2011 Royal Wedding (Kate and William) and Some Interesting/Juicy Facts (video)

Prince William, the eldest son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, was born on 21 June 1982 at St Mary's Hospital, London. He was christened on the Queen Mother's 82nd birthday in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace. The prince went to Wetherby School in London and then Ludgrove School in Berkshire before entering Eton in 1995. He finished school with A-levels in geography, biology and history of art as well as 12 GCSEs.As a schoolboy, he witnessed the breakdown of his parents' marriage, followed by the tragic death of his mother in a car crash in Paris in 1997.He took a gap year between school and university in which he went to Mauritius, spent time in Africa, trekked with the British Army in Belize and worked as a Raleigh International volunteer in Chile.

Kate Middleton was born on 9 January 1982 at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading. She attended schools in Berkshire before going to Marlborough College in neighbouring Wiltshire where she attained 11 GCSEs and three A-Levels.Prince William and Kate Middleton both started out on the same history of art course at Scotland's University of St Andrews in 2001, although William later switched to geography. Kate was credited with persuading the prince to stay on as he struggled to adjust to university life during his first year.For several years, they shared accommodation with friends. The couple's relationship apparently flourished during weekends at the Queen's Balmoral estate.

In 2005 William graduated with a 2:1 degree, making him one of the most academically successful royals.After several months of work experience, he joined his younger brother Harry for officer training at Sandhurst. While there, he also carried out his first solo engagements, attending ceremonies in New Zealand on behalf of the Queen.Kate also graduated with a 2:1 degree and moved to London. She worked as accessory buyers for High Street fashion chain Jigsaw, in Kew. In 2007 the prince and Miss Middleton split up for some months. The break-up followed media pressure and paparazzi attention. But the couple were reunited, and Kate was present when the prince received his RAF wings in April 2008. In 2010, Prince William went on his first royal overseas tour. He has also taken on numerous patronages, including as president of the Football Association.On 16 November 2010, Clarence House announced that the pair were engaged. The prince had proposed on holiday in Kenya in October, giving his fiance his mother's engagement ring. The pair will be married on 29 April 2011.

Here are some interesting facts about this wedding:

1. Prince William carried his late mother’s wedding ring in his sack before asking Kate to marry him.

2. Clogan Gold mine representatives say they are in contact with the Palace about wedding rings.

3. Clogan-St. David’s mine has produced rings for Royal Weddings since King George VI in 1923.

4. The couple will be married by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.

5. The Royal family indicate they will pay for the majority of the wedding. Precedents, set by the wedding of Prince Charles in 1981 and Princess (now Queen Elizabeth) in 1947 are expected to be followed for the wedding of Prince William and Lady Kate.

6. The Royal Wedding will be held at Westminster Abbey, followed by a carriage ride to the Palace.

7. April 29th will be the 14th royal wedding to take place at Westminster Abbey

8. In keeping with royal tradition, Catherine’s flower bouquet will include a sprig of myrtle to symbolise a happy marriage.

9. 1,900 guests have been invited to attend the ceremony at Westminster Cathedral at 11:00am

10. Prince William Will Be Last to See Kate's Wedding Dress

11. Bride-to-be Kate Middleton and her family have been granted a traditional coat of arms.



Traditional coat of arms.



12. 600 guests have been invited to attend lunch at Buckingham Palace, and a lucky 300 guests have been invited for dinner and dancing

13. The bride will break with tradition and not ride in a carriage to the wedding but ride in a car.

14. When Prince William and Kate finally walk down the on 29 April 2011, Kate will be 29, making her the oldest royal bride EVER.

15. Unlike most other brides, Kate will not have to stress and fret over the details of her gigantic, royal wedding. Aside from picking her bridesmaids, which will most likely include her sister, Pippa Middleton, Kate’s only other responsibility will be “to look fabulous and be the perfect royal bride,” as all of the other arrangements will be made by the royal staff, claims an insider to US Magazine.

16. Kate wants to be called by her given name, Catherine, and not by her nickname.



Catherine



17. The future Princess Catherine  may have scored her late mother-in-law’s 18-carat sapphire and diamond engagement ring, but that doesn’t mean that her brother-in-law, Prince Harry, will have to go to Zales to pick something out for his future wife.

18. Although Kate has seemingly made it her life’s work to become a princess (Seriously, she waited 8 years?! That’s longer than most people’s first marriages!) Kate’s “career,” post-wedding will most likely take the form of that of other princesses and will reportedly revolve around Prince William’s schedule. According to Celebuzz, Kate has already been assigned 4 bodyguards from Scotland Yard to protect her around the clock, as she adjusts to life in her new public role.

19. Unlike Prince Charles and Diana’s relationship, where it was Diana who was the more popular of the two, many people are wagering that Prince William will be the star of his and Kate’s relationship. Already, Kate seems comfortable playing the straight role in Prince William’s on-going comedy routine. During their first press conference, the Prince claimed that when he and Kate first met in college, “She had 10 or 20 pictures of me up on her wall at university.” “No,” Kate replied, “it was a Levi’s ad…” “It was me in the Levi’s,” Prince William snapped back. Among all of the things that Kate says she is counting on William to teach her, we hope there will be a lesson included about witty zingers and how to effectively use self-deprecating humor to keep a press conference interesting!

20. When asked what they love about each other, William mentioned that Kate had “plenty of habits” that he loved to tease her about. We’re happy to know that the soon-to-be British princess has just a touch of neurotic tendencies. She also reportedly can drink William under the table, which makes her a girl after our own heart.

21. Although there were reports in the past that Prince Harry thought his brother was making a mistake, “dogging back to Kate,” after their breakups, it seems that, in the end, Miss Middleton won both him and the rest of the royal family over with her good manners and quiet charm.

22. Although she’s already considered to be a style icon, there’s no doubt that more attention will be paid to each outfit that Kate wears now that she’s an HRH-in-waiting. For example, the royal blue dress that she wore during the engagement press conference was made by the London-based brand Issa, who many are speculating might also be called upon to design Kate’s wedding gown. Kate Middleton Is Not Pregnant, Yet

23. While Balmoral Castle is the traditional site for a royal honeymoon, the organizers of the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand have already extended an invite to Prince William and Kate to come spend their honeymoon with them in September 2011.

24. After the messy divorces of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, and Prince Andrew and Fergie, it’s being speculated that Prince William and Kate might be the first royal couple to sign a pre-nup.

25. Kate may not have grown-up being treated like a princess, but according to royal expert Katie Nicholl, that’s a good thing!“She is middle-class, she’s not an aristocrat. She’s a real breath of fresh air for the House of Windsor…So, absolutely, she’s going to change it, but I think … for the better. She and William … (are) the future of this monarchy, of this House of Windsor. They’re going to take it forward into the 21st century, and I think they’ll do a great job.”

26. YouTube announced today that the big day will be streamed LIVE on the Royal Househould's channel, starting at 9am, and will include the wedding procession, ceremony, and the couple's subsequent kiss on the balcony.