Prince William and Kate recently marked their 12-year wedding anniversary, recalling the extravagant ceremony at Westminster Abbey that captivated millions of viewers worldwide. The couple shared two kisses on Buckingham Palace's balcony, eliciting cheers from the crowd. The special occasion also prompted an extra Bank Holiday for Brits, leading to numerous street parties in celebration.
The late Queen, too, was evidently delighted with the event. After the ceremony, she turned to Prince Philip and remarked, "It was excellent," according to a professional lipreader who spoke to CBS News.
Royal biographer Andrew Morton previously described how Queen Elizabeth II was "positively playful" on the day of her grandson's wedding. He wrote that she appeared "absolutely thrilled" with the public's reaction to the newlyweds and felt reassured about the Royal Family's future.
In the years since their wedding, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have taken on increasing royal responsibilities. During a recent two-day trip to Wales, they met with local mountain rescue volunteers and participated in abseiling and a mock rescue operation.
They also visited the Little Dragon Pizza Van, where Kate revealed new details about her engagement ring, stating, "It's the same ring and it was exactly the same size when I tried it on."
William and Kate paid their respects in Aberfan to the 116 children and 28 adults who tragically died in 1966. They were shown around the garden by a survivor of the disaster and met trustees from the Aberfan Memorial Trust and members of the Aberfan Wives group, who lost family members in the tragedy. The couple left a floral tribute at the memorial garden, which simply read, "In loving memory."
The late Queen opened the memorial garden in 1974, which stands on the site of the former school and commemorates the victims of the disaster. She visited Aberfan eight days after the tragedy occurred, and her decision not to visit sooner was reportedly one of the greatest regrets of her reign.
