8 of the biggest 21st century European royal weddings

As Britain’s Prince Harry has wed former US television actress Meghan Markle, here is a rundown of the big European royal weddings of the 21st century: Haakon of Norway August 25, 2001: Crown prince Haakon and Mette-Marit Tjessem Hoeiby Norway’s first royal wedding since that of Haakon’s parents King Harald V and Queen Sonja took place at Oslo Cathedral. He was 28 and she was 27. The union came with some controversy as Mette-Marit was a confessed “wild child” former waitress with a four-year-old son. Norwegians hailed it as a modern Cinderella story. She wept throughout the ceremony. The couple have two children together. Royal wedding bets: will Prince Harry sport a beard? Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands February 2, 2002: Prince Willem-Alexander and Maxima Zorreguieta The couple met in Seville in 1999. She was an Argentinian investment banker based in New York. There was controversy over her father’s role in the Argentine junta but Maxima quickly won Dutch hearts. He was 34 and she was 30. They married in a civil ceremony followed by a religious blessing in Amsterdam’s Nieuwe Kerk. More than 80,000 people dressed in orange lined the streets. The couple became the king and queen on his mother queen Beatrix’s abdication in 2013. They have three daughters. Frederik of Denmark May 14, 2004: Crown prince Frederik and Mary Donaldson #onthisday #fourteenyearsago #happyweddingday #happyweddinganniversary | 14th May 2004: Official Portrait of the wedding of Crown Prince Frederick and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark . Happy 14th wedding anniversary to one of my favourite couples! I hope they last forever! A post shared by HRH Crown Princess Mary (@hrhprincessmaryofdenmark) on May 14, 2018 at 4:14am PDT The future king met Australian advertising executive Donaldson at a Sydney pub during the 2000 Olympics, only later revealing who he was. They married at Copenhagen Cathedral. He was 35 and she was 32. Around 100,000 watched their carriage procession and saw them kiss on the balcony of the Amalienborg royal palace. They have four children. What’s on the menu for royal wedding reception? Felipe of Spain May 22, 2004: Prince Felipe de Bourbon and Letizia Ortiz Visita de Estado de Su Excelencia el Presidente de la República Portuguesa, Sr. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa A post shared by H.R.M. Queen Letizia of Spain (@queenletizia) on Apr 17, 2018 at 12:23pm PDT Eight days later, European royalty gathered again to see the 36-year-old heir to the Spanish throne, a former Olympic yachtsman, marry Letizia Ortiz, 31, a divorced journalist and television news presenter. The sumptuous and rain-soaked ceremony at Madrid’s Almudena Cathedral ended years of speculation over the love life of a prince once considered Europe’s most eligible bachelor. He has been the monarch since his father king Juan Carlos I’s abdication in 2014. Ortiz was first commoner to become queen of Spain. They have two daughters. Britain’s Prince Charles April 9, 2005: Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles Charles, 56, the heir to the throne, married his 57-year-old long-time companion, formalising their relationship. As both were divorced, they could only have a civil rather than a religious marriage. There was controversy as he is due to become supreme governor of the Church of England. They wed privately in Windsor Guildhall, followed by a religious blessing in Windsor Castle’s St George’s Chapel. She became the Duchess of Cornwall. A look back at Britain's 3 most fascinating royal weddings Victoria of Sweden June 19, 2010: Crown princess Victoria and Daniel Westling The heir to the throne and her former personal trainer married at Stockholm Cathedral in what was billed as Europe’s biggest royal wedding in decades. She was 32 and he was 36. They married on a traditional Swedish royal wedding date. The royal family and the government split the wedding costs. An estimated 500,000 people watched the carriage procession. It was the biggest event ever covered on Swedish television. They have two children. Britain’s Prince William April 29, 2011: Prince William and Kate Middleton Britain’s biggest royal wedding since that of William’s parents Prince Charles and Diana in 1981 was watched by up to 2 billion people worldwide and helped breathe new life into the monarchy. Britain had a public holiday and William became the Duke of Cambridge. The future king took his bride for a surprise spin in a classic car afterwards. They now have two sons and a daughter, including Prince Louis, born on April 23. Here’s what you need to know about the royal wedding Prince Albert II of Monaco July 1 and 2, 2011: Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock The swanky Mediterranean microstate’s sovereign finally tied the knot at 53 with the 33-year-old South African Olympic swimmer. The civil ceremony in the Prince’s Palace was followed by the religious ceremony a day later in the palace courtyard. The ceremony was partly in Afrikaans, the mother tongue of the bride. The wedding dress was designed by Giorgio Armani; The Eagles and Jean-Michel Jarre staged concerts. The couple had twins in 2014. Want more stories like this? Sign up here. Follow STYLE on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

8 of the biggest 21st century European royal weddings

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Royal spouses range from a waitress to an investment banker, television news presenter, Olympic swimmer and personal trainer

Royal spouses range from a waitress to an investment banker, television news presenter, Olympic swimmer and personal trainer