A person’s wedding day is one of the most memorable days of their life. It all comes together after months or years of planning to provide your guests with a memorable celebration. However, if you’re a royal, you can afford an extravagant wedding. Check out these 30+ lavish royal weddings!
Prince Johan Friso – Orange-Nassau
In 2004, Mabel Wisse Smit married Dutch royal Prince Johan Friso of Orange-Nassau in a grand manner. The bride looked stunning in a silk gown by Dutch design house Viktor & Rolf. The day had not been easy, despite Mabel’s exquisite and ageless personal style. Because the marriage was illegal in the Netherlands, her husband gave up his position as second in line to the Dutch crown to marry her! Her intimate ties to the criminal underworld are the root of the problem.
Prince Johan Friso Orange Nassau
Princess Madeleine – Sweden
Princess Madeline of Sweden, the second daughter and youngest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, married a guy of no aristocratic background! She was utterly smitten by banker Christopher O’Neill, who was born in the UK but now resides in the US. Many foreign royals attended the wedding, including Princess Takamado of Japan. What was the most memorable feature of the ceremony, on the other hand? A wedding cake made of nearly 700 macarons shaped into a towering pyramid!
Princess Madeleine Sweden
Princess Victoria – Sweden
Princess Victoria of Sweden married gym owner Daniel Westerling in June 2010 for an estimated $2 million! The Princess is the eldest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. The couple married in the Stockholm Cathedral in a spectacular ceremony described by some as “the grandest royal wedding since the Prince of Wales wedded Lady Diana Spencer” The Love Stockholm 2010 days are the days between June 6th, Sweden’s national day, and June 19th, the wedding date. Residents and visitors were treated to a variety of activities throughout the city.
Princess Victoria Sweden
Crown Prince Frederik – Denmark
Despite being renowned as Prince Charming, Danish Crown Prince Frederick met his love, Mary Donaldson, in a tavern! Over a few beers during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, the prince struck up a connection with a local lady. Handwritten letters (aww!) and long-distance phone calls kept the two connected. Their love journey concluded with a spectacular wedding in Denmark’s Copenhagen Cathedral.
Crown Prince Frederik Denmark
Crown Prince Haakon – Norway
Crown Prince Haakon of Norway’s decision to marry Mette-Marit Tjessem Hiby was not favorably received by all sections of the Norwegian population. Mette-Marit was not only a commoner but a single mother with a young son fathered by a convicted drug dealer. Despite the scandal, Prince Haakon married her despite the criticism, and the couple is still together.
Crown Prince Haakon Norway
Pierre Casiraghi – Monaco
The wedding of Pierre Casiraghi, the son of royalty (Prince Albert II of Monaco) and the grandson of Hollywood royalty (Grace Kelly was his grandmother!) was breathtaking. His beau, Italian heiress Beatrice Borromeo, wore four magnificent bridal gowns during the festivities. Lana Del Rey, an American singer, and Francesco Carrozzini, an Italian photographer, attended the wedding. The pair met in 2008 while both were students at Bocconi University in Milan.
Pierre Casiraghi Monaco
Prince Joachim – Denmark
When Prince Joachim of Denmark married Marie Cavallier of France, she was first apprehensive: “I had a wonderful existence; I didn’t need to be saved by some Danish Prince. There was no doubt in my mind that I loved him, but I had my own life to live. I was content and proud of myself. I simply wasn’t prepared to marry and take on the responsibilities that would come with becoming a member of the royal family.”
Prince Joachim Denmark
Prince Christian – Hanover
Prince Christian of Hanover and his bride Alessandra de Osma’s wedding was anything but traditional! The pair traveled to Alessandra’s native Peru for a religious wedding after marrying in Prince Christian’s registry office in England. They took a bunch of famous royals with them, including Greece’s Crown Prince Pavlos and his daughter Olympia, British Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, plus supermodel Kate Moss for good measure!
Prince Christian Hanover
Crown Prince Willem Alexander – Holland
Crown Prince Willem Alexander of Holland was not intended to be king; his brother, Johan Friso, was, but he abdicated in order to marry a woman who had not been accepted by the Dutch parliament. As a result, the future Queen of the Netherlands was born when Prince Willem married Maxima Zorreguieta Cerruti. Regardless of the pre-wedding stress, the wedding went ahead without a hitch. The bride wore a Valentino gown.
Crown Prince Willem Alexander Holland
Prince Edward
When Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth II’s youngest son, married Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999, it caused quite a stir. The bride wore a silk organza gown by Samantha Shaw that was studded with 325,000 pearls, illustrating that the British know how to organize a royal wedding. The power couple is still together, and they have two children: James, Viscount Severn, born in 2007, and Lady Louise Windsor, born in 2003.
