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Fairy tales happen: Remembering the royal wedding, five years later

Five years ago today, Prince William said “I do” to Kate Middleton.
Prince William speaks to his bride, Catherine Middleton as she holds the hand of her father Michael Middleton at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Dominic Lipinski/WPA Pool/Getty)
Prince William speaks to his bride, Catherine Middleton as she holds the hand of her father Michael Middleton at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 in London, England. 

Five years ago today, Prince William said “I do” to Kate Middleton. For millions around the world, it was a wedding that acknowledged that fairy tales aren’t just things for story books -- they're attainable in real life, too. Although a commoner by birth, Middleton, looked as though she had been royal her whole life from the second she stepped out of a Rolls-Royce in a fit-for-a-queen strapless wedding gown made of ivory and white satin gazer. The dress, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, is so famous that it has its own Wikipedia page.

But perhaps the most memorable moment of the whole day was when the new Duchess of Cambridge kissed her prince before the thousands gathered outside of the balcony of Buckingham Palace. The first middle-class queen-in-waiting has not only welcomed the world into the royal family, she’s also welcomed Prince George (now two-years-old!) and Princess Charlotte. What’s in store for the happily-married couple in the next five years? If the recent photo of Will and Kate seated on the "Diana bench" outside of the Taj Mahal is any indication, it’s the completion of a decade of unbreakable love. 

The Newlyweds Greet Wellwishers From The Buckingham Palace Balcony (Photo by John Stillwell/WPA Pool/Getty)
Their Royal Highnesses Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge kiss on the balcony at Buckingham Palace during the Royal Wedding of Prince William to Catherine Middleton on April 29, 2011 in London, England. The marriage of the second in line to the British throne was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury and was attended by 1900 guests, including foreign Royal family members and heads of state. Thousands of well-wishers from around the world have also flocked to London to witness the spectacle and pageantry of the Royal Wedding.
A general view of the gates of Buckingham Palace in front of the Victoria Memorial filled with well-wishers celebrating the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, Friday, April 29, 2011. (Photo by Oli Scarff/AP)
A general view of the gates of Buckingham Palace in front of the Victoria Memorial filled with well-wishers celebrating the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, Friday, April 29, 2011.
Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, are driven through the crowd, following their wedding in London, April 29, 2011. (Photo by Jonathan Short/AP)
Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, are driven through the crowd, following their wedding in London, April 29, 2011.
Their Royal Highnesses Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge travel along the Mall following their marriage ceremony on April 29, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty)
Their Royal Highnesses Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge travel along the Mall following their marriage ceremony on April 29, 2011 in London, England. 
Ceremonial guards perform along the Mall ahead of the Royal Wedding of Prince William to Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty)
Ceremonial guards perform along the Mall ahead of the Royal Wedding of Prince William to Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 in London, England. 
Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, arrive at Buckingham Palace after the wedding ceremony of Britain's Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, in London on April 29, 2011. (Photo by Andrew Winning/AFP/Getty)
Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, arrive at Buckingham Palace after the wedding ceremony of Britain's Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, in London on April 29, 2011.
The Wedding Ceremony Takes Place Inside Westminster Abbey (Photo by Kirsty Wigglesworth/WPA Pool/Getty)
Prince William takes the hand of his bride Catherine Middleton, now to be known as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, as they walk down the aisle followed by Prince Harry and Pippa Middleton inside Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 in London, England. 
Prince William and his bride Catherine Middleton stand at the alter during their wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Dominic Lipinski/WPA Pool/Getty)
Prince William and his bride Catherine Middleton stand at the alter during their wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 in London, England.
Prince William speaks to his bride, Catherine Middleton as she holds the hand of her father Michael Middleton at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Dominic Lipinski/WPA Pool/Getty)
Prince William speaks to his bride, Catherine Middleton as she holds the hand of her father Michael Middleton at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 in London, England. 
Wedding Guests And Party Make Their Way To Westminster Abbey (Photot by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty)
Catherine Middleton waves to the crowds as her sister and Maid of Honour Pippa Middleton holds her dress before walking in to the Abbey to attend the Royal Wedding of Prince William to Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 in London, England. 
The Wedding Ceremony Takes Place Inside Westminster Abbey (Photo by Dominic Lipinski/WPA Pool/Getty)
Prince William (centre) and his best man Prince Harry (left) are greeted by Receiver General Stephen Lamport (right) as they arrive at Westminster Abbey ahead of the Royal Wedding of Prince William to Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 in London, England.
Spectators wave their flags in Hyde Park where big screens have been set up to watch the wedding ceremony on April 29, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty)
Spectators wave their flags in Hyde Park where big screens have been set up to watch the wedding ceremony on April 29, 2011 in London, England. 
(L-R) Rosalind Osborne, Tina Pittock and Cynthia Fisher pitched their tent and are camping out for the royal wedding in front of Westminster Abbey in London, England on April 27, 2011. (Photo by Linda Davidson/The Washington Post/Getty)
(L-R) Rosalind Osborne, Tina Pittock and Cynthia Fisher pitched their tent and are camping out for the royal wedding in front of Westminster Abbey in London, England on April 27, 2011.
Visitor guides begin preparing the streets of the Black Country Living Museum for it's Royal Wedding Street party on April 22, 2011 in Dudley, England. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty)
Visitor guides begin preparing the streets of the Black Country Living Museum for it's Royal Wedding Street party on April 22, 2011 in Dudley, England. The popular attraction is joining the festivities across the country with a street party in traditional style to celebrate the marriage of Prince William and Catherine Middleton on April 29, 2011. Each building and exhibit in the museum has been transported from across the region and rebuilt at the site in the north west of Birmingham. The Black Country is so called, as it references the smoke and soot that lingered in the air during it's industrial powerhouse hey day.