NEARLY 60 years ago, York had its own Royal Wedding when a North Yorkshire bride married a young 2nd lieutenant from Catterick Garrison.

On June 8, 1961, Katharine Worsley, 28, from Hovingham, near Malton, and Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, 24, made their vows before the Archbishop of York, Michael Ramsey.

As The Evening Press described on the day: “Through the weather-beaten old West Door of York Minster stepped the tall, good-looking couple - she in a breathtaking white gown, he in dazzling regimental scarlet and blue - and staid old York seemed to explode about them in an incredible phantasmagoria of sight and sound, flowers and fanfares and festival.

“Officers of the Royal Scots Greys formed a ceremonial archway of swords as the Duke of Kent and his Yorkshire bride, Katharine Worsley, now Duchess of Kent, walked slowly to their car.

“About them, like a gigantic roll of drums, the cheers rose and ebbed and rose again and yet again.

“For this was the greatest day anyone in York had ever known.

“Not since the 16-year-old Edward III married Philippa of Hainault in 1328 had there been a Royal wedding in York; and all Yorkshire was there, it seemed, to do the occasion suitable honour.”

The duties of the bride’s oldest brother, Sir Marcus Worsley included meeting one of the bridegroom’s cousins, the Queen, at York Railway Station in his capacity as Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire.

Appropriately for a wedding in a railway city she arrived by train.

Many other members of the Royal Family were among the 2,000 guests, including Prince Charles and Princess Margaret.