The Markle Wedding Mystery: Meghan's Misleading Marriage Date

Meghan Markle claimed in a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey that she and Prince Harry had actually married three days before their official wedding ceremony in 2018. Markle stated that the Archbishop of Canterbury conducted the ceremony in the garden of Kensington Palace. However, the Archbishop later refuted this claim, stating that he would have committed a criminal offence by signing a false wedding certificate. Markle's statement also contradicted legal requirements for marriage in the UK, which mandate a minimum of two witnesses and a licensed venue. A spokesperson for the couple eventually clarified that they had privately exchanged personal vows before their official wedding.

Meghan Markle claimed she married Prince Harry before the royal wedding

In a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan Markle claimed that she and Prince Harry had actually married three days before their official wedding ceremony. Markle revealed that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, had conducted the wedding in their garden at Kensington Palace. Prince Harry also confirmed that the ceremony was attended by "just the three of us".

However, the Archbishop later clarified that the legal wedding took place on the official date, 19 May 2018, at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. He stated that he had signed the wedding certificate, a legal document, and would have committed a criminal offence if he had signed it knowing it was false. Furthermore, a legally valid marriage in the UK requires a minimum of two witnesses and must be celebrated in a church or a licensed location, which contradicts the couple's claim of a private garden ceremony.

In response to the backlash, a spokesperson for the couple clarified that they had "privately exchanged personal vows a few days before their official/legal wedding". This statement aligns with the legal requirements for a valid marriage in the UK and the Church of England.

The claim made by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry about marrying in secret before their official wedding date sparked controversy and raised questions about the legality and validity of such a ceremony. The clarification provided by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the subsequent statement from the couple's spokesperson helped to resolve the confusion surrounding the issue.

The Archbishop of Canterbury denied signing any official document before the Windsor wedding

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has denied signing any official document before the royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at Windsor Castle. Welby broke his silence on the couple's claims in an interview with La Repubblica, stating that the "legal wedding was on the Saturday," referring to the date of the public ceremony, 19 May 2018.

Welby asserted that he signed the wedding certificate, a legal document, on that Saturday and would have committed a "serious criminal offence" if he had signed it knowing it was false. He clarified that while he had private meetings with the couple before the wedding, the official marriage took place in the presence of witnesses on the day recognised by the Church of England and the law.

The Archbishop's comments contradicted Meghan's claim in her interview with Oprah Winfrey, where she revealed that "three days before our wedding, we got married." Meghan stated that she and Harry exchanged personal vows in their backyard with the Archbishop, just the three of them. However, according to legal requirements in the UK, a minimum of two witnesses are needed for a valid marriage, and an Anglican marriage must be celebrated in a registered venue.

Following the Archbishop's denial, a spokesperson for the couple clarified that they had "privately exchanged personal vows a few days before their official/legal wedding." This statement aligned with the possibility that the couple had an informal exchange of vows rather than a legally binding ceremony before their public wedding.

Meghan and Harry later clarified they privately exchanged vows before the official wedding

In a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan Markle revealed that she and Prince Harry had privately exchanged vows three days before their televised 2018 wedding. The Duchess of Sussex shared that they had privately married on May 16, 2018, in a secret garden ceremony at Kensington Palace. She added that the Archbishop of Canterbury had officiated their private wedding, which was attended by "just the three of us."

However, the Archbishop of Canterbury later clarified that the legal wedding took place on May 19, the same date as the official ceremony at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. The Archbishop emphasised that he signed the wedding certificate, a legal document, and would have committed a criminal offence if he signed it knowing it was false.

Harry and Meghan's initial claim sparked controversy, as legal marriages in the UK require a minimum of two witnesses and must be celebrated in a licensed venue or a location with a special licence. Following the interview, the couple's spokesperson clarified their comments, stating that they had "privately exchanged personal vows a few days before their official/legal wedding on May 19."

The clarification confirmed that the private ceremony was a symbolic exchange of vows rather than a legally binding event. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's official wedding on May 19, 2018, was attended by family and friends, with Meghan walked down the aisle by Harry's father, King Charles.

The couple's wedding certificate confirms they married on May 19, 2018, at Windsor Castle

In a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan Markle claimed that she and Prince Harry had actually married in secret three days before their official wedding ceremony. Markle stated that the private ceremony took place on May 16, 2018, in the garden of Kensington Palace, with just the Archbishop of Canterbury in attendance. However, the couple's wedding certificate confirms that they legally married on May 19, 2018, at Windsor Castle.

During the interview, Markle revealed that she and Harry had exchanged personal vows in an intimate setting before their public wedding. She described the private ceremony as a special moment between the two of them. Markle's claim, however, was met with skepticism and controversy. It was later revealed that the couple's wedding certificate listed the witnesses as Prince Charles and Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, confirming that the legal wedding took place on May 19, 2018, at Windsor Castle.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, who performed the official wedding ceremony, also clarified that the legal wedding was indeed on May 19. He stated that he signed the wedding certificate, which is a legal document, and that he would have committed a criminal offense if he signed it knowing it was false. The Archbishop also mentioned that he had private and pastoral meetings with the couple before the official wedding.

Additionally, there are inconsistencies with Markle's claim. According to legal requirements in the UK, a minimum of two witnesses are needed for a marriage to be legally valid. Furthermore, an Anglican marriage must be celebrated in a church or at a location with a special license. These factors contradict Markle's statement about a private wedding in their garden.

In response to the controversy, a spokesperson for the couple eventually clarified their claims. They explained that the couple had privately exchanged personal vows a few days before their official legal wedding on May 19, 2018, at Windsor Castle. This clarification aligned with the information on the wedding certificate and the statements made by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

A body language expert suggests Meghan was uncomfortable and disassociating herself when discussing the wedding

In a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan Markle claimed that she and Prince Harry had actually married three days before their official wedding ceremony, in a private garden ceremony. However, this statement was later refuted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who asserted that the legal wedding took place on the publicised date.

Body language expert Jesús Enrique Rosas analysed Meghan's non-verbal cues in an ITV documentary, where she discussed her wedding veil and dress. He suggested that Meghan's smile upon entering the room was "not genuine", noting a lack of emotion in her eyes. He also observed that her eyebrows were raised when she looked at her dress, and her expressions lacked intensity. According to Rosas, Meghan's odd smile is part of her baseline body language, indicating discomfort or dissociation.

Rosas also noted that Meghan's "mask slipped" when she mentioned "Harry's role as Youth Ambassador for the Commonwealth". He suggested that Meghan was trying to come across as nice but something triggered her mask to slip, possibly the mention of the California poppy, which held personal significance for her. When the person she was speaking to didn't acknowledge the significance, Meghan leaned in as if seeking empathy, and then turned away when she didn't get the desired response.

Rosas also observed that Meghan started blinking rapidly, playing with her hair, and displaying defensive gestures, such as touching her neck and leaning her chin on her hand. These signals, according to Rosas, indicate restlessness and boredom.

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