Sophie Winkleman’s Royal Palace Wedding

English actress Sophie Winkleman married her royal husband, Lord Freddie Windsor, in a beautiful ceremony at Hampton Court Palace on 12th September. The ceremony is reported to have been an emotional one with Sophie- best known for her role as Big Suze in comedy Peep Show- weeping as she said her vows.

She walked down the aisle of the 16th century Chapel Royal in a stunning dress designed by Russian designer Anna- Roza Bistroff. It reportedly cost £5000- not a particularly massive cost for a Lady and she even allegedly managed to blag a discount as Anna- Roza is a family friend. Not bad going! Made of a whopping 80ft on duchesse silk satin and 36ft of taffeta, the beautiful ivory dress had a full skirt with delicate floral embroidery and a sweetheart neckline to the bodice. The long lacy sleeves perhaps looked a little dated, but Sophie looked radiant nonetheless. This dress was the stuff little girls dream of with a huge 10ft detachable train! She accessorised with a long two-layered veil and a simple diamond tiara to match her beautiful pearl and diamond drop earrings. Her hair followed the latest natural trend- flowing loose in gentle waves and her make up followed suit with a radiant natural look.

Sophie arrived in a silver Rolls- Royce with a police escort. As she walked down the aisle to Laudate Dominum by Mozart with a teardrop bouquet of white and pink roses with jasmine garlands by Annabel Lewis of VV Rouleaux florists, she was accompanied by no less than six young bridesmaids. They included her niece, Freddie’s family members and family friends of the couple. Each bridesmaid wore a white flower hairband also by Annabel Lewis.

Lord Freddie, an investment banker who is 31st in line to the throne, looked dapper in a grey suit with tails designed by Hardy Amies and a pale blue tie. A white rose to match his wife’s bouquet was used as a buttonhole. If you thought the bride had a lot of attendants, wait for this- Lord Freddie had a huge 15 groomsmen! His best man was good friend and singer Henry Morton.

The chapel was decorated beautifully with white candles and fabric butterflies decorating the trees outside which the 400 guests had to pass to reach the chapel. Guests included musician Bryan Adams, writer Julian Fellowes and Sophie’s television presenter half sister Claudia Winkleman. Of course there were several royals in attendance, the most prominent of whom was Princess Eugenie- one of the Queen’s grandchildren and sixth in line to the throne.

After the ceremony, the guests attended a reception in the palace’s Great Hall where they were served Champagne, canapes and cake. They then travelled to the nearby home of Lady Annabel Goldsmith for a party with a buffet and music provided by a band fronted by best man Henry Morton. With barely a day to recover, Lord and Lady Frederick set of to Los Angeles where Sophie is filming her new TV series.

A lovely, emotional royal ceremony in the most beautiful of locations- who wouldn’t want to marry in a real palace? The home of Henry VIII no less, let’s hope they have more luck than the infamous king did with marriage!

Congratulations Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor!