Kate Middleton Asked Prince William the Sweetest 3-Word Question in Their Post-Royal Wedding Carriage Ride

It was the wedding seen around the world—the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29, 2011, nearly 15 years ago. 

After the two married at Westminster Abbey, they took a carriage ride en route to Buckingham Palace, where they made a memorable balcony appearance with not just one but two kisses. According to professional lip reader Tina Lannin, Kate asked William the sweetest question as they rode in the carriage, and William guided Kate through royal traditions, helping her feel at ease, per Brides.

At one point in their ride, William reportedly told Kate, “I don’t think you should bow quite yet. I think you should just bow your head, okay?” Later on, William exclaimed, “It’s mad, it’s mad!”—likely referring to the massive size of the crowds on hand to greet them.

“Oh my goodness, it…really loudly here…these people are clapping,” he added.

Per Us Weekly, at one point Kate sweetly asked her new husband, “Are you happy?” Lannin also noted that Kate reportedly said as they rode in their open-topped 1902 State Landau carriage, “You look happy.”

Earlier, when William and Kate were at the altar at Westminster Abbey and her father Michael Middleton was giving her away, William cracked a joke, saying of the large congregation in attendance (not to mention all of those watching on television), “We were supposed to have just a small, family affair.” To this, Kate “almost burst out laughing,” Us Weekly reported.

By the way, William and Kate’s carriage should be familiar to longtime royal fans—it also carried Prince Charles and Princess Diana as they left St. Paul’s Cathedral and headed to Buckingham Palace after their July 29, 1981 nuptials.

In his 2024 book Catherine, The Princess of Wales, royal biographer Robert Jobson wrote that, while in the carriage, William turned to Kate and said, “It was amazing. I’m so proud you’re my wife.” At the altar, William reportedly expressed similar sentiments, with Lannin catching him saying, “You look lovely. You look beautiful.”