The marriage of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips of the 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards proved revolutionary in more ways than one.

Taking place on November 14, 1973, it was the first televised wedding in the era of widespread television ownership – and it was broadcast in color.

More than 500 million people watched the BBC’s eight-hour coverage, including the big ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

As the first child of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip to marry, the day was marked by a 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 wedding to Captain Mark Phillips on November 14, 1973, was the first to be televised in the era of widespread television ownership – and it was broadcast in color.

Anne had first met Captain Phillips at an equestrian event in Mexico City in 1968.

Both were talented riders and competed at a high level: Phillips was a member of the gold medal-winning eventing team at the 1972 Munich Olympics, while Anne competed for Great Britain at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Montreal in 1976.

They announced their engagement in May 1973, after Mark proposed with a sapphire and diamond engagement ring designed by Garrard, marrying 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 stepped out of her carriage to reveal a Tudor-style wedding dress made by Maureen Baker, Susan Small’s head designer.

The simple design featured a high neckline, delicate beaded embroidery, trumpet sleeves and an extravagant 7-foot-long train.

At the time, scholars claimed that Anne was likely inspired by Queen Elizabeth I rather than her own mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Sweeping her hair into a sleek bun, 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 watched the ceremony at Westminster Abbey, proving the appeal of British royal weddings in 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, Susan Small’s chief designer. At the time, scholars claimed that Anne was likely inspired by Queen Elizabeth I rather than her own mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Sweeping her hair into a sleek bun, 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 already chosen this brilliant model, made up of 47 tapered bars graduated in brilliants and set with roses, separated by 46 narrower points, 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, this dazzling accessory was Queen Mary’s wedding gift from Queen Victoria.

Mary wore the convertible jewel in various forms, including as headwear, before taking it apart to create a new diamond-fringed 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 then borrowed the tiara for her private wedding in Windsor 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, eldest daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, in 1858.

Myrtle, symbolizing love, fertility and innocence, has been grown 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 bouquet by Prince Albert’s grandmother in 1845, and descendants of this plant still thrive in the grounds of the house today.

The Queen, the Queen Mother, the Prince of Wales and Prince Andrew arrived at Westminster Abbey aboard the Scottish Coach

The traditional service, led by Michael Ramsey, Archbishop of Canterbury, was covered in an eight-hour broadcast on the BBC.

The royal family made an appearance on the balcony in front of a crowd of well-wishers who were able to attend thanks to the day being declared a national holiday.

The Queen, the Queen Mother, the Prince of Wales and Prince Andrew arrived aboard the Scottish coach.

Princess Anne chose to have only one bridesmaid, her nine-year-old cousin, Lady Sarah Chatto (née Armstrong-Jones), daughter of Princess Margaret, while Captain Eric Grounds served as best man. married.

The page was Anne’s younger brother, Prince Edward, who was nine at the time.

The conventional service, incorporating choral music and scripture readings, was led by Michael Ramsey, Archbishop of Canterbury.

Afterwards, the royal family traveled to Buckingham Palace and made a jubilant appearance on the balcony to a crowd of cheering well-wishers. The day was declared a national holiday.

In keeping with tradition, Anne’s wedding ring was made from Welsh gold, a practice which dates back to 1923.

Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, later 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, future King George VI.

Subsequently, the wedding rings of Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, Princess Anne and Diana, Princess of Wales, were made from the same nugget.

In keeping with tradition, Anne’s wedding ring was made from Welsh gold, a practice which dates back to 1923.

Princess Anne was the first child of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip to marry, and as such, there was plenty of fanfare throughout the day.

The couple’s wedding cake reached 5ft 2in – as tall as Princess Anne – and included five layers of brandy-soaked fruitcake.

After an unconventional wedding breakfast at Buckingham Palace, including lobster, partridge and mint ice cream, guests were treated to a slice of cake, which measured 1.50m, the same height as Princess Anne.

Made by the Royal Army Catering Corps, this impressive confection featured five layers of fruit cakes soaked in brandy for four weeks.

The cake was decorated with intricate piping and monograms, topped with a statue of a jockey jumping a fence.

That evening, Anne and Mark stayed at White Lodge in Richmond Park, now home to the Royal Ballet School, before beginning their honeymoon aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, traveling the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

The Queen is said to have offered Captain Phillips the earldom on his wedding day, but he refused.

This meant that after welcoming their children, Peter Phillips in 1977 and Zara Tindall in 1981, they would be the first grandchildren of the sovereign not to have a title.

Anne and Mark were married for 19 years, before divorcing in 1972 after a long separation.

Becoming a Princess Royal in 1987, Anne married naval officer Commander Timothy Laurence later that year.

As the Church of England did not allow remarriage after divorce, the ceremony took place in Scotland with only 30 guests present.