At the time of their engagement in January 2018 it was announced that the wedding of Princess Eugenie of York and Jack Brooksbank was to take place at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor. As was later announced the wedding was to take place on Friday 12 October 2018 at 11am. To the joy of the royalty-watchers all over the world it turned out shortly before the wedding that there would at least be livestream. Although in the UK the tv-channel ITV broadcasted, this channel can’t be received in most other countries. BBC had apparently declined broadcasting, as they feared not too many people would watch on a Friday morning. They turned out to be wrong by the way.
Arrivals
The guests already started arriving at 8.30am (see for an updated guestlist here), while the members of the British royal family only started arriving after 10am. The groom and his best man, his brother Thomas Brooksbank, arrived around 10.45am, soon followed by the maid of honour Princess Beatrice of York and her mother Sarah, Duchess of York. Soon after the bridesmaids and pages arrived, accompanied by special attendant Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor. Her brother James, Viscount Severn was a special attendant too, but arrived with his parents and only had a short role inside the church. The bridal couple had this bridal party chosen:
- Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge (aged 3)
- Miss Savannah Philips (aged 7 – daughter of Mrs Autumn Phillips and Mr Peter Phillips)
- Miss Isla Philips (aged 6 – daughter of Mrs Autumn Phillips and Mr Peter Phillips)
- Miss Mia Tindall (aged 4 – daughter of Mrs Zara Tindall and Mr Mike Tindall)
- Miss Maud Windsor (aged 5 – goddaughter of Princess Eugenie, daughter of Lady Frederick Windsor and Lord Frederick Windsor)
- Miss Theodora Williams (aged 6 – daughter of Ms Ayda Field and Mr Robbie Williams)
- His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge (aged 5)
- Mr Louis de Givenchy (aged 6 – son of Mrs Zoe De Givenchy and Mr Olivier De Givenchy)
The bride and her father, The Duke of York, arrived at the chapel in a 1977 Rolls Royce Phantom VI, presented to the her grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1978 for her Silver Jubilee by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
The bridal dress
The bride wore a dress designed by Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos, from the British based label Peter Pilotto. The dress was developed layer by layer, constructing it from the corset and the complex underskirt to the fitted bodice and full pleated skirt. The dress featured a neckline that folds around the shoulders to a low back that drapes into a flowing full length train. The low back feature on the dress was at the specific request of Princess Eugenie who had surgery aged 12 to correct scoliosis.
The fabric was designed by Mr Pilotto and Mr De Vos and included a number of symbols that are meaningful to Princess Eugenie as motifs. The symbols were a Thistle for Scotland acknowledging the couple’s fondness for Balmoral, a Shamrock for Ireland as a nod to the Bride’s Ferguson family, the York Rose and ivy representing the couple’s home. Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos have reinterpreted these symbols in a garland of rope like motifs, woven into a jacquard of silk, cotton and viscose blend. Once the artwork was completed, it was translated into a jacquard weave in the Como region of Italy. The result was a very modern looking fabric using a highly intricate weaving technique. Eugenie’s wedding shoes were satin peep-toe heels by Charlotte Olympia.
Eugenie wore the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara, lent to her by her grandmother. In her ears she wore diamond and emerald drop ear-rings which were a wedding gift from Jack.
The wedding bouquet was created by Patrice Van Helden Oakes and consisted of Lily of the Valley, Stephanotis pips, hints of baby blue thistles, white spray roses and trailing ivy. Also sprigs of myrtle from Osbourne House were included in the bouquet.
The Wedding
The Dean of Windsor, The Rt Revd. David Conner officiated as the couple made their marriage vows. His address can be found here. The Archbishop of York, The Most Revd. and Rt. Hon. John Sentamu, led the prayers and wrote a personal prayer for the couple.
James Vivian, Director of Music St George’s Chapel, had written descants for two hymns that were sung during the Service. During the service musicians from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – of which the Duke of York is the patron – performed. will perform during the ceremony. Also the Italian singer Andrea Bocelli performed two pieces: Ave Maria and Panis Angelicus. State Trumpeters from the Band of the Household Cavalry performed a fanfare, written especially for the occasion by the Commanding Officer of the Bands of the Household Division, Lieutenant Colonel Darren Wolfendale.
You can download the full order of service here.
For the flower decoration see here.
After the Service
When the service had come to an end Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank left the church via the West Steps of St. George’s Chapel as a married couple. Members of the Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards lined the steps. Pipers from the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland performed Scottish pieces from the Garter Tower as the couple departed by carriage. The bridal couple had chosen the Scottish State Coach instead of an open carriage because of the weather. The coach was pulled by four Windsor Grey horses: Plymouth, Milford Haven, Tyrone and Storm. The two outriders were Claudia and Sir Basil. The procession left Castle Hill and then proceeded along a part of the High Street of Windsor before returning to Windsor Castle via Cambridge Gate.
After returning to the castle there was a reception at Windsor Castle hosted by the Queen. The bridal couple had asked cake designer Sophie Cabot to make the red velvet and chocolate wedding cake. The detailed sugar worked included ivy. Following the reception the couple left in a silver Aston Martin DB10, originally made for the James Bond film Spectre, for the Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, where the evening party was being held. A third wedding party was held on Saturday 13 October in the grounds of the Royal Lodge and had a fun fairground theme. Some of the guests had also taken their children with them for this special party.
Het was een mooie en vrolijke bruiloft en jij hebt er ene mooi verslagje van gemaakt. met mooie foto’s erbij.