Did Princess Diana's Spirit Attend Prince Harry's Wedding?

Princess Diana's presence was felt at her youngest son's wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018. From the flowers to the jewellery, Prince Harry made sure to include his late mother in the ceremony.

Harry handpicked several flowers from Kensington Palace to include in Markle's bouquet, including forget-me-nots, another preferred flower of Diana's. The couple were also greeted by an elaborate archway of white peonies and white garden roses, Diana's favourite flowers, adorning the organ loft and entryway.

Harry's aunt, Lady Jane Fellowes, gave a reading from the Song of Solomon during the service, and Diana's two other siblings, Earl Spencer and Lady Sarah McCorquodale, also attended.

Harry also included two diamonds from Diana's jewellery collection in Meghan's engagement ring.

Princess Diana's favourite flowers were used in the wedding decorations

Princess Diana's favourite flowers were included in the wedding decorations when her son, Prince Harry, married Meghan Markle. While Diana did not publicly express enthusiasm for any particular flower during her life, her friends and family were interviewed to gain a better idea of her preferences.

It was revealed that she enjoyed soft pinks, whites, yellows, and pastel shades in her garden. Forget-me-nots were also known to be one of her favourite flowers, and these were included in Markle's bouquet. The couple also decorated St. George's Chapel inside Windsor Castle with white roses, which were Diana's favourite flower.

Prince Harry's choice to include his mother's favourite flowers in the wedding decorations was a thoughtful way to honour her memory and include her in his special day.

Diana's siblings attended the wedding

Princess Diana's siblings, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, Lady Jane Fellowes, and Earl Charles Spencer, attended Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle. Harry had invited "the entire Spencer clan", including his aunts, uncle, and cousins.

Diana's older sister, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, is six years her senior and briefly dated King Charles in the late '70s. She introduced her younger sister to the then-prince. When Charles and Diana got engaged, Sarah was already married to Neil McCorquodale, with whom she has three children: George, Emily, and Celia. While Diana was a part of the royal family, Sarah regularly looked after Prince William and Prince Harry and accompanied Diana on official trips as a lady-in-waiting.

Diana's second older sister, Lady Jane Fellowes, married Queen Elizabeth II's assistant private secretary, Robert Fellowes, in 1978, when Diana was 16. Diana served as a bridesmaid at the wedding. Jane's marriage to Fellowes meant that the sisters lived close to each other—the Fellowes family lived in Kensington Palace, where Diana resided with Charles and their sons. However, Diana and Jane's relationship suffered during the breakdown of her marriage to Charles, as Robert was promoted to private secretary in 1990 and remained loyal to the palace. Jane has largely stayed out of the public eye since Diana's death in 1997 and has never spoken publicly about it. She and Robert have three children: Laura, Alexander, and Eleanor. Laura Fellowes is Princess Charlotte's godmother.

Diana's younger brother, Charles Spencer, is a writer, journalist, and broadcaster. He has been a vocal advocate for and protector of Diana's memory and legacy. In his eulogy at Diana's funeral, he praised his sister but also criticised the royal family and the British media for their treatment of her. Charles lives at Althorp, the home where Diana and her siblings grew up, and which is also the site of her final resting place. He has seven children from his three marriages.

Harry included Diana's diamonds in Meghan's engagement ring

When Prince Harry proposed to Meghan Markle, he included his mother, Princess Diana, in the special moment by accenting the engagement ring with two diamonds from her collection. The trilogy ring features a large cushion-cut central diamond sourced from Botswana flanked by two smaller diamonds that once belonged to Princess Di.

Harry's thoughtful gesture ensured that his mother could always be present with him and Meghan on their "crazy journey together". This was especially poignant as Harry believes that if Diana were still alive, she and Meghan would be "thick as thieves". During his engagement interview, Harry expressed how much he missed his mother and wished he could share the happy news with her.

The inclusion of Diana's diamonds in Meghan's engagement ring is not the only way Harry honoured his mother during his wedding. When guests walked into St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, they were greeted by an elaborate archway of white peonies and white garden roses, Diana's favourite flowers. Harry also reportedly handpicked several flowers from Kensington Palace to include in Meghan's bouquet, including forget-me-nots, another preferred flower of Diana's.

Harry also invited "the entire Spencer clan" to the wedding, including his aunts, uncles, and cousins, to ensure his mother's side of the family was well-represented. He asked his aunt, Lady Jane Fellowes, to give the only reading at the ceremony, delivering a poignant passage from the Song of Solomon. The hymn "Guide Me, O Thy Great Redeemer", which was sung at Princess Diana's funeral in 1997, was also included in the service.

Harry invited the entire Spencer clan to the wedding

Harry invited the entire Spencer clan to his wedding, honouring his mother, Princess Diana, who passed away in 1997. Princess Diana's three siblings, Charles, 9th Earl Spencer, Lady Jane Fellowes, and Lady Sarah McCorquodale, represented Prince Harry's late mother at the royal wedding. Lady Jane Fellowes, Princess Diana's older sister, gave a reading from the Song of Solomon during the service at St. George's Chapel inside Windsor Castle. The chapel was decorated with white roses, Princess Diana's favourite flower. Harry's maternal aunt's acceptance of the responsibility of giving a reading was especially poignant, given her press-shy nature.

Harry was keen to involve his mother's family in his wedding. He asked Lady Jane Fellowes to give the only reading at the ceremony. The Palace noted, "Prince Harry and Ms. Markle both feel [honoured] that Lady Jane will be representing her family and helping to celebrate the memory of the late Princess on the wedding day." Harry also handpicked several flowers from Kensington Palace to include in his bride Meghan Markle's bouquet, including forget-me-nots, another preferred flower of Princess Diana's.

Elton John, a friend of Diana's, was invited to the wedding

Princess Diana's good friend Elton John was invited to Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018. Elton John and Princess Diana first met in 1981 and became close friends. Elton John also attended Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011.

Elton John performed at the lunchtime reception hosted by the Queen at St George's Hall, Windsor Castle. He sang "Your Song", "Tiny Dancer", "Circle of Life", and "I'm Still Standing". Prince Harry introduced Elton John with a short speech, ending with the joke, "Does anyone here know how to play the piano?".

Elton John's attendance at the wedding was particularly poignant as he had also performed at Princess Diana's funeral in 1997, singing "Candle in the Wind", which he rewrote as a tribute to the late Princess. Elton John also attended the funeral of Gianni Versace with Princess Diana in 1997, and the pair had reconciled after a period of estrangement following the publication of a book by John and Versace.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle thanked Elton John for his friendship with Princess Diana in a video message played at his final performance in the United States on his Farewell Tour. In the message, Prince Harry said, "Thank you for being the friend that you were for my mum... Thank you for entertaining people right around the world."

Frequently asked questions