Royal Wedding: LIFE's Portrayal Of Will And Kate (PHOTOS)

We at LIFE were on the scene when Princess Elizabeth wed Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey in 1947. We were there for Elizabeth's coronation as queen of England six years later. We were there, of course, for the Wedding of the Century between Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. And with LIFE Books' The Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton we are already there with Charles and Di's son--Elizabeth's grandson--as he prepares to wed the lovely Kate Middleton in a true fairytale story: the man who will be king and the so-called "commoner" who has captured his heart. This is a modern-day Cinderella story, and it has captivated us. In the photographs that follow, you will see and get to know a vibrant, bright young couple who have made their own way, sometimes in defiance of royal tradition. We're all rooting for Will and Kate, and that is as it should be.

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His mother, who would have turned 50 this year, was the most famous woman in the world, but liked nothing better than being alone with her children. In 1982, Diana's expression as she hoists the infant Wills is a very accurate reflection of the love she had for both her boys.

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His mother, who would have turned 50 this year, was the most famous woman in the world, but liked nothing better than being alone with her children. In 1982, Diana's expression as she hoists the infant Wills is a very accurate reflection of the love she had for both her boys.

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Comments

[Malik Skyy]

12:32 PM on 04/23/2011

Not to sound like a hater—because I’m not, not really—but I am not caught up in all this Royal Wedding stuff. The extent of my knowledge of the Royal family goes back to my DISMAY that prince Charles would cheat on Lady Di for THAT—the other woman he later married. I always viewed your Highness of hotness, Lady Diana, as being, well, hot, but when I saw her work with Aids, I realized there is mush substance behind her beauty. But, I digress. When everything Royal Wedding is situating every channel, I feel a little more—what’s that word—depressed. Although it seems like only yesterday I theorized that Lady Diana was perhaps one of the hottest Princes England has ever had, but the fact her children are now grown men makes me realize that “yesterday” was a long time ago. Where does the time go? A reminder, I am getting older….

[Oxfordblues]

12:31 AM on 04/05/2011

Thanks Robert Sullivan for a dear article and great photos.

[Bruisersmom]

04:00 PM on 04/04/2011

Please stop saying the Kate Middleton is a fashion icon. She hasn't earned that status yet. In fact, she's nothing more than a pulled together young woman, which is admirable in this day and age of there's no such thing as too much skin, but it doesn't make her a trendsetter. The boots with jeans or a skirt thing and the trench coats have been fashion staples for a long time in women's closets, and her hats are just plain weird. I don't see anyone in souther California running out and buying them.

[repugnicansfearme]

03:05 PM on 04/04/2011

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.............................................................................................................................................................................................

[DarkKarma]

02:38 PM on 04/04/2011

Another article on The Royal Welfare Family ?

[Okieborn]

01:59 PM on 04/04/2011

Hmm , The royals seem to really enjoy living it up , while the poor working who support them have to do without.

[repugnicansfearme]

03:07 PM on 04/04/2011

That's poppycock! They bloody well enjoy to ski in the Alps and play polo and hike in Patagonia while unemployment rages. It's god for morale. Well, it's positively preposterous to thing they shouldn't live off the teet of the nation, so to speak.

[ABXNOMORE]

12:34 PM on 04/04/2011

Lovely pictures especially the first one of Diana holding up baby William most probably before she really realized she had stepped into a hornet's nest, not a marriage, that would ultimately gobble her up with heart ache and despair.

[Bruisersmom]

04:01 PM on 04/04/2011

I love that picture and the one with the little girl who bumped her head.

[ABXNOMORE]

05:37 PM on 04/04/2011

Yes they are both precious.

[wolfiegirl]

10:31 PM on 04/04/2011

From what I've read, she knew about the hornet's nest before she even married. It was her family who pushed her to go ahead - they wanted a Spencer on the throne, ultimately. Nice family.

[ABXNOMORE]

11:07 PM on 04/04/2011

It certainly didn't seem as thou her family had her interests at heart especially given that she was so young.

[Saxton]

12:32 PM on 04/04/2011

Have to wonder what Diana would have become had she not died so young. I can't imagine at age 20 marrying, with having been so sheltered, so young into a family that's a corporation not to mention to a man who really didn't love her and never intended on being a faithful husband.

[Bruisersmom]

04:02 PM on 04/04/2011

Neither can I. My first boyfriend wanted to marry me at nineteen, and I ran screaming from him because I wasn't ready yet for the responsibility. I can't imagine adding on the job of Princess of Wales at Diana's age.

[nwfurn]

12:03 PM on 04/04/2011

Nice photos. It's something seeing those photos of Diana with her sons. She was such a photogenic beauty.

Lady Wolf, have a blast. Will you be tipping a glass of champagne too?

[wolfiegirl]

10:33 PM on 04/04/2011

At 6 am..... no. Unless there's a Jolie thread with Aniston comments ;))))

[pending]

11:44 AM on 04/04/2011

Life : Provided by hereditary privilege.

[Rosanneofpgh]

11:30 AM on 04/04/2011

If for nothing else, one must give Princess Diana props for being such a great mother and raising such
admirable human beings.

[wolfiegirl]

10:12 AM on 04/04/2011

I shall don my pearls at 4 am, and place my hat on my head (either my floppy beach hat or my baseball cap at the moment), and sit reverently and soberly as I watch the royal wedding. I will dab my eyes with my lace handkerchief from time to time. But I will gasp when Kate first steps out of the car.

[Bruisersmom]

04:02 PM on 04/04/2011

I will get up and go to work. Then, I have a facial and massage scheduled with my anesthetician.

[Oxfordblues]

09:23 PM on 04/04/2011

Can't decide whether to stay up or get up or, as a third option, get a bit of sleep on the couch with the TV on. If I've got this correctly, the wedding starts at 1 AM on the west coast. Will don my diamond and sapphire earring, they go so well with flannel pjs don't you think? Perhaps for the occasion I might wear my fancy lace peignoir.

Remember the moment she stepped from her golden and glass coach with that incredibly long train and the dress that so overwhelmed her? She looked so young and innocent as she was.

[wolfiegirl]

10:30 PM on 04/04/2011

I agree with Tweed that we should insist on live streaming of the event here on HP. They did it for the superbowl after all!! If not, we will have to figure out a way to watch it all together.

Diamond and sapphire sound wonderful. I am still trying to figure out how to get my husband to get the boys ready for school that morning - as 6:30 to 7:30 am is my "busy" time, and that's at such a pivotal moment here on the East Coast!

[winias]

09:26 AM on 04/04/2011

I want to see Life back up for subscription. They have been releasing a lot lately you would think they could justify it.