Each royal wedding is, first of all, a set of certain rules and strict compliance with the protocol. And we are talking not only about the process of the ceremony, the dress of the bride and the seating of the guests, but also about much smaller, but no less important details.
One of these nuances is the mandatory use of a special material in the manufacture of wedding rings - Welsh gold. It is one of the most expensive precious metals in the world and is mined in Wales. The tradition of using this gold for royal wedding rings dates back to the early 1920s.
In 1923, the royal family was presented with a nugget of gold from the St. David mine in North Wales. After that, the court artisans melted some of the metal into a wedding ring for Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who married the future King George VI. And since the wedding of the Queen Mother, Welsh gold has become an integral part of all royal ceremonies in Great Britain.
Of course, Elizabeth II followed the tradition. The precious metal for her ring was also kindly provided by the people of Wales. “At least the Duke of Edinburgh didn’t have to spend money,” says royal expert Ingrid Seward ironically in her book.
The wedding rings of Princess Margaret, Princess Anne and Princess Diana were also made of Welsh gold. And in the 1980s, the Queen was awarded another 36 kg of the precious metal. This batch went to make rings for the Duchess of York and Sophie of Wessex.
On the day of his 60th birthday, the monarch received another nugget, already from the Gwynfinidd gold mine. This ingot was used for jewelry for the younger generations. “Katherine Middleton's engagement ring will be made of Welsh gold. It was presented to Prince William by the Queen shortly after the engagement of the couple”- read the official statement of St. James's Palace before the wedding of future Cambridge (read also: Strange approach: what the Queen was unhappy with at the wedding of William and Kate). The Sussex, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank continued the tradition.
Welsh gold is a significant, but not the only nuance of royal wedding ceremonies. So, the bride's dress must be sewn by a British designer. The outfit and tiara must be approved by the Queen, and the bouquet should contain a sprig of myrtle, which is added for good luck. Flowers, by the way, after the ceremony are supposed to be laid at the Tomb of the Nameless Soldier, and not thrown to the girlfriends, as is the case at ordinary weddings (see also: Five royal brides who refused the tiara at a wedding).
Photo: Getty Images
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