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12 private royal wedding moments: From Princess Kate's rehearsal to Princess Eugenie's first dance

What happens behind-the-scenes

royal weddings
Bridie Wilkins
Senior Health & Fitness Writer
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Official photos from royal weddings aren't difficult to find, but intimate, behind-the-scenes snaps are much rarer!

LOOK: 14 bold second royal wedding dresses: Princess Eugenie's pink gown, Sarah Ferguson's florals & more

From Prince Andrew's reaction to seeing his daughter Princess Eugenie's wedding dress to Meghan Markle's private moment with her mother Doria Ragland and Princess Diana's reassuring chat with her bridesmaid, we've rounded up the lesser-known parts of our favourite royal nuptials. Keep scrolling to see the first dances, cutting the cake and more…

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

WATCH: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle share behind-the-scenes wedding photos

When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle celebrated their first wedding anniversary on 19 May 2019, Sussex Royal shared a compilation of photos in a video. The couple are seen signing their marriage license, Harry heads down the stairs once he is ready to head off to the venue, and Meghan shares an intimate moment with her mother Doria Ragland. 

Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward

sophie edward wedding reception

The Countess of Wessex did a sneaky outfit change that was only visible as she left her wedding reception with Prince Edward in 1999. The couple were pictured waving to the cameras in the back seat of their limousine before heading on their honeymoon.

Sophie continued to wear her sparkling tiara, but she appeared to be sporting a long-sleeved, V-neck gown with a sparkly waist – a look she may have been hiding underneath her silk organza coat dress designed by Samantha Shaw earlier in the day.

RELATED: 10 royal weddings with unexpected songs: Princess Kate's first dance, Princess Eugenie's A-lister & more

MORE: Why do royal bridesmaids wear white?

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank

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Princess Eugenie and Prince Andrew had a sweet father-daughter moment

On Father's Day 2019, Princess Eugenie paid tribute to her father, Prince Andrew, with a behind-the-scenes photo from her wedding day. It shows the moment Prince Andrew saw Princess Eugenie in her wedding dress, before he walked her down the aisle at St James's Palace to her now husband Jack Brooksbank.

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The bride shared a snap of the couple's first dance on their anniversary

The Queen's granddaughter also marked her third wedding anniversary by posting an unseen snap from the couple's first dance at their evening wedding reception. Dressed in a blush pink Zac Posen gown, the bride beamed directly at the camera as she embraced her husband. 

Princess Diana and Prince Charles

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The royal was spotted reassuring her bridesmaid

Princess Diana married Prince Charles at St Paul's Cathedral in 1981, before heading to Buckingham Palace for the wedding reception. Diana was photographed behind-the-scenes as she reassured her five-year-old bridesmaid Clementine Hambro not to be nervous, with the Queen standing close by.

princess diana charles wedding

Princess Diana and Prince Charles after their wedding rehearsal

Photos were also taken at Princess Diana and Prince Charles' wedding rehearsal on 27 July 1981. Here, Princess Diana and Charles are seen leaving St Paul's Cathedral with Prince Andrew following the couple outside.

Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew

sarah ferguson wedding off honeymoon

Sarah wore a floral outfit as she headed on her honeymoon

Following her wedding ceremony on 23 July 1986, the Duchess of York and her ex-husband Prince Andrew jetted off to the Azores for their honeymoon.

Sarah was pictured waving to royal crowds in a horse-drawn carriage as she made her way to Heathrow Airport dressed in her second bridal outfit – a blue and white floral co-ord, including a short-sleeved peplum jacket with a nipped-in waist and a pleated ankle-length skirt. 

SEE: Hilarious royal wedding moments caught on camera

SEE: 3 videos from Princess Diana and Prince Charles' wedding that never saw the light of day

Princess Kate and Prince William

kate middleton william wedding

Kate Middleton and Prince Harry after Kate and Prince William's wedding rehearsal

The Princess of Wales and Prince William tied the knot at Westminster Abbey on 29 April 2011, and the couple attended a private rehearsal a day ahead of the ceremony. Naturally, Kate looked radiant as ever as she was photographed outside with Prince Harry.

Zara and Mike Tindall

zara phillips mike wedding

Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall at their wedding rehearsal

Zara and Mike Tindall married at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh on 30 July 2011. They, too, attended a rehearsal a day prior to the ceremony and were photographed leaving the venue looking very excited.

MORE: 10 priciest royal weddings of all time – up to £75.5million

READ: Sarah Ferguson and the Queen's sweet mother-daughter bond following royal divorce

Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel

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The royal couple shared a sweet embrace before entering their wedding reception

The Swedish royal family released a series of wedding photos from Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel's nuptials on their tenth anniversary. The collection included one behind-the-scenes shot of the couple embracing behind the doors to their reception, before entering and joining guests.

Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia

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Sofia proved even royal brides take selfies

Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia of Sweden released ten behind-the-scenes images of their wedding day at Stockholm's Royal Chapel to mark their fifth anniversary on 13 June 2020. The beautiful series included Carl Philip getting ready and Sofia taking a selfie with her father.

Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston

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Gabriella was captured cutting her wedding cake

When Lady Gabriella Windsor married Thomas Kingston at St George's Chapel on 18 May 2019, Gabriella's cousin shared a collection of inside photos from the day on social media. This included a snap of Gabriella cutting the cake.

MORE: Crown Prince Hussein's fiancée's £26k sparkling engagement gift from royal in-laws

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