Royal wedding in Belgium as King Philippe’s niece Princess Maria Laura ties the knot
- The highlight of the celebrations was a church service held at the cathedral in Brussels, attended by more than 500 people
- Participants held a ‘moment of prayer and reflection’ in memory of Britain’s late Queen Elizabeth, a spokesperson for Princess Maria Laura said
Princess Maria Laura of Belgium, a niece of King Philippe, tied the knot with her fiancé William Isvy in Brussels on Saturday, Belgian news agency Belga reports.
The highlight of the celebrations was a church service held at the cathedral in Brussels, attended by more than 500 people.
The bride wore a silk dress by Vivienne Westwood with a four-metre train for the occasion, according to Belga.
The ceremony was led by the Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels and included both Christian and Jewish chants to accommodate Isvy’s faith.
Participants held a “moment of prayer and reflection” in memory of Britain’s late Queen Elizabeth, a spokesperson for Princess Maria Laura told Belga.
In addition to Maria Laura’s parents and siblings, guests included the abdicated King Albert with his wife Queen Paola, the reigning King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, as well as Prince Laurent and his wife Claire, and Princess Delphine, Belga reports.
Before and after the religious ceremony, the couple and their guests were cheered by several hundred spectators who had gathered outside the cathedral despite the changeable weather, Belga reports.
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Earlier on Saturday, the couple married in a civil ceremony at Brussels City Hall, following in the footsteps of her parents Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz, who were the first members of the Belgian royal family to marry there, a spokesperson for the bride told Belga.
The 30-minute ceremony was a small affair, but senior members of the royal family attended the event.
After the civil ceremony, the newlyweds greeted a crowd gathered outside the building, posed for photographers and exchanged a kiss on the cheek.
Saturday’s celebration was the first royal wedding in Belgium since Prince Laurent’s wedding in 2003.
