Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew's wedding was the most iconic royal wedding
When people talk about a lavish royal wedding that took place back in the '80s, it's not Prince Charles and Diana's wedding they're referring to. It's that of Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew.
Duke of York Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York tied the knot in the most spectacular celebration ever and, now that their daughter Princess Eugenie is about to walk down the aisle, let us refresh your memory of her parents' spectacular wedding.
How they met
Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson knew each other since they were kids. Ferguson's father worked for Andrew's father Prince Philip as his polo manager. The couple began their romantic relationship after the Royal Ascot in 1985, and Prince Andrew proposed to his lady love on February 19, 1986, his 26th birthday.
The engagement ring
Ferguson's engagement ring was absolutely priceless since it was a Burma ruby surrounded by 10 drop diamonds which Andrew had specifically chosen so that it could compliment his to-be-wife's red hair. After getting the royal seal of approval from the Queen a month later, the two decided to finally announce their engagement and celebrate their union.
The wedding
The couple got married at Westminster Abbey on July 23, 1986, the same venue that Prince William and Kate Middleton later chose for their own nuptials. And, as per the royal family's traditions, the Queen gifted the newlywed couple new titles to mark the occasion, making them the Duke and Duchess of York.
The wedding guests
Andrew and Fergie's wedding reception saw a lot of important guests and attendees, which not only included Prince Charles and Princess Diana, who Fergie later became quite close to since they shared a lot of their marital struggles with each other, but also the United States' First Lady Nancy Reagan who was joined by Britain's Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and 17 members of foreign royal families.
The wedding gown
Even though Fergie's wedding gown wasn't as volumptious as Princess Diana's, her overall look still embodied every bit of '80s excess because of the ivory-silk creation, which also featured a 17-foot train and a 20-foot long veil. However, the icing on the cake was the embellishment on the train, which showcased the intertwined initials A and S sewn in silver beads.
The designer
It wasn't so easy to slip into the ethereal gown, as per Fergie. In an interview years after her wedding, Fergie revealed that she had to lose 26 pounds in order to even fit into her wedding gown which was designed by British courtier Lindka Cierach. "Lindka was a genius," she said, adding, "I knew she could make the most flattering gown ever, and she had."
The flower crown
Before the flower crown became a senseless music festival accessory and a mere Snapchat filter, Fergie showed everyone how elegant and beautiful flower crowns can be. In order to keep her veil in place, Fergie chose an elaborate headdress filled with fragrant gardenias, since they were Prince Andrew's favorite flowers. And it was only after she signed her marriage agreement that she removed the coronet to reveal her elegant tiara, unveiling her royal status to the world at large.
The tiara
After officiating her marriage, the Duchess of York finally gave a glimpse of the tiara that had been gifted to her by the Queen. The brand new piece of jewelry featured delicate scrolls and a large, central diamond set on top. Since the former royal has continued to wear her tiara even after her divorce, it might be safe to assume that she would be lending her wedding jewelry to her daughter Eugenie when she gets married in a few months.
The wedding party
Fergie had eight bridesmaids and page boys at her wedding, one of which was Prince Charle's eldest son, Prince William, along with Zara and Peter Phillips. Even Laura Fellowes, who was Princess Diana's niece and is now one of Princess Charlotte's godparents, took part in the ceremonies. And while the page boys were dressed in sailor dresses to honor Prine Andrew's navy career, the bridesmaids wore flouncy peach satin dresses with matching flower hairdos of their own.
The bride's bouquet
Unlike something ever seen before, Fergie kept her wedding bouquet a notch above everyone else's by getting her flowers in the shape of an 'S'. The bouquet was made up of lily of the valley and a sprig of myrtle, a tradition that was initially started by Queen Victoria, and is still followed to even this day, as recently shown by Meghan Markle.
The honeymoon
The royal couple went for their honeymoon on an open carriage that took them to Heathrow airport. From there, the couple jetted off to the Azores Islands and spent five days aboard the royal yacht Britannia. According to Fergie, "our cruise was most memorable for the mishaps," since it involved an incident about a swarm of jellyfish while water skiing.
The separation
In spite of the immense joy that surrounded their wedding, the former couple separated officially in 1992, and eventually got a divorce four years later. However, the two are still very good friends and wonderful to their two daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. Princess Eugenie once remarked, "They are the best divorced couple I know."