The Cost of Love: The Most Expensive Royal Weddings in History
Tying the knot in style.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia
An estimated 25 million people watched the wedding of Spain's Prince Felipe to journalist Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano. The expensive ceremony was held at the Almudena Cathedral (Santa María la Real de La Almudena) on 22 May 2004.
It was attended by some 1500 guests, and the reception was held at the Royal Palace of Madrid. Spanish fashion designer Manuel Pertegaz crafted the one-of-a-kind wedding dress with a four-metre train.
The dress cost about €6.5 million, and the wedding reception cost the royal family €20 million.
Prince William and Kate Middleton
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On 29 April 2011, Prince William and Kate Middleton tied the knot at Westminster Abbey. The Duke of Cambridge's wedding made history.
Some £30 million was spent on the ceremony. The most significant expense was security, which cost about £26 million. Of course, all eyes at the wedding were on Kate's £355,000 Alexander McQueen wedding dress.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
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This being a royal wedding, the bulk of the allocated budget went on security. Harry and Meghan exchanged vows in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on 19 May 2018. Guests included not only members of the royal family but many celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey, Elton John, and David and Victoria Beckham.
The wedding expenses were estimated at £32 million. And the bride's bespoke Givenchy gown cost about £390,000.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana
The 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, who exchanged vows in St. Paul's Cathedral, was voted Wedding of the Year. Few people were surprised, seeing how it was the most expensive wedding in the royal family's history at the time.
The wedding cost about £57 million. Lady Di's wedding dress cost some £9 thousand. The royal family spent some £500 thousand on security for the wedding. By the way, the event was broadcast worldwide, with more than 750 million people tuning in to watch.
Prince Albert II and Charlene Wittstock
The wedding of Monaco's Prince Albert II and Charlene Wittstock was described as the country's biggest party in 55 years. The couple tied the knot in the throne room of the Prince's Palace in 2011.
For the momentous occasion, Whittstock chose a Giorgio Armani open-shoulder silk gown adorned with pearls and 40,000 Swarovski crystals. The royal wedding festivities lasted three days and cost €20 million.