The newlyweds thought they were chatting in private—but a lip reader revealed what exactly they said!
This Is What Prince William and Kate Middleton Said During Their Post-Wedding Carriage Ride
Published on Apr. 25, 2025
Remember April 29, 2011? Chances are, you were glued to your screen, watching Prince William and Kate Middleton tie the knot at Westminster Abbey in London. The moment the pair said “I do” was broadcast on television in more than 180 countries. An additional 72 million people watched the wedding live on YouTube. In total, 2.5 billion royal fans worldwide celebrated the happy couple in front of their screens.
With Kate and William about to celebrate their 14th wedding anniversary, we can’t help but replay their big day (and all the tiny details) in our heads. That being said, not everything that happened was televised. The couple had some private moments as well, of course, including during their carriage ride after the ceremony … or so they thought. Nothing is really private unless you’re literally behind closed doors, and a lip reader has revealed what the loved-up newlyweds were whispering to each other while waving to the crowds.
Curious what they said? Read on to find out!
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Where were William and Kate, exactly, when this exchange took place?
The (almost) private chat happened right after the official ceremony had ended at 12:15 p.m., when Kate and William left Westminster Abbey in an open-topped horse-drawn carriage and made their way to Buckingham Palace for the traditional balcony-kiss scene. Passing London landmarks such as Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and the Horse Guards Parade, it took them 15 minutes to get to the most famous of all royal estates. A million royal fans from all corners of the world lined the streets to congratulate the newlyweds (and get a glimpse of Kate’s stunning Alexander McQueen dress). The most dedicated had pitched their tents 84 hours prior to the wedding to get a prime spot.
For comparison: 1,900 lucky guests were invited to watch the hourlong wedding ceremony inside Westminster Abbey. That number included family, friends, politicians (including Barack and Michelle Obama) and celebrities (including Elton John, David and Victoria Beckham, “Mr. Bean” Rowan Atkinson and film director Guy Ritchie).
What did the newlyweds say to each other?
As lip reader Tina Lannin revealed on CBS News, the couple chatted about the many well-wishers along the route, while William gently instructed Kate how to respond in royal style. After sitting down in the carriage, William whispered to Kate: “I don’t think you should bow quite yet. I think you should just bow your head, OK?” Seemingly impressed by the huge crowds, he then gasped, “I hope I remember. It’s mad—it’s mad! Oh, my goodness, it … really loudly here (…) these people are clapping.” Kate smiled at her new husband and said, “You look happy.”
Fun fact: It wasn’t just William and Kate who thought they were chatting privately. When they made themselves comfy in the carriage, the late Queen Elizabeth II, according to Lannin, voiced a slight criticism of the couple’s choices, saying, “I wanted them to take the smaller carriage.”
What happened next?
After the carriage ride, Kate and William appeared at the balcony of Buckingham Palace, capping the official part of their wedding with the obligatory kiss in front of thousands of fans on the square (and tens of millions watching on television and online). “Alright? You’ll be OK?” William whispered to Kate, and she replied: “Oh, I’m fine. Thank you.”
“There’s a lot of people down here,” he continued, before turning to Kate and saying, “OK? Look at me, let’s kiss. OK?” When the crowds wouldn’t stop cheering after the kiss, William cheekily added: “One more,” before kissing his bride again.
The couple then disappeared behind closed doors to attend their wedding luncheon hosted by the queen—an almost intimate affair with just 650 attendees. The guests didn’t only get to toast to the happy couple; they also had a chance to marvel at Kate’s second wedding dress.
What were other sweet highlights from their wedding day?
Kate’s and William’s wedding was full of sweet touche. Here are some of our favorites:
- Kate chose “William” flowers for her bouquet. Kate’s bridal bouquet was a mix of seasonal British flowers including myrtle, lily of the valley, lilacs and hyacinth. As a sweet nod to her husband, she added “sweet William” flowers.
- The couple rode in a swanky classic car. After all the formal parts of the wedding, Kate and William drove off from Buckingham Palace to Clarence House (where the wedding party with 300 friends and relatives took place) in a convertible Aston Martin, with a “JU5T WED” sign/license plate (yes, there was a 5 in it) and balloons. The car belonged to King Charles, who received it as a gift from the queen on his 21st birthday.
- Best man Harry spilled William’s juicy nickname. Prince Harry, who was still close to the Prince and Princess of Wales back then, ended his speech as best man with a high-pitched impersonation of Kate, calling her new husband by his secret nickname, Big Willy. He also revealed Kate’s nickname for her new husband: Babykins.
- Kate and William lip-synched to a Grease song. William and Kate let their hair down at the reception and hit the dance floor to “You’re the One That I Want.” According to royal author Robert Jobson, “They stood holding hands in the middle of the dance floor grinning […], then began dancing around, pointing at each other, and mouthing the words with the style of the lead characters, Danny and Sandy.”
Why trust us
Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of stories on the British royal family, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the fascinating facets of the monarchy. We regularly cover topics including the latest royal news, the history and meaning behind time-honored traditions, and the everyday quirks of everyone’s favorite family members, from Queen Elizabeth’s daily snack to Prince William’s confessions about his home life. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- CBS News: “Royal wedding whispers deciphered by lip reader”
- Forbes: “A royal wedding”
- Vanity Fair: “How Kate Middleton and Prince William’s Wedding Ushered in the Modern-Day Royal Media Obsession”
- ABC News: “Royal Wedding: Prince William and Catherine Middleton kiss twice on balcony as world watches”
- Metro: “Royal wedding live YouTube stream watched by 72m”
- Metro: “9 details on Prince William and Kate Middleton’s royal wedding you may have forgotten”
- Today.com: “Fan camps out 84 hours before royal wedding”
- Channel 4: “Royal Wedding: William and Kate invite 1,900”
- Catherine, the Princess of Wales by Robert Jobson
- Vogue: “11 little-known romantic details From the Prince and Princess of Wales’s wedding”
- Elle: “Kate Middleton and Prince William’s royal wedding: The hidden meanings from the 2011 date”
