Royal Wedding: 1981 VS 2011

She may not have any blue blood, but Kate Middleton's fairy-tale wedding once again ushered in a new era for the usually conservative royalty. Three decades back, a princess-y 20-something Diana walked down the aisle to her Prince Charming and she won hearts instantly. Kate brings in a fresh whiff of youth to the royal family, just like the People's Princess had. Here's how they are so alike, yet so different.

32-year-old Charles had been seeing Diana for about six months when he proposed on February 3, 1981, at a dinner for two at Buckingham Palace. A nanny by profession, Diana said yes and instantly fell in love with the 18-carat diamond and sapphire ring, which she had herself picked out. Kate, who is five months older than William, said ‘Yes, please' to boyfriend of 8 years on a romantic vacation in Kenya. Different? Know this: William proposed to Kate with the same ring that his father give to Princess Di. Kate even wore a strikingly similar dress when her engagement was announced.

The Royal Heirloom Ring: Princess Di loved the ring so much, she didn't give it up even after the divorce. The stunning ring is worth half a million dollars. Sadly, most of us can't afford an exact copy of the royal ring.

As the world geared up for the April 29 wedding, happy memories of the glorious day of July 29, 1981 came back. In London, the Metropolitan Police said, a million people lined the route of the royal procession. The images were unnervingly similar to what had happened 3 decades ago for the Wedding Of The Century.

All eyes were on Di as she proceeded to St. Paul's Cathedral with her father John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, in a glass carriage that was too small to comfortably hold her incredible dress. Shy and friendly at the same time, Diana waved at the two million odd people lined up to watch her. in 2011, Kate rode to her Royal Wedding in a Rolls-Royce Phantom VI- a fantastic tweaking of ancient customs. But guess what? She was also accompanied by father Michael Middleton and was just as visibly excited by the crowds.

Diana had five bridesmaids, including India Hicks who has turned advisor for Kate on how to handle the royal pressure. Kate, on the other hand, had four bridesmaids, with sister Pippa Middleton serving as the Maid Of Honour.

11-year-old Lord Nicholas Windsor, son of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, and Edward van Cutsem, 8, (both godsons of the Prince of Wales) were pageboys for Princess Diana. Edward is now Prince William's very good friend.
For Kate, pageboy Master William Lowther-Pinkerton at 10 is the oldest of the attendants. He was joined by Tom Pettifer, 8. The boys wore uniforms strikingly similar to their respective Princes.

At the altar of Westminster Abbey, just before they exchanged vows, Kate was given away by her father, Michael Middleton. John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, gave away a slightly more flamboyant Diana in similar fashion.

As the Queen Mother and the rest of the royals watched, Prince Charles and Diana took their vows. Di did not say that she would "obey" him; that traditional vow was left out at the couple's request, which raised some eyebrows at the time.
Kate followed in her footsteps and also omitted the word from her vows but composed her own little prayer with her groom for the ceremony.

Pronounced Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Kate and William walked out of the Westminster Abbey hand in hand, as the bridesmaids and the pageboys followed.
Stunning images of Lady Diana's enthralling 25-feet train following her on her way out as she put her hand in her husband's arm come to mind immediately.

Diana looked nothing short of Cinderella as she climbed slowly down the stairs. The whole world was overwhelmed was how endearing she seemed.
Post-modern Kate chose an 8-ft train which was easily held by sister Pippa and the other bridesmaids.

The newlyweds walked out of the Abbey to a cheering crowd, as everyone fought to catch a glimpse of the royal couple. After all, its only once in 30 years you might get a chance like that!

Nervous brides Kate and Diana both fumbled with their trails as they climbed the same open-horse royal carriage, sitting on the right of their husbands, and rode to the Buckingham Palace.

Appearing on the balcony, Charles kissed his new bride's hand with love and thousands sighed from down below. On the exact same spot, Kate and William gave each other a rather fleeting peck in the presence of senior family members. But later made the crowd happy by giving a more resounding kiss.

Prince Charles and Diana had 27 wedding cakes, with the official wedding cake being supplied by the Naval Armed Forces, for the post-ceremony dinner party to be attended by 120 people. For Kate and William: The huge royal wedding cake was made by businesswoman Fiona Cairns, who was commissioned by Prince William and Kate Middleton to create a multi-tiered traditional fruit cake, decorated with sugar flowers.

Diana chose the Emanuels to design her dress because she was in a ‘frilly phase'. A train 25 feet long, exaggerated puff sleeves and a skirt that redefined full, the dress was fairy-tale stuff. Kate, demure and sober, made a slightly more modest statement in a simple ivory sheath with Chantilly lace overlay by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen. The dress had a strapless, Victorian style corset, narrow at the waist and padded at the hips. Both the dresses were instant hits.

Lady Diana wore her family tiara, which reportedly gave her a headache. While Kate, after months of speculation over flowers, finally wore a Cartier halo tiara loaned to her by Queen Elizabeth as her ‘something borrowed'.

Diana walked as John-Joseph Mouret's “Roundeau” played with a 6 pound, 42 inch by 15 inch bouquet in hand, as her groom waited for her at the altar. Kate's much smaller bouquet took just as much hard work. Kate's bouquet was designed by Shane Connolly, the florist who decorated Westminster Abbey as well, and included ‘Sweet William' flowers in her husband's honour.

William and Kate's official photographs have been released and its eerie how the two couples bear a striking resemblance with 30 years in between.