Prince Edward
Prince Ernst August Jr. – Monaco
When Prince Ernst August Jr., the Prince of Monaco’s son, married Yekaterina Malysheva, it wasn’t quite a family affair. His father, Prince Ernst August, notably snubbed the party since his son had inherited family property between 2004 and 2006, and the older Prince wanted a share of the action. Despite the uproar, Yekaterina and Prince Ernst married at Hanover’s Market Church in front of 600 guests and thousands of onlookers.
Prince Ernst August Jr. Monaco
Prince Felix – Luxembourg
The wedding of Prince Felix of Luxembourg and Claire Lademacher will go down in history. The wedding took place on September 17, 2013 at Villa Rothschild Kempinski in Konigstein, Germany, in front of 350 guests. Claire was born into a wealthy family despite having no royal ancestors. As the daughter of German telecommunications billionaire Hartmut Lademacher, she was educated at prominent schools and readily integrated into her husband’s high society group. The happy couple is now the proud parents of three kids!
Prince Felix Luxembourg
Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah – Brunei
When Brunei’s prince married, he did so in great style. There were 100 limousines ready to transport the wedding guests in comfort. In a golden Rolls Royce limousine, the royal couple arrived in style. The wedding honored guests included Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, and Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan. There was also a marching band that paraded through the streets of Bandar Seri Begawan, as well as a fantastic buffet feast.
Prince Al Muhtadee Billah Brunei
Prince Nikolaos – Greece & Denmark
Tatiana Blatnik chose to take some risks for her 2010 wedding to Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark. First and foremost, she entrusted Angel Sanchez, a relatively unknown Venezuelan designer, with the vital responsibility of designing and manufacturing her royal wedding gown! The model was born and raised in Venezuela (to Slovenian parents), and she wanted to pay tribute to her roots. Of course, Angel’s career took off after the wedding!
Prince Nikolaos Greece & Denmark
Lady Charlotte Wellesley – Wellington
Lady Charlotte Wellesley of Wellington never married into the royal family. She married Spanish billionaire Alejandro Santo Domingo in a small village in the Andalusian countryside, with singer James Blunt serenading the happy couple.
Lady Charlotte Wellesley Wellington
Prince Rashid – Jordan
The wedding of Jordan’s Prince Rashid to tennis player Zeina Shaban was a star-studded affair. The wedding took place at Amman’s luxurious Basman Palace. Queen Sofia of Spain, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Bahraini King Hama Ben Issa Al Khalifa, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, and other Shaban family members were among the European and local royals in attendance. The guest list included somewhat more than 2,000 people.
Prince Rashid Jordan
Prince Carl Philip – Sweden
Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland, married Swedish commoner Sofia Hellqvist in Stockholm Palace’s Royal Chapel. The Queen of Norway and The Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Norway, as well as The Princess Takamado of Japan and The Earl and Countess of Wessex of the United Kingdom, were all present. A colorful wedding cake topped with fizzing pop rocks wowed guests.
Prince Carl Philip Sweden
Prince Pavlos – Greece
Prince Pavlos of Greece married a non-royal commoner, but she was no average lady: he married ultra-rich heiress Marie-Chantal Miller, whose father’s net worth was estimated to be more than $2 billion. She married Prince Pavlos in London, wearing a $225,000 couture Valentino wedding gown studded with pearls! The reception, in our opinion, is the most sumptuous part of the wedding. How about 100,000 flowers flown in by private plane from Ecuador for the occasion?
Prince Pavlos Greece
Prince Rainier – Monaco
When Monaco’s Prince Rainier married Grace Kelly, the world came to a halt. The ceremony was held at Monaco’s St. Nicholas Cathedral, which was crowded with 600 people, including Hollywood elite like Cary Grant, Ava Gardner, and Gloria Swanson, as well as the day’s rich barons (Conrad Hilton and Aristotle Onassis were there). Guests were treated to a spectacular feast that included champagne, caviar, lobster, and a massive wedding cake weighing over 200 pounds!
Prince Rainier Monaco
King Mohammed VI – Morocco
When Morocco’s King Mohammed VI married his lifelong love, Salma Bennani, he broke down some fundamental barriers. To begin with, past Moroccan monarchs and princes had married other royals, and Salma was not a member of the royal line. King Mohammed also formally recognized her and made public their wedding photos as well as her full name, which had never happened before because royal wives’ names were typically kept hidden. The wedding was a week-long affair on a grand magnitude.
