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St Paul’s Cathedral in London has been the setting for many historic moments, including the wedding of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana Spencer in July 1981.
The cathedral’s safety has been a concern many times throughout its history, especially after it was damaged by bombing during World War II. St. Paul’s Cathedral stood out among the destruction.
During World War II, there were several bombings in and around the cathedral.
St Paul’s Cathedral has been the venue for many royal events, including the wedding of the late Princess Diana and Prince Charles, and has also survived several fires and bombings since its construction. (Anwar Hussein/WireImage I Grant Smith/View photo/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
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According to St. Paul’s Cathedral’s website, London was bombed for 57 consecutive nights during the German military’s bombing campaign against British cities called The Blitz. During this time, more than 1 million buildings were partially damaged or destroyed.
Many bombings occurred around or inside the cathedral, including on December 29, 1940.
That night, Herbert Mason, the Daily Mail’s chief photographer, was on the roof of the newspaper office, looking around at the destruction below and the smoke filling the air.
Beyond the smoke, he saw St. Paul’s Cathedral, still standing as a shining light in the city amidst the destruction around it.


St. Paul’s Cathedral withstood several bombings during World War II. (Chris Harris/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
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According to the cathedral’s website, Mason said: “Suddenly, a glowing cross, dome and tower rose up like symbols of hell. The sight was unbelievable. Within a second or two, I clicked the shutter. ” Mason said of the moment.
The photo “St. Paul survives” is still famous today.
According to St. Paul’s Cathedral website, 28 small explosive devices fell in and around the cathedral that night, hitting the dome and destroying the nearby chapter house.
Sources said that two months earlier a 500 pound bomb had exploded at Apse and Quayle, and in April 1941 the cathedral was hit again.


St. Paul’s Cathedral has a beautiful dome. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
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In September 1940, another bomb landed in the Southwest Tower but did not explode and was carefully removed to allow it to explode safely.
According to St. Paul’s Cathedral website, several areas within the cathedral are still damaged by the bomb.
Many years later, the cathedral was the setting for the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
St. Paul’s Cathedral was a unique choice for their wedding, as most of the royal family chose Westminster Abbey as their wedding location.


By holding the ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral, more people were able to see Princess Diana and Prince Charles on their wedding day. (Anwar Hussain/Wireimage)
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The wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana in July 1981 was the first in 480 years for an heir to the throne to take place at St. Paul’s Cathedral, according to the cathedral’s website.
St Paul’s Cathedral was chosen as the wedding venue due to its large size and long distance to the cathedral, Clarence House and Buckingham Palace, which allows for greater public access.
According to the cathedral’s website, 3,500 people attended the royal wedding, with an additional 350 million watching from home.
Today, St. Paul’s Cathedral remains a sacred place of worship and hosts many royal events. It is a staple of the city with its famous dome, which is unmistakable among London’s buildings. It is also one of London’s top tourist attractions and is visited by millions of people each year.