Princess Catherine, widely regarded as one of the most uncontroversial figures within the Royal Family, reportedly caused a stir at Buckingham Palace ahead of her 2011 wedding to Prince William. According to a new book, the then-future princess made a surprising request that broke with longstanding royal tradition, leading to concerns from both palace officials and the Metropolitan Police.
A Break from Tradition
While previous royal brides had traditionally arrived at Westminster Abbey in a horse-drawn carriage, Catherine allegedly expressed a desire to travel by car instead. Her chosen vehicle was a 1977 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI, which had been gifted by the manufacturer to Queen Elizabeth II on her Silver Jubilee. This decision, according to royal expert Russell Myers in his book William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, caught courtiers off guard.
Myers writes: "Courtiers were also surprised when Catherine announced her wish not to travel in the traditional horse-drawn Glass Coach, as used by Diana, Princess of Wales, as well as Queen Elizabeth." He adds that Catherine wanted a modern touch for the ceremony, reasoning that she was not yet a "princess" and thus should not use such a traditional mode of transport.
Security Concerns Arise
The choice of car sparked additional worry because the same vehicle had been targeted by protesters just months earlier. In December 2010, while King Charles (then Prince of Wales) and Queen Camilla were traveling to the Royal Variety Performance, vandals splattered the car with white paint and smashed a rear window. Myers notes: "This prompted panic at the palace, who feared that an alternative vehicle might be necessary." The Metropolitan Police conducted an immediate review and issued extra briefings to officers to remain vigilant for similar protests.
Despite the concerns, Catherine arrived at Westminster Abbey without incident, accompanied by her father, Michael Middleton. She emerged from the Rolls-Royce looking radiant and entered the abbey to marry Prince William, with whom she recently celebrated 15 years of marriage.
