Royal weddings are a thing of fairy tales, with intricate floral arrangements, gallant horses, and dresses with price tags that will make you gasp. Today, these weddings have become more accessible as the public can view them from home, making them a spectacle that many look forward to. But while we may see them as a dream (and the ultimate form of entertainment), the royal family sees picking the right person to marry not as a romantic endeavor, but as about producing heirs and solidifying alliances. These events can be quite tense, and photographs with undeniable body language from the monarchy’s most controversial royal dramas prove that.
1. Queen Elizabeth takes precedence in wedding photos with Prince Philip
The power imbalance was evident when Princess Elizabeth walked down the aisle alongside her Duke of Edinburgh beau Philip. While Elizabeth was preparing to become the monarch, Philip was seen as an inadequate match due to his lack of financial standing. Therefore, in these images, Elizabeth stands in the spotlight while Philip stands behind her, signifying that this was her moment, during which he was mostly ignored.
2. Princess Diana unhappily sits beside Prince Charles at the altar
Now we know that Princess Diana was aware of her philandering husband’s actions, but the incompatibility goes all the way back to their 1981 wedding. Everyone’s body language was tense; Charles was rubbing his head and looking frustrated, while Diana sat slouched with her hands in her lap, looking anxious. This makes sense, especially since Camilla decided to attend!
3. Prince Edward calmed down Duchess Sophie at their wedding
While King Charles III and Princess Diana failed to achieve their dream wedding, Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, experienced a more joyous occasion. They finally tied the knot after dating for six years, but Sophie was understandably nervous on her big day. To calm her down, Edward gave her a wink and some cheeky grins, letting her know he had her back as they approached the crowd. He reassured her playfully, and it relaxed her jittery nerves.
4. Queen Camilla’s radiant smile on her wedding day
Camilla and Charles’ wedding day was filled with loving gazes from Camilla. Their love story was a complicated one that spanned many years (even throughout a marriage with Princess Diana), and her happiness on their big day was explained by body language expert Darren Stanton. Stanton said that Camilla is highly confident and was “very in charge of her emotions and a very authentic person who isn’t afraid to display her feelings in public.”
5. The disconnect between Princess Catherine and Prince William was notable
While this couple is well-matched, the body language on their wedding day told another story. William’s energy came off as extremely nervous and apprehensive as he was seen wringing his hands, while Kate seemed more confident than ever with a calm demeanor. Despite their mismatched vibes due to William’s heightened emotions, Kate’s confidence was contagious and, in turn, calmed William down.
6. Prince William and Princess Catherine appear uncomfortable at the Sussex wedding
These two might not have been on the same page on their wedding day, but they were certainly in sync on the day of Meghan and Harry’s wedding. A body language expert commented that the couple appeared to look tired and be in low spirits, with despondent glances towards the ground. This is due to public knowledge that the days leading up to the wedding were tense, and involved an argument about Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress.
7. Queen Elizabeth’s grumpy expression at the Sussex wedding
Kate and William weren’t the only ones who wore their emotions on their faces during Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’s wedding. Her disapproving looks turned confrontational as she glared at Meghan. While she was never vocal about her feelings about the match, one source said that her close friend Lady Elizabeth Anson revealed that the queen believes the wedding dress was “too white.” This referenced that Meghan was a divorcée and should have had more low-key nuptials and a more demure dress. The queen also reportedly believed the wedding was too tacky and “Disneyesque.”
8. Prince Philip also disapproved of the Sussex union
It seems like many of the royals weren’t on board with Meghan and Harry getting married. Despite dealing with his own disapproval at his wedding, Philip had a tilted head and a furrowed brow that indicated he didn’t approve of the couple getting married. Ingrid Seward’s book “My Mother and I” revealed that while the queen enjoyed spending time with Meghan, Philip wasn’t charmed by her and said she reminded her of an untrustworthy divorcée, the Duchess of Windsor, who ended up weakening the royal family.
9. Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, didn’t support Harry and Meghan
When Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, fell in love with Prince Edward in the 90s, scandal engulfed her life. Paparazzi harassed her, the tabloids mocked her, and even forced her to step down from her job as a PR guru. Rumor has it that the royal family asked Sophie to help integrate Meghan into their lifestyle. Meghan was outspoken about the fact that she didn’t want Sophie’s help, which explains the normally smiling duchess appearing hunched over and gloomy in her pew.
10. Meghan and Harry were as happy as could be at the wedding, sending a message to the haters
Despite many royals having strong negative reactions to the Sussex wedding, Meghan and Harry remained unbothered on their big day. The two had a confident, comfortable demeanor throughout their ceremony. A body language expert said that Meghan appeared tranquil and composed, while Harry visibly relaxed the moment he saw his beloved walking down the aisle, his face lighting up with affection and love. Their body language showed they were truly meant to be, regardless of all the other opinions.
