Pippa Middleton: Harry's Wedding Guest Or Not?

Pippa Middleton, the younger sister of Catherine, Princess of Wales, became a household name after her sister married Prince William in 2011. Pippa acted as maid of honour at her sister's wedding, and her dress – an ivory, curve-hugging Alexander McQueen number – went viral. In May 2017, Pippa married James Matthews, a millionaire financier, at St Mark's Church in Englefield, England. The wedding was attended by Prince Harry, who was accompanied by his then-girlfriend, Meghan Markle, at the reception. Markle's absence at the ceremony was reportedly due to a desire not to distract from the bride's big day.

Pippa Middleton was reluctant to invite Meghan Markle to her wedding

The lead-up to the wedding was marked by intense media interest in whether Markle would attend, and if so, what she would wear. Markle was reportedly very conscious of not wanting to "make a misstep" and worked with a friend to put together a stylish but not flashy look for the church. However, on the day of the nuptials, a British tabloid ran a cover story pitting Markle and Middleton against each other, featuring unflattering photos of both women.

In light of this, Markle and Harry decided that she would not attend the ceremony at St. Mark's Church in Englefield, with Harry joining his brother, Prince William, in entering the church without a date. Markle, meanwhile, stayed in an Airbnb and got ready for the reception, doing her own makeup and changing into a "decidedly unflashy long black gown."

After the ceremony, Harry drove back to London to pick up Markle, and the couple then travelled together to the reception at the Middleton family home in Bucklebury, England. Their arrival caused a stir, with photographers capturing them as they sneaked into the celebration.

The decision for Markle to skip the ceremony was reportedly driven by a desire not to distract from Middleton's big day and to avoid attracting too much attention. This consideration was especially notable given the media frenzy surrounding the wedding and Markle's high-profile relationship with Prince Harry.

Meghan Markle attended Pippa Middleton's wedding reception

Pippa Middleton and James Matthews tied the knot on May 20, 2017, at St. Mark's Church in Englefield, West Berkshire. The wedding ceremony was notably missing Meghan Markle, who was expected to attend alongside Prince Harry. Markle's absence sparked speculation about the state of her relationship with Prince Harry. However, it was later revealed that the couple decided she would not attend the ceremony to avoid attracting extra attention and distracting from the bride's special day.

Markle did, in fact, accompany Prince Harry to the wedding reception, making a grand entrance at the Middleton family home in Bucklebury, England. The couple's attendance at the high-profile event signalled the importance of their relationship. Markle's invitation was particularly notable as it was the first time Prince Harry invited her to join him at an event with Prince William and Kate Middleton and their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

The reception was catered by Table Talk, a high-end firm where Pippa Middleton worked before Kate's wedding to Prince William in 2011. The event was held in a large glass tent structure erected on the property, estimated to cost over $100,000. Markle wore a "decidedly unflashy long black gown" and did her own makeup for the occasion.

The guest list for the reception included nearly 300 guests, including members of the royal family and close friends of the bride and groom. It was the second wedding that Markle had attended with Prince Harry in as many months, further fuelling speculation about their relationship. The couple would eventually announce their engagement and marry in 2018, with Markle becoming a prominent member of the royal family.

Pippa Middleton's wedding dress

Pippa's bridal bouquet was similar to her sister's, although some commentators felt it looked too small. The colour palette of the wedding was white, ivory and pale pink.

Pippa Middleton married James Matthews on 20 May 2017.

Meghan Markle's absence from the ceremony

Meghan Markle was notably absent from Pippa Middleton's wedding ceremony, where she was expected to attend alongside Prince Harry. Markle's absence sparked various speculations, especially since she was spotted in London days before the wedding.

According to reports, Markle's decision to skip the ceremony was driven by a desire not to distract from Pippa's moment and to avoid attracting too much attention. The couple's intention was to keep the focus on the bride and groom without stealing the spotlight.

It was also revealed that Pippa Middleton and her mother, Carole, had concerns that Markle's presence, alongside Prince Harry, might overshadow the main event. This was further exacerbated by a tabloid cover story pitting Meghan and Pippa against each other, which made it inappropriate for Markle to attend the ceremony.

Despite her absence from the church ceremony, Meghan Markle did accompany Prince Harry to the wedding reception at the Middleton family home in Bucklebury, England. The couple's attendance at the reception was seen as a significant milestone in their relationship and an indication of Markle's importance to Harry.

Harry and Meghan's arrival at the reception

On May 20, 2017, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrived at the reception celebrating the wedding of Pippa Middleton and James Matthews. The couple joined nearly 300 other guests at the private evening reception at the Bucklebury home of Middleton's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton.

Harry drove an hour and a half to London to pick up Markle and then another hour and a half to the Middleton estate for the reception. Markle, who had arrived in London three days ahead of the wedding, got ready for the reception at an Airbnb rented by a close friend and fellow wedding guest. She wore a "decidedly unflashy long black gown" and did her own makeup.

The couple arrived at the reception site, which was held in a large glass tent structure, estimated to cost over $100,000, erected on the Middleton family's 18-acre property. The guest list included Middleton's sister Princess Kate and Prince William, as well as their two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

Harry and Meghan's attendance at the high-profile event fueled speculation about their relationship and the possibility of wedding bells in the near future. Their appearance also marked the first time Harry had invited Markle to join him at an event with William and Kate.

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