Inside the surprising traditions of a British royal wedding

British royal wedding traditions include a lavish public ceremony followed by long-standing customs that date back generations.

Here are some of the most notable ones:

Monarch’s permission

Asking permission to marry might seem a bit old-fashioned these days, but it remains one of the most important traditions in the royal family.

The rule is that if you’re one of the first six in line to the throne, you must have the monarch’s approval to marry.

For example, Princes George, Louis, and Archie, as well as Princess Charlotte, would all need to seek permission from King Charles.

Even Charles himself had to ask his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, for approval to marry Camilla.

The monarch send the invites

Royal wedding invitations are issued by the King or Queen, as the event is hosted by the reigning monarch.

This means that they have the final say on the guest list.

Royal grooms wear their military uniform

Prince Albert set the trend when he wore his military uniform on his wedding day to Queen Victoria.

Since then, royal grooms have continued the tradition of wearing their military dress attire complete with their sashes and medals.

This custom stems from the fact that senior royal men often undergo military service and hold military ranks as part of their public royal duties.

Prince William, for instance, wore the Irish Guards Mounted Officers uniform while Prince Harry chose the Blues and Royals.

Midday ceremonies

Royal weddings are typically held around midday.

The ceremony is usually followed by a luncheon (known as the wedding breakfast) and later on, an evening reception.

Getaway cars

Departing in style has also become a royal wedding tradition.

Prince William and Kate Middleton left Buckingham Palace in a vintage Aston Martin convertible, while Prince Harry and Meghan Markle drove away in a classic Jaguar after their luncheon at Windsor Castle.