The Royal Family’s most expensive weddings from Kate Middleton to Princess Diana and Princess Eugenie

When you get married you want your closest friends and family to witness your big day and join in the celebrations.

While sorting guest lists and tables is enough of a headache in itself, it gets a lot more complicated if several of the attendees are well known celebrities or officials who have hectic schedules of their own.

Adding to that your wedding will be broadcast to millions of people all over the world and it is massively important that each element of the big day is done to the highest standard possible.

That’s just what planning for a royal wedding is like and explains why each one comes with a huge bill.

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Royal weddings are always the talking point of the year

Looking back across the last four decades, the country has witnessed some of the most incredible royal weddings, from Diana, Princess of Wales to the Duchess of Cambridge.

The weddings are all remembered for different reasons. Whether it was the 25ft train on Lady Diana’s wedding dress or the grumpy bridesmaid at Prince William and Kate’s ceremony, they will all go down in history.

But one thing each big day has in common is the eye watering price tag, so let’s take a look at whose wedding cost the most.

The Prince and Princess of Wales

Getty Images

The Prince and Princess of Wales married on July 29, 1981

Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul’s Cathedral on July 29, 1981 in what was dubbed ‘a fairytale wedding’ and ‘the wedding of the century’.

Their ceremony was watched by an estimated TV audience of 750 million people in the UK and around the world and is thought to have cost approximately £57 million.

Lady Diana’s impressive dress, which was designed by Elizabeth and David Emmaunuel, cost £11,000 on its own. But the highest bill to foot was the security cost- coming in at a whopping £490,000.

Their special day was marked with celebrations including an appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony, 27 wedding cakes and a huge firework display over Hyde Park.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

Kate Middleton and Prince William on their wedding day

Kate Middleton and Prince William on their wedding day

Next up we have Prince William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The couple who met at St Andrews University in Scotland married at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011.

Kate wowed everyone in her £355,000 Alexander McQueen dress which featured a 9-foot train and was made of handmade lace.

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But once again the security topped the list as the most expensive and brought the total cost to around £30 million.

However, the Palace later confirmed that the Royal Family had paid for the core aspects of the wedding with personal funds, including the church service, the music, flowers, decorations and the following reception

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank

Jack Brooksbank and Princess Eugenie of York share a kiss as they leave their wedding at St. George's Chapel on October 12, 2018 in Windsor, England

WINDSOR, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 12: Jack Brooksbank and Princess Eugenie of York share a kiss as they leave their wedding at St. George’s Chapel on October 12, 2018 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Toby Melville – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The youngest daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York is next on the list, and once again the security cost the most totalling an estimated £2 million.

Princess Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank at St George’s Chapel, Windsor on October 12, 2018 and the ceremony was aired exclusively on ITV.

The wedding, the dress and flowers, as well as the subsequent two parties were paid for privately by the bride’s parents.

The Queen’s granddaughter wore a dress designed by Peter Pilotto and Christopher de Vos with a low-cut back to showcase the scar that runs down her spine following childhood surgery to correct scoliosis.

Princess Elizabeth with her husband Prince Philip on the day of their wedding.

Princess Elizabeth with her husband Prince Philip on the day of their wedding

While each of these days will go down in history for their huge cost, other weddings are remembered for being quite the opposite.

The Queen (then Princess Elizabeth) married Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten on November 20, 1947 at Westminster Abbey.

As their wedding took place so soon after the end of World War Two, the country was still financially recovering and many were concerned that the Princess would be unable to afford her wedding dress.

Hundreds of people up and down the country sent their clothing ration coupons to the Palace to help the Princess but they had to be returned as it would have been illegal for her to use them.

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