Royal wedding lookback: Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson
By Natalie Oliveri|
The wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson marked the start of what was hoped to be a new chapter in the British royal family, but the fairy tale was not to last.
On July 23, 1986, the new couple became known as the Duke and Duchess of York.
They married at Westminster Cathedral to huge fanfare จC the 'playboy' prince had finally met his match in the commoner who would become known as 'Fergie'.
Fergie was seen as a good fit as a royal bride and a perfect match for Andrew, who was nicknamed 'Randy Andy' by the press at the time due to a string of love affairs.
Like most royal weddings, the ceremony took place on a weekday จC Wednesday จC and in the morning, at 11.30am.
As the bride entered the abbey on the arm of her father Major Ronald Ferguson, the world caught a glimpse of her duchess satin gown made by London couturier Lindka Cierach.
The ivory-coloured dress featured elaborate silver embroidery with symbols that meant something to the bride.
A bumblebee and thistles, to signify her family crest, were put onto the gown along with anchors and waves that represented Andrew's sailing background.
The couple's initials, an 'A' and 'S', were embroidered on the six-metre train, with Prince Andrew's monogram in the centre.
Her corset-style bodice, which was trimmed with pearls, also included four S's embellished in silver beads.
Fergie's gown instantly became iconic, with knock-offs quickly appearing in shops around the world for brides desperate to copy the look.
On her head was the York tiara, commissioned by the Queen as a wedding gift, and made by royal jewellers Garrard.
Along with the tiara, the Queen and Prince Philip also gifted the Duchess of York a matching necklace, earrings and bracelet.
The tiara was initially hidden by a large floral crown of gardenias จC said to be Prince Andrew's favourite จC which was removed after the ceremony to reveal the diamond piece underneath.
Among the guests at the royal wedding were, of course, the Queen and Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, and Prince William, who was just four at the time and a page boy. The young prince wore a sailor's outfit in a sweet nod to Prince Andrew's naval career.
The groom wore the ceremonial day dress of a naval lieutenant.
Zara and Peter Phillips were also part of the young bridal party.
The Queen Mother and Princess Anne were in attendance and arrived in a horse-drawn carriage together.
Prince Edward was his brother's best man while Prince Charles gave a reading during the service.
US First Lady Nancy Reagan was among the 2000 guests, along with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and singer Elton John, who brought along his then-wife Renate Blauel.
Like Princess Diana did at her wedding in 1981, Fergie stumbled over her groom's name.
She repeated his middle name 'Christian' twice, saying "Andrew Albert Christian Christian Edward".
Unlike Diana, Fergie chose to include the word "obey" in her wedding vows.
When it came to signing the bridal registry, former Buckingham Palace press secretary Dickie Arbiter said the couple got up to a bit of mischief.
Arbiter, who was commentating at the royal wedding, recalled that when Andrew and Fergie went behind the screen at the abbey, they were "larking about a bit".
"I said to my co-commentator, 'That's a marriage that's not going to last'," Mr Arbiter said in a recent documentary.
"A certain amount of decorum wasn't there."
They left the abbey in a 1902 State Landau carriage and rode through London on the way to Buckingham Palace.
Fergie was reportedly told not to kiss her groom during their appearance on the balcony, an instruction she promptly ignored to the delight of crowds below.
Their reception at included a five-tier marzipan and rum-soaked cake, cut into 2,000 slices.
After a party at the Claridge's Hotel, the newlyweds rode in another horse-drawn carriage to Heathrow Airport.
They honeymooned in the Azores Islands, off the coast of Portugal, before a five-day sailing adventure on board the royal yacht Britannia.
Unfortunately for them, the Duke and Duchess of York split in 1992 and in May 1996 they divorced.
But Prince Andrew and Fergie remain close friends and continue to live together at the Royal Lodge in Windsor, with constant rumours a romantic reunion is the cards.
What a fairy tale ending that would be!
