost it forever, right? It seems impossible for a mere human to scour the ocean floor in search of one ring, no matter how big the diamond. But for creatures who are native to the sea, it may be a bit easier.
Annika Parkinson-Dow was swimming in Howe Sound off Bower Island in British Columbia, Canada on Friday evening, April 26. The shining bioluminescence was visible, and this led her to run her hands through the water. Little did she know that her engagement ring had fallen off in the ocean.
When she eventually realised, she was already back on dry land. Of course, she was upset. The ring was an heirloom from the 1930’s. “I was pretty sure that there was absolutely no chance [they’d find] it, a needle in the haystack. I wasn’t even sure of the exact spot that I lost it,” she said to CBC News.
Trying her luck, she asked a few divers to have a look in the ocean. They searched for an hour, but gave up as the water conditions were unfavourable.
As they decided they would call it quits, they caught sight of a baby octopus and as unbelievable as it may sound… the little octopus led the divers to the ring!
Scientists have reported that octopuses have a keen interest in shiny objects. So, it may be possible that the baby octopus found the ring and intended to keep it as part of a little collection of rocks and shells.
It would be nice to think that the octopus intentionally led the divers to the ring, knowing that’s what they were looking for. However, it’s more likely that it was a massive coincidence. Either way though, it’s an amazing story for Parkinson-Dow to tell for the rest of her life!
Image: Unsplash