Wedding Wednesday: The Bon Voyage

Well, it looks like old Wills n' Kate have managed to sneak off for their proper honeymoon sight unseen (let the paparazzi hunt begin in 5...4...3...). That doesn't mean they didn't have a proper bon voyage, of course. And they did as they do and broke royal tradition while at it.

They had two bon voyages, really. Driving off in Charles's vintage car for a half-farewell from the day reception at Buckingham Palace, and then a casual departure the next day via helicopter for the honeymoon: part one.

I read there was something involving a car when they departed from the evening reception too. So many departures, and yet no room for the traditional carriage.

 

 Left to Right: Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh leaving Buckingham Palace for their honeymoon in 1947; the Duke and Duchess of York (George VI and Elizabeth) doing the same in 1926

The car thing was pretty awesome, but I still missed the carriage. There's something very "and then they rode off into the sunset for their happily ever after..." about it.

 L to R: Princess Anne and Mark Philips, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of York all leaving Buckingham Palace for their honeymoons 

Or "and then they rode off into the sunset, happily for now", as the case sometimes is, I guess. Oh well. (Doesn't Princess Anne look like a proper snow bunny? The perils of the open top carriage in November, I suppose.)

Of course, they weren't the only ones lacking in a carriage ride away.

 L to R: Princess Margaret, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall

Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong-Jones departed in an open top car, while both Sophie and Edward and Charles and Camilla left their Windsor Castle receptions in cars. And a decorated car, even, for Cams and Chas.

The Danish tend to leave in cars, too.

 L to R: (then) Crown Princess Margrethe and Prince Henrik, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary leaving for their honeymoons

I do enjoy when they write all over the cars. Nothing wrong with a bit of fun! Thank heavens no royals take it as far as people where I live do, though. Nobody wants to see a royal car filled with contraceptives.

I think the most glamorous exit of all though might have been from the most glamorous Grace and Rainier.

Lots of royals ended up on yachts, but few pulled straight up from the ceremony. Cathedral to yacht: now that's the royal life. What'll we see from Al and Char, I wonder?

What's your favorite mode of bon voyage? And who had the best going away outfit? (Kate's blue Zara number ranks up there for me!)

(Oh, and the honeymoons themselves - another topic for another Wednesday!)

Photos: Getty Images/Press Association Images