While it was once common for couples to marry early in life, tying the knot at a later age has now become the norm in modern society. The British Royals have largely moved with the times, reflecting these broader cultural shifts in when people choose to settle down. In our current world, dating itself has transformed dramatically, with modern romance evolving far beyond traditional courtships thanks to social media and dating apps, while divorce is also far less taboo.
Just look at Queen Camilla, who is the oldest bride on this list when she finally wedded Charles at 57, and this was due to them both being previously married and having separate families. However, throughout royal history, it has just been more traditional to get married at a younger age. Going all the way back to the 1940s, the late Queen Elizabeth II was just 21 years old when she married 26-year-old Prince Philip, which was typical for the era.
So as we reflect on how times have changed, we take a look back at the ages of royal brides on their wedding days, from Queen Elizabeth to Princess Anne and Princess Kate – starting with the youngest at just 19 years old...
Princess Diana
© Bettmann ArchiveLady Diana Spencer was 16 when she met then-Prince Charles, aged 29, and they got married three years later at St Paul’s Cathedral in 1981. At the time, Princess Diana was 19 years old, making her the youngest royal bride, while Charles was 32.
Queen Elizabeth II
© Corbis via Getty ImagesPrincess Elizabeth was 21 when she tied the knot with 26-year-old Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey in 1947. The late monarch could have been even younger had her father, George VI, given them permission to wed, but when they became secretly engaged in 1946, they reportedly postponed announcing the news.
Princess Anne
© Getty ImagesThe Queen's daughter Princess Anne followed suit, choosing to exchange vows with her first husband Captain Mark Phillips at Westminster Abbey in 1973 at the age of 22 – just one year older than her mother was when she married. She then married Sir Timothy Laurence in 1992, aged 42.
Sarah Ferguson
© Getty ImagesAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his wife Sarah Ferguson waited a little longer before getting married. They were both 26 at their show-stopping ceremony in 1986, with the Queen's son choosing to pop the question on his birthday.
Princess Eugenie
© Getty ImagesPrincess Eugenie met her husband Jack Brooksbank in Verbier in 2010, but it wasn't until eight years later that they got married at St George’s Chapel when the royal was 28. "We met when I was 20 and Jack was 24, and fell in love," Eugenie told the BBC.
Princess Margaret
© Bettmann ArchivePrincess Margaret was 29 when she married Antony Armstrong-Jones, then 30, in 1960. She had previously been in a relationship with divorcé Captain Peter Townsend, who was 16 years her senior.
Princess Catherine
© Getty ImagesDespite being the same age as the Queen's sister, the Princess of Wales was considered an older bride when she tied the knot with Prince William at Westminster Abbey in 2011. After meeting at the University of St Andrews, the couple dated on and off for almost ten years before getting married when Catherine was 29 and William was 28.
Duchess Sophie
© Tim Graham Photo Library via GetPrince Edward was the youngest of the Queen's children, and also the eldest groom among his siblings. The 35-year-old married Sophie Rhys-Jones, then 34, at St George’s Chapel in 1999.
Meghan Markle
© Getty ImagesThe Duchess of Sussex, who was previously married to Trevor Engelson, was 36 at the time of her royal wedding with 33-year-old Prince Harry in 2018. Harry recently admitted he thought he would be a young groom, but didn't find love with Meghan until 2016.
Peter Phillips
© Getty ImagesPrincess Anne's son, Peter Phillips, was 48 years old when he married Harriet Sperling, 45, on 6 June 2026. He was previously married to Autumn Kelly for 12 years. Meanwhile, Harriet was previously married to fitness instructor Antonio St John Sperling before their divorce.
Queen Camilla
© WireImageBoth King Charles and Queen Camilla had been married, welcomed families and divorced before they exchanged vows in 2005, so it's not surprising that Camilla was the oldest royal bride to walk down the aisle. For their civil ceremony, which took place at Windsor Guildhall, Charles was 56 and Camilla was 57.
