Royal Wedding: Harry And Meghan's Big Day

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on Saturday 19 May 2018 in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom. The wedding was a fairytale affair, captivating the world and attracting an estimated 1.9 billion viewers, making it one of the biggest televised events in history. The couple's wedding date was unusual, as British royals traditionally hold their ceremonies during the week. The bride, Meghan Markle, is an American actress, while the groom, Prince Harry, is a member of the British royal family. The wedding was noted for its departure from traditional royal customs and the inclusion of African-American culture in the service.

The wedding date and time

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in the United Kingdom. The ceremony commenced at 12:00 midday BST (7:00 am ET) and was followed by a carriage procession through Windsor at 1:00 pm BST (8:00 am ET).

The wedding day began with the arrival of the public on the grounds of Windsor Castle from 8:00 am. Members of the royal family, including the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, arrived at the chapel at 11:52 am, shortly before the bride, Meghan Markle. The ceremony concluded with the newlyweds sharing a kiss on the steps outside the chapel, followed by a carriage procession through the town.

The wedding celebrations continued with two receptions: a lunchtime reception hosted by the Queen at St George's Hall, and an evening reception hosted by the Prince of Wales at Frogmore House.

The engagement and wedding rings

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's engagement and wedding rings are a beautiful symbol of their love and commitment. Markle's engagement ring, designed by Prince Harry himself, features a yellow gold band—her favourite—with a central stone sourced from Botswana, a country that holds a special place in Harry's heart. The ring also includes two smaller diamonds from his late mother, Princess Diana's collection, a way for Harry to ensure that his mother was with them on their "crazy journey together".

Continuing the long-standing tradition of Welsh gold wedding bands in the royal family, Markle's wedding ring was crafted from Welsh gold, gifted to the bride-to-be by Queen Elizabeth. The tradition dates back to the early 1920s when the Queen Mother, Harry's great-grandmother, wore a band from the Clogau St. David's Gold Mine in Wales. The same nugget was used for the wedding rings of Princess Margaret, Princess Anne, the Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer.

Prince Harry broke with tradition by choosing to wear a wedding band, unlike his brother, Prince William, and grandfather, Prince Philip. Harry opted for a platinum band, designed by Cleave and Company, with a textured finish. This choice reflected his modern approach and willingness to depart from strict adherence to the royal rulebook.

The wedding dress, bridesmaids' dresses and page boys' uniforms

The Wedding Dress

Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress was made of silk with three-quarter-length sleeves, an open bateau neckline, and a train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers and featured only six seams. It was designed to convey "modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts" while paying homage to the history of the Givenchy house. The dress was also notable for its simplicity, with no lace or other embellishments.

The Veil

The veil was a key part of Meghan Markle's wedding ensemble, measuring 5 metres (16.4-16.5 feet) long and made from silk tulle. It was hand-embroidered with a variety of flowers, including two of Markle's personal favourites: wintersweet, which grows at Kensington Palace, and the California poppy, reflecting her home state. The veil also featured flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, symbolising Markle's interest in the work of the Commonwealth and her gratitude for the opportunity to support it. The veil took longer to create than the dress itself, with embroiderers spending 500 hours on its completion.

The Bridesmaids' Dresses

The six young bridesmaids' dresses were also designed by Clare Waight Keller in the Givenchy Haute Couture Atelier in Paris. The dresses were crafted from ivory silk Radzimir, with short puff sleeves and a double silk ribbon detail tied at the back in a bow. The dresses included pockets and pleated skirts to create a relaxed and luxurious silhouette. The bridesmaids wore white leather Aquazurra shoes, monogrammed with their initials and the wedding date, which were gifted to them by Markle as a keepsake.

The Page Boys' Uniforms

The four page boys' uniforms were modelled on the Blues and Royals frockcoat, an old regiment of both Prince Harry and his best man, the Duke of Cambridge. The uniforms were made from blue doeskin in a single-breasted style with a stand-up collar and figured braiding in the regimental pattern. The braiding was downscaled for the boys so that it would not go above their shoulders. Each page boy had their initials embroidered in gold on their shoulder straps as a memento of the special day. The uniforms were created by the tailors Dege & Skinner on Savile Row.

The bridegroom and best man uniforms

On his wedding day, Prince Harry wore the frockcoat uniform of a Captain of the Household Cavalry (Blues and Royals). The uniform was made of blue doeskin and featured a white buckskin belt with sword slings, although he did not carry a sword. The Blues and Royals is a cavalry regiment in the British Army formed in 1969, with the Queen as its colonel-in-chief and Princess Anne as its colonel.

Prince Harry chose to wear this uniform to honour his old regiment. As a Captain General of the Royal Marines, he could have opted for a general's uniform, but he decided to wear the uniform of his original regiment, the Household Cavalry, and the rank of Major instead. This decision highlighted his humility and commitment to service.

The Duke of Cambridge, who served as Prince Harry's best man, wore the same uniform. Both uniforms were tailored at Dege & Skinner on Savile Row.

Prince William, on the other hand, wore the uniform of Colonel of the Irish Guards on his wedding day. This uniform included a gold and crimson sash, gold sword slings, the Garter Sash with the Wings of the Royal Air Force, the Garter Star, and the Golden Jubilee Medal. The tunic was in Guards' Red, featuring the Irish Guards' distinctive button arrangement. The uniform was fitted by Kashket and Partners.

The royal wedding carriage procession route

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle included a carriage procession through Windsor, allowing the public to see the newlyweds in person. The procession began at 1 pm, immediately following their wedding ceremony at St George's Chapel, and lasted for approximately 25 minutes.

The newlyweds left St George's Chapel and started their procession along Castle Hill, passing through the bunting-lined High Street before proceeding along Sheet Street, Kings Road, and Albert Road. The carriage then made its way through the town centre, where thousands of well-wishers had gathered from all over the world.

The procession continued along the iconic Long Walk, a 2.64-mile stretch of tree-lined avenue, with the majestic Windsor Castle in the backdrop. This was one of the most picturesque points on the route, offering excellent viewing opportunities for those who wanted to catch a glimpse of the royal couple.

The carriage then returned to Windsor Castle, concluding the procession. The newlyweds joined their guests for a formal luncheon reception hosted by the Queen in St George's Hall, with 600 guests in attendance.

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