How to marry a prince

The turbulent but often triumphant record of Britain’s royal weddings is full of lessons for Kate and William

The popularity of the monarchy has been slowly improving since the Queen’s ‘annus horribilis’ speech in 1992. But the vital spark needed to win over the country was missing. Not even the Queen Mother’s 100th birthday could fully repair the damage caused by years of controversy and embarrassing revelations. It is only now, with the engagement of Prince William to Kate Middleton, that the monarchy has a real opportunity to remake itself for the 21st century.

But first, the handlers and planners for the royal event need to learn from history. Good intentions are not enough. Positively the worst royal wedding in 300 years was that of the Prince of Wales (later George IV) to Princess Caroline of Brunswick on 8 April 1795. His parents had pushed him into the marriage in the hope that becoming a husband and father would endear him, and the monarchy, to the people. The early 1790s were a bad time to be royal, as the execution of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette attested. All of aristocratic Europe was terrified that the French revolutionary spirit would lead to guillotines in every capital.

Yet despite careful planning, the 32-year-old prince still managed to turn the entire day into a disaster. He arrived late to the church and completely drunk. After stumbling up the altar steps, he refused to repeat the vows until his father stepped forward and ordered him to go through with the ceremony. There was a tense stand-off until the prince complied, but instead of speaking the words to his fiancée Princess Caroline, he said them to his mistress, Lady Jersey, who was in one of the front pews.