Prince William's clash with the Queen over wedding outfit revealed
The Queen denied Prince William's request to wear his preferred outfit on the big day
![Prince William's clash with the Queen over wedding outfit revealed](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/W2MnqB6heb9QiMWCQ9TYXD-415-80.jpg)
Prince William was given a sharp reality check after trying—and failing—to negotiate with the Queen before his wedding day.
- Prince William's wedding attire caused conflict with the Queen, who disagreed with his initial wardrobe choice.
- The Duke of Cambridge was forced to wear a red military uniform as Colonel of the Irish Guards, after being appointed the honorable role two months before the big day.
- In other royal news, Kate Middleton's sweet gesture to the Queen as pair become closer following health scare.
Prince William may be second in line to the British throne, but that doesn't mean he always gets his own way.
The Duke of Cambridge was reminded of the Queen's overarching authority in the run-up to his nuptials to Kate Middleton, after a failed attempt to choose his own wardrobe for the big day. The optics of the wedding, which took place at Westminster Abbey on 29 April 2011, was of high importance to the powers that be at Buckingham Palace—with everything from music to food planned carefully in advance.
It shouldn't come as a surprise then that the couple's fashion on the day was heavily influenced by exterior forces. The Duchess of Cambridge enjoyed relative freedom when it came to her wedding ensemble, working closely with designer Sarah Burton to create a dress that emanated both "tradition and modernity." (Fast forward ten years, and the iconic Alexander McQueen bridal gown continues to reign as the most famous of Kate Middleton's dresses.)
William, on the other hand, had far less control over his clothing for the big day. As Colonel of the Irish Guards, he was required to ditch the traditional wedding suit and wear a red military uniform instead. He later admitted he had hoped to tie the knot in a different outfit, even suggesting the idea to his grandmother.
"What I really wanted to wear was the Irish Guards frock coat," he told ABC in a 2012 interview. "We had a couple of discussions on this matter but, as I learned growing up, you don’t mess with your grandmother. What she says goes."
Prince William had wanted to wear the Irish Guards frock coat
The Queen's denial of this request is a testament to just how rigid the Royal Family can be when it comes to rules. William's preferred outfit of the darker Irish Guards frock coat, which he had worn already in the past, was quite similar to the scarlet tunic he donned on the day. However, Her Majesty was insistent he went with the red version, having appointed him Colonel of the Irish Guards two months before the wedding.
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Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.
Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.
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