Junior Rasmussen
On 19 May 2018, Prince Harry married Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. The ceremony was a star-studded affair, with approximately 1.9 billion viewers worldwide. The couple first connected via Instagram and then went on a blind date in July 2016. Their relationship was made public by the press in October 2016, and their engagement was announced in November 2017. On their wedding day, Queen Elizabeth II bestowed the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex upon them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Prince Harry's Wedding | 19 May 2018 |
| Location | St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, United Kingdom |
| Bride | Meghan Markle |
| Groom | Prince Harry |
| Bride's Occupation | Actress, blogger, charity ambassador, and advocate |
| Groom's Occupation | Prince and Duke of Sussex |
| Number of Bridesmaids and Page Boys | 10 |
| Wedding Cake Baker | Claire Ptak |
| Dressmakers | Unknown, but took "hundreds of hours" to make the dress |
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What You'll Learn
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding date
The wedding date was chosen based on family availability, as the working royals' calendars are typically booked about a year in advance. Princess Eugenie, who was set to marry before Harry and Meghan, had to postpone her wedding as Harry was higher in the royal pecking order. The couple also had to consider the due dates of Zara Tindall and Kate, who were both pregnant when Harry and Meghan announced their engagement.
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a grand affair, with a traditional ceremony, a luncheon reception, and a private evening affair. The bride, an American former actress, blogger, charity ambassador, and advocate, wore a dress designed by Clare Waight Keller, while the groom and his brother, Prince William, wore the frock coat uniform of the Blues and Royals. The couple's wedding cake, a lemon sponge confection, was baked by Claire Ptak.
The wedding was attended by various members of the British royal family, including Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Charles, and Queen Elizabeth II. The guest list also included several American celebrities, such as Serena Williams, Priyanka Chopra, and George and Amal Clooney. The couple's wedding day was not declared a bank holiday, as was the case with the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.
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Wedding location and guests
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor, in the United Kingdom. The chapel has served as the site of numerous royal weddings, including those of Queen Victoria's children, and is the final resting place of several monarchs, including King George VI, the Queen Mother Elizabeth, and Henry VIII.
The wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was held at St. George's Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle. The choice of venue was a special one for the couple, as it is where Prince Harry's grandparents, Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II, were buried in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The chapel has a rich history, dating back at least 500 years, and holds significant importance within the royal family.
In addition to the beautiful and historic setting, the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was made even more memorable by the presence of a diverse range of guests. The guest list included a mix of foreign royalty, friends and family of the couple, members of the public, and notable celebrities.
Among the foreign royal guests were Prince Seeiso and Princess Mabereng of Lesotho, who are close friends of Prince Harry and co-founders of the charity Sentebale, which supports AIDS-stricken orphans in Lesotho. Other notable foreign royal guests included the Hereditary Prince and Princess of Oettingen-Spielberg.
The couple also invited 2,640 members of the public to Windsor Castle, gifting them commemorative gift bags with the couple's initials, the date, and the venue printed on the exterior. Inside, guests found an order of service booklet, a gold chocolate coin, a bottle of water, a fridge magnet, a voucher for the Windsor Castle gift shop, and handbag shortbread. Additionally, 1,200 inspiring citizens and young people, 200 guests from charities close to the couple's hearts, and 100 local schoolchildren were invited to the grounds of the castle.
The wedding was also attended by Prince Harry's family, including his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, who conferred upon him the titles of Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton, and Baron Kilkeel on the morning of the wedding. Prince Harry's brother, Prince William, served as his best man, and his nephew, Prince George, and niece, Princess Charlotte, were among the adorable bridesmaids and page boys, stealing the show at their uncle's wedding.
Meghan Markle's friends also showed up in full force, with Serena Williams, Priyanka Chopra, and her "Suits" co-stars Abigail Spencer, Gabriel Macht, and Patrick J. Adams in attendance. Notable celebrities spotted at the wedding included George and Amal Clooney, Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford, Victoria and David Beckham, and Oprah Winfrey. The couple even had Idris Elba as their DJ and enjoyed a performance by Elton John at their daytime luncheon.
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The wedding cake
It has been just over four years since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. The wedding cake is often a focal point of the wedding, and the royal couple's cake was no exception. Created by pastry chef Claire Ptak, owner of Violet Bakery in London, the cake broke from traditional royal wedding cakes, which are typically fruitcakes. Instead, the cake was a non-traditional, modern, and elegant design, reflecting the couple's wishes.
The cake was composed of three separate layers, each with a different flavor. The bottom layer was a sponge cake made with elderflower syrup and buttercream, the middle layer was a lemon sponge cake with an Amalfi lemon curd and an elderflower buttercream, and the top layer was a light sponge cake with an elderflower buttercream. The cake was decorated with fresh flowers, including peonies, roses, and elderflowers, which added a romantic and elegant touch.
Standing at an impressive 3 feet tall, the large cake served 600 guests at the reception. The cake was presented on three separate gold-edged stands, giving it a modern and elegant feel. The stands were made by London-based silversmiths Halcyon Days. The cake's design and flavors were a well-kept secret until the wedding day, and it is reported that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were heavily involved in the design process, ensuring that the cake reflected their personal tastes and styles.
The cake's baker, Claire Ptak, is known for her American-style bakes and has authored several cookbooks. She was an unusual choice for a royal wedding cake baker, as she is not a professional cake designer and had never created a wedding cake on such a large scale before. However, her unique style and focus on seasonal, organic ingredients impressed the royal couple. The cake was baked over a period of five days in the Violet Bakery kitchen, with the final assembly and decoration taking place at Windsor Castle on the morning of the wedding.
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Markle's wedding dress
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding took place on 19 May 2018 at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Markle's wedding dress, which was highly anticipated prior to the wedding, did not disappoint.
The dress, which was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, the first female Artistic Director of Givenchy, was described as
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Royal duties after the wedding
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding took place on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor.
As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had several royal duties and engagements to uphold after their wedding. Firstly, in May 2018, Prince Harry was promoted to the ranks of Lieutenant Commander of the Royal Navy, Major of the British Army, and Squadron Leader of the Royal Air Force. In addition, Prince Harry has been closely involved with the armed forces through the Invictus Games, honorary military appointments, and other official engagements. He launched the Invictus Games in 2014 and remains involved. He also jointly initiated the mental health awareness campaign "Heads Together" with his brother William and sister-in-law Catherine.
In terms of their public image, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's popularity initially skyrocketed after their wedding, with Harry being deemed likable by 77% of respondents in a YouGov poll. However, their popularity took a hit after they stepped back from royal duties in 2020, and it plummeted further after the release of their Netflix series, Oprah Winfrey interview, and Harry's memoir.
Despite stepping back from official duties, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have continued to attend certain royal events, such as the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee in June 2022 and her funeral in September 2022. Harry also attended his father's coronation in May 2023 without Meghan. In addition, the couple has pursued commercial ventures, including several Netflix series and a lifestyle brand headed by Meghan. They have also produced podcasts for Spotify, such as Archetypes, featuring the Duchess in conversation with other well-known women.
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Frequently asked questions
Prince Harry's wedding took place on 19 May 2018, so it is almost 5 years since the wedding.
Meghan Markle.
Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury.
St George's Chapel, Windsor.
The wedding date was chosen based on family availability.
