Harry And Meghan's Post-Wedding Life

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding took place on 19 May 2018 at St George's Chapel, Windsor. The couple exchanged vows in a private ceremony three days before their official wedding. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has since confirmed that he legally married the couple at Windsor Castle, despite their claim of a prior private ceremony. In their interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan and Harry revealed that their union was a private affair, with the vows framed in their room shared only with the Archbishop. The official wedding ceremony was attended by approximately 600 guests, with millions more watching worldwide. The couple's wedding was a significant departure from traditional royal weddings, with a modern American-style cake and the inclusion of African-American culture in the service.

Harry and Meghan's wedding cake was not a traditional fruit cake, but an American-style wedding cake

The lemon and elderflower cake was a unique choice for a royal wedding, as most royal couples opt for a traditional fruit cake. Harry and Meghan's cake was inspired by their spring wedding date and featured a light, refreshing flavour. It was made with 200 Amalfi lemons, 500 organic eggs, butter, flour, sugar, and 10 bottles of elderflower cordial. The cordial was a nod to Queen Elizabeth, as it was made from flowers harvested at one of her private homes.

The cake consisted of two single-tier cakes and one two-tier cake, which was a more modest display compared to other royal wedding cakes. It was covered in elderflower Swiss meringue buttercream and adorned with 150 fresh flowers, including British peonies and roses. The cake took five days to make in the kitchens of Buckingham Palace and cost an estimated $70,000.

Harry and Meghan's choice of wedding cake reflected their desire to put their own personal touch on their royal wedding and celebrate with a cake that was both delicious and aesthetically pleasing. The cake was a unique and memorable part of their special day.

Meghan's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller

Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, the first female Artistic Director at the historic French fashion house Givenchy. Markle chose Waight Keller because she wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent who had served as the creative head of three globally influential fashion houses: Pringle of Scotland, Chloé, and Givenchy.

Waight Keller worked closely with Markle to design the dress, which Kensington Palace described as showing a "timeless minimal elegance". The designer and the bride-to-be communicated through discreet texts and phone calls, and met for eight fittings. Waight Keller stated that the dress sought to convey modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts, while paying homage to the history of the Givenchy house. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers, and there were only five months to have it and the veil manufactured.

The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady cushioned by an underskirt in triple silk organza. It featured a boat neckline, long sleeves, and a sweeping train. The silk veil was 16 feet long and was embroidered with 55 flowers, representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as Wintersweet, which grows in front of Nottingham Cottage, where the couple lived, and the California Poppy, the state flower of California, where Markle was born.

The dress was revealed to the public when the bride stepped out of the car at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, for the wedding ceremony. Waight Keller said:

> Looking at the design of the dress, there were many conversations [about] how you want to present yourself to the world. Most of us have a wedding with 70 to a hundred people. This was billions of people watching. It has to be flawless, it has to be perfect.

The couple's wedding rings were created by Cleave and Company

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a spectacular event, with the couple exchanging vows and rings at St George's Chapel, Windsor, on 19 May 2018. The couple's wedding rings were crafted by Cleave and Company, a prestigious London jeweller. The choice of Cleave and Company was a significant one, as they also designed Meghan's exquisite three-stone diamond engagement ring.

Cleave and Company were honoured to be chosen by the royal couple to create their wedding rings. The company has a long-standing association with royalty, having previously crafted Welsh gold wedding bands for other members of the royal family. This tradition dates back to the Queen Mother's wedding in 1923. Meghan's ring was fashioned from a piece of Welsh gold gifted to her by Queen Elizabeth, continuing the longstanding custom of royal brides wearing Welsh gold bands.

The wedding band was designed to complement Meghan's engagement ring, which Harry designed himself. The engagement ring features a central stone sourced from Botswana, a country that holds a special place in Harry's heart, and two smaller diamonds from his late mother, Princess Diana's collection. The inclusion of these diamonds was a heartfelt gesture, ensuring that Princess Diana was with them on their journey together.

In contrast to Meghan's Welsh gold band, Harry opted for a platinum wedding band with a textured finish. This choice broke with royal tradition, as his older brother, Prince William, chose not to wear a wedding ring. Harry's decision to wear a ring symbolises his enduring love and commitment to Meghan. The couple's choice of rings showcases their unique style and willingness to put a modern twist on royal traditions.

The wedding rings crafted by Cleave and Company are a testament to the company's exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail. The simple yet elegant bands represent the enduring love and devotion between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as they embarked on their new life together as a married couple.

The couple's wedding was not declared a bank holiday

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was not declared a bank holiday, unlike the weddings of Harry's elder brother, Prince William, to Kate Middleton in 2011, and his father, Prince Charles, to Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. The decision to not grant a bank holiday for Prince Harry's wedding lay with the government, which stated that there was "no precedent in this area". Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman highlighted that there were no bank holidays to mark the weddings of Prince Charles's younger brothers, Prince Andrew in 1986 and Prince Edward in 1999.

However, it is worth noting that a bank holiday was declared for the wedding of Princess Anne in 1973. Princess Anne, like Prince Harry, was not a direct heir to the throne but was behind her brothers in the line of succession. The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle fell on the same date as the FA Cup Final, which Prince Harry's brother, William, typically attends in his role as President of the Football Association.

The news that there would be no bank holiday for the wedding initially came as a disappointment to many Britons, who had taken to social media to express their hope for a day off following the announcement of the couple's engagement. Nevertheless, the wedding was expected to boost the economy by up to £500 million, with an estimated tourism boom predicted.

The wedding was held at St George's Chapel, Windsor

St George's Chapel has been a place of prayer, pageantry, and ritual since the 15th century and is a favourite for royal christenings, marriages, and funerals. The sense of last resting place brings a certain solemnity, and its royal history naturally casts a hush over tourists when they enter.

The wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a much more intimate affair compared to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, which took place at Westminster Abbey. The couple chose St George's Chapel as their venue, as it allowed them to have a more low-key celebration.

The Dean of Windsor, the Right Reverend David Conner, conducted the service, while the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, officiated as the couple exchanged their marriage vows. The wedding included elements of African-American culture, such as a gospel group singing "Stand By Me", and was noted for its departure from traditional royal weddings.

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