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The marriage of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips of 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards proved groundbreaking in more ways than one.
Taking place on November 14, 1973, it was the first wedding to be televised during the age of widespread TV ownership – and it was broadcast in colour.
More than 500 million people tuned in to watch the BBC’s eight-hour coverage, including the grand ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
As the first child of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip to marry, the day was marked by splendid celebration, with large crowds lining the streets and a balcony appearance afterwards.
This wedding undoubtedly set the standard for royal nuptials that followed.
Princess Anne’s marriage to Captain Mark Phillips on November 14, 1973, was the first to be televised during the era of widespread TV ownership – and it was broadcast in colour
Anne had first met Captain Phillips at a horse-riding event in Mexico City in 1968.
Both were skilled equestrians and competed at a high level: Phillips was a member of the gold medal eventing team at the 1972 Munich Olympics, while Anne competed for Britain at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
They announced their engagement in May 1973, after Mark proposed with a sapphire and diamond engagement ring designed by Garrard, tying the knot six months later.
Princess Anne arrived at the ceremony in the Glass State Coach, accompanied by her father, the late Duke of Edinburgh.
The Princess emerged from her carriage to reveal a Tudor-style wedding dress made by Maureen Baker, the chief designer at Susan Small.
The simple design featured a high neckline, delicate pearl embroidery, trumpet sleeves and an extravagant 7ft-long train.
At the time, specialists claimed that Anne was likely inspired by Queen Elizabeth I, rather than her own mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Sweeping her hair into an elegant chignon, she secured her veil in place with the Queen Mary Fringe Tiara – now the most-worn accessory by Windsor brides.
More than 500 million viewers worldwide tuned in to watch the ceremony at Westminster Abbey, proving the appeal of British royal weddings to other countries
Princess Anne was accompanied to the ceremony in the Glass State Coach by her father, the late Duke of Edinburgh, who then walked her down the aisle
The Princess wore a Tudor-style wedding dress made by Maureen Baker, the chief designer at Susan Small. At the time, specialists claimed that Anne was likely inspired by Queen Elizabeth I, rather than her own mother, Queen Elizabeth II
Sweeping her hair into an elegant chignon, Anne secured her veil in place with the Queen Mary Fringe Tiara – now the most-worn accessory by Windsor brides
Anne’s mother, Queen Elizabeth, had previously chosen the gleaming design, comprising 47 graduated brilliant and rose-set tapering bars separated by 46 narrower spikes, for her own wedding in 1947.
It had been given to the Queen Mother by her mother-in-law, Queen Mary.
Originally a diamond necklace, made by Collingwood, the dazzling accessory was Queen Mary’s wedding gift from Queen Victoria.
Mary wore the convertible jewel in various forms, including as a headpiece, before having it dismantled to create a new diamond fringe tiara.
In 1919, she asked Garrard to create a new design in the style of a kokoshnik (a russian headdress) with diamonds that could be removed to form a necklace.
Princess Beatrice later borrowed the tiara for her private Windsor wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, during the Covid pandemic in 2020.
Anne included a sprig of myrtle in her bouquet – a tradition for royal brides since the 1850s.
This custom began with Princess Victoria, the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, in 1858.
Myrtle, symbolising love, fertility and innocence, has been cultivated at Osborne House, Queen Victoria’s holiday home on the Isle of Wight, for around 170 years.
It was first presented to Queen Victoria in a posey by Prince Albert’s grandmother in 1845, and descendants of this plant still thrive in the house’s grounds today.
The Queen, the Queen Mother, the Prince of Wales, and Prince Andrew arrived at Westminster Abbey in the Scottish State Coach
The traditional service, conducted by Michael Ramsey, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was covered during an eight-hour BBC broadcast
The Royal Family made a balcony appearance to cheering crowds of well-wishers who were able to be there thanks to the day being declared a national holiday
The Queen, the Queen Mother, the Prince of Wales, and Prince Andrew arrived in the Scottish State Coach.
Princess Anne chose to have only one bridesmaid, her nine-year-old cousin, Lady Sarah Chatto (nee Armstrong-Jones), daughter of Princess Margaret, while Captain Eric Grounds served as the groom’s best man.
The page boy was Anne’s younger brother, Prince Edward, who was nine at the time.
The conventional service, incorporating choral music and readings from scripture, was conducted by Michael Ramsey, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Afterwards, the Royal Family travelled to Buckingham Palace and made a jubilant balcony appearance to cheering crowds of well-wishers. The day was declared a national holiday.
In keeping with tradition, Anne’s wedding ring was crafted from Welsh gold, a practice that dates back to 1923.
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, later the Queen Mother, first wore a ring made from a gold nugget mined from the Clogau mine in Bontddu, Wales, when she married the Duke of York, later King George VI.
Subsequently, wedding rings for Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, Princess Anne and Diana, Princess of Wales, were crafted from the same nugget.
In keeping with tradition, Anne’s wedding ring was crafted from Welsh gold, a practice that dates back to 1923
Princess Anne was the first child of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip to marry, and as such there was much fanfare around the day
The couple’s wedding cake reached 5ft 6in – as tall as Princess Anne – and included five tiers of brandy-soaked fruit cake
Following an unconventional wedding breakfast at Buckingham Palace, including lobster, partridge and mint ice cream, guests were treated to a slice of cake, which stood at a towering 5ft 6in – the same height as Princess Anne.
Crafted by the Royal Army Catering Corps, the impressive confection boasted five tiers of fruit cake that had been soaked in brandy for four weeks.
The cake was decorated with intricate piping and monograms, topped with a statue of a female jockey leaping a fence.
That evening, Anne and Mark stayed at White Lodge in Richmond Park, which today houses the Royal Ballet School, before starting their honeymoon on board the Royal Yacht Britannia, travelling the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
The Queen was said to have offered Captain Phillips an earldom on his wedding day – but he declined.
This meant that after they welcomed their children, Peter Phillips in 1977 and Zara Tindall in 1981, they would be the first grandchildren of the sovereign to have no title.
Anne and Mark were married for 19 years, before divorcing in 1972 after a long separation.
Becoming The Princess Royal in 1987, Anne went on to marry naval officer Commander Timothy Laurence later that year.
As the Church of England did not permit remarriage after divorce, the ceremony took place in Scotland with only 30 guests in attendance.
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