King Mohammed VI Morocco
Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah
When the Sultan of Brunei’s daughter marries, you can bet the entire country will be abuzz. A week of festivities has been designated as a public holiday. The wedding had a guest list of little more than 3,000 people, and the cost was anticipated to be $1,000 per person! To begin with, traditional flowers were too common for the royal family, so the room was decorated with crystal and pricey gem-encrusted flora.
Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck – Bhutan
When the Dragon King of Bhutan (his formal title) marries, it is a national event rather than a private occasion. A three-day holiday was declared in honor of the wedding, with banks, schools, and businesses closed. The royal couple offered the public a spectacular buffet supper filled with traditional foods and song and dance performances. Schoolchildren and local residents flocked to congratulate the newlyweds as they passed through Thimpu’s streets.
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck Bhutan
Crown Prince Felipe – Spain
When Felipe, the Crown Prince of Spain, married former newscaster Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, it was a major event. The wedding took place in May 2004 in Madrid’s Almudena Cathedral, with an estimated 1,500 guests in attendance. It was fantastic to see over a million flowers in and around the Cathedral! However, given the wedding occurred just a few months after the Madrid train bombings, a significant chunk of the wedding budget was spent on security.
Crown Prince Felipe Spain
Prince Charles
Prince Charles’ second marriage was a significant worldwide event. The list of foreign royals in attendance read like a who’s who of international high society. Saudi Arabia’s Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud and Princess Nouf were in attendance, as were Bahrain’s King Hamid Al-Khalifa, Yugoslavia’s Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine, Norway’s Crown Prince and Crown Princess, and former Greek King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of the Hellenes.
Prince Charles
Prince Abdul Malik – Brunei
This isn’t the first time the Sultan of Brunei’s family has made the list. The wedding of the ruler’s youngest son was no different, since the family is known for arranging some of the most extravagant weddings in the world. The Sultan was alleged to have spent $30 million on his wedding! The bride and groom received $1 million in wedding bands, as well as a lavish feast.
Prince Abdul Malik Brunei
Prince William – Wales
When Prince William married Kate Middleton, a former classmate, and long-term lover, the ceremony was immediately likened to Prince Charles and Lady Diana’s wedding. The wedding was held at Westminster Abbey and cost $800,000 in flowers and an $80,000 eight-tier wedding cake. Because this was the biggest royal wedding in decades, a huge amount of the wedding budget was set aside for security.
Prince William Wales
Prince Henry – Wales
Prince Henry of Wale, better known as Prince Harry, violated all English royal standards when he proposed to his fiancée Meghan Markle, a Hollywood celebrity and divorcee. The royal family has supported Harry’s decision, and the wedding is set for Saturday, May 19th. Harry and Meghan will marry at St George’s Chapel and live in Kensington Palace as newlyweds. According to Business Insider, the wedding alone will cost $2.8 million, with an additional $34 million for security costs.
Prince Henry Wales
Prince Albert II – Monaco
You need a fantasy wedding fit for a princess, especially if you’re a prince, when your mother was one of the most stunning movie stars of all time (more on that later). When Prince Albert II of Monaco married South African-born Charlene Wittstock, he continued the family tradition with a lavish wedding. The couple had two wedding ceremonies, one civil and one religious, which cost a lot of money.
Prince Albert II Monaco
Prince Charles – Wales
We’re traveling back in time to one of the most well-known fairytale weddings of all time. One of the most viewed television events in history was the wedding of Prince Harry and Prince William’s parents. In front of two million bystanders on the streets and about 750 million people at home, Queen Elizabeth II’s son Charles married Lady Diana Spencer. Lady Diana’s wedding gown featured a 25-foot train, and the wedding cake was five feet tall!
Prince Charles Wales
Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Al Maktoum – Dubai
You might be wondering what the most expensive wedding ever hosted was, and we have the answer right here. In 1979, Sheikh Mohammed Rashid al Maktoum of Dubai married Princess Salama for an estimated $137 million (not adjusted for inflation)! With 20,000 guests and 34 private jets transporting people from all over the world, the event set the Guinness World Record for the most expensive wedding of all time.
Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Al Maktoum Dubai
Prince Guillame – Luxembourg
Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg’s wedding was undoubtedly a public event for the tiny country. Duchess Stéphanie de Lannoy, his Belgian wife, was a descendant of one of Europe’s oldest aristocratic families. After many years of friendship, the couple married, and the ceremony created controversy because it was paid for with Luxembourg’s public monies. The public was treated to fireworks, free concerts, and street fairs in exchange.
Prince Guillame Luxembourg