Junior Rasmussen
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on 19 May 2018 was a highly publicised affair, drawing in roughly 1.9 billion viewers worldwide. The ceremony, held at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, was noted for its inclusion of African-American culture and the couple's hand-picked music, ranging from gospel to traditional hymns. The royal wedding was also a break from tradition as it was held on a Saturday, unlike the usual weekday weddings of the royal family. Interestingly, Harry and Meghan also reportedly exchanged vows in a private backyard ceremony three days before their public wedding.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 19 May 2018 |
| Location | St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, United Kingdom |
| Bride | Meghan Markle, American actress, blogger, charity ambassador, and advocate |
| Groom | Prince Harry, member of the British royal family |
| Guests | 600 |
| Global Audience | 2 billion+ |
| Wedding Cake | Lemon and elderflower cake |
| Bride's Dress | White boat-neck dress by British designer Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy |
| Groom's Outfit | Frock coat uniform of the Household Cavalry ("Blues and Royals") |
| Best Man | Prince William |
| Bride's Speech | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
The date and location
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on Saturday, 19 May 2018. The couple tied the knot in St George's Chapel, located within the grounds of Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom. The venue is at least 500 years old and has served as the site of numerous royal weddings, including those of Queen Victoria's children. It is also the final resting place of several monarchs, including King George VI, the Queen Mother Elizabeth, and Henry VIII.
The date of the wedding broke with royal tradition, as royal weddings typically take place during the week. The day also coincided with the FA Cup Final, which Prince Harry's brother, William, normally attends in his role as President of the Football Association.
The ceremony began at 12:00 midday BST. Around 600 guests attended the wedding ceremony inside St. George's Chapel, with 1,200 members of the public invited to stand inside the grounds of Windsor Castle.
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The ceremony
Music played a significant role in the ceremony, with the couple hand-selecting the songs to reflect their personalities and celebrate their love. The ceremony included gospel, classical, and traditional hymns, such as "Stand By Me" and "Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer." The music was overseen by James Vivian, the director of music at St George's Chapel, and led by principal conductor Christopher Warren-Green.
The Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry delivered a rousing sermon, and the ceremony was officiated by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who used the standard Anglican church service for Holy Matrimony. The couple also shared that they had secretly exchanged vows in a private backyard ceremony three days before their public wedding.
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The reception
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle featured two receptions: a luncheon and a private evening event. The luncheon was hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at St George's Hall in Windsor Castle and featured a performance by Sir Elton John. The menu, created by royal chef Mark Flanagan, included at least three courses made with seasonal ingredients sourced from the Queen's estates. The evening reception, hosted by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, took place at Frogmore House, a royal residence in Windsor, and included a fireworks display. The evening concluded with dancing, with DJ sets by Idris Elba and Sam Totolee, playing many of Harry's favourite house tracks.
The luncheon reception featured speeches by Prince Harry, Prince Charles, and Tom "Skippy" Inskip and Tom Van Straubenzee, who gave a joint speech. At the evening reception, Prince William gave a best man speech, and the bride, Meghan Markle, also gave a speech, breaking with long-standing protocol.
The guest list for the wedding and its receptions notably included a smaller number of political leaders compared to other royal weddings, with the only politician invited being former Prime Minister Sir John Major, who had a special connection to the princes as a "guardian" after the death of their mother. Other notable guests included George and Amal Clooney, David and Victoria Beckham, James Blunt, Marcus Mumford and wife Carey Mulligan, and Oprah Winfrey.
The wedding ceremony and receptions were the culmination of a royal love story that began on Instagram and featured many thoughtful and unique details, from the engagement ring, which Prince Harry designed himself using two diamonds from Princess Diana's collection, to the lemon and elderflower cake created by pastry chef Claire Ptak of Violet Cakes London.
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The dress
The wedding dress of Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex, was one of the most highly anticipated elements of the royal wedding. The dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy. Markle chose Waight Keller because she wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent and because of the designer's ["elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour"]. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers, with only five months to have it manufactured, and Waight Keller and Markle met for eight fittings. The dress was made of silk with three-quarter-length sleeves, an open boat neckline, and a train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. The back of the dress was just as simple as the front and was covered by a 25-foot lace-lined veil. The veil was embroidered with flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth, the California poppy in honour of Markle's home state, and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace. A piece of the blue dress from Markle's first date with Prince Harry was also stitched into the veil.
Markle's dress was incredibly simple and did not include lace, embellishments, or embroidered details. It was a stark departure from previous royal looks, such as Princess Kate's long-sleeved lace gown or Princess Diana's voluminous ball gown. The dress was estimated to cost about $265,000, which the bride paid for herself. The media noted similarities between Markle's dress and those worn by Angela Brown at her wedding to Prince Maximilian of Liechtenstein in 2000 and Mary Donaldson at her wedding to Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark in 2004. It was also compared to a Givenchy dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the 1957 film Funny Face.
In the lead-up to the wedding, there was much speculation about who would design the Duchess's wedding gown. Would she choose the same designer as Kate Middleton, Sarah Burton? Or would she opt for a US designer as a nod to her California roots? No one expected her to arrive at the ceremony in a simple silk gown. Markle, a former actress and fashion enthusiast, was heavily involved in the design of her dress, which showed a "timeless minimal elegance", according to a Kensington Palace announcement.
The royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a highly publicised and televised event, drawing in an estimated 1.9 billion viewers worldwide. The couple reportedly exchanged vows in a private backyard ceremony three days before their public wedding.
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The guests
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a grand affair, with an extensive guest list of about 600 guests. The guest list included members of the British royal family, foreign dignitaries, celebrities, and members of the public who were invited to stand inside the grounds of Windsor Castle.
The royal wedding, which took place on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at St. George's Chapel within the grounds of Windsor Castle, was a highly anticipated event. The guest list included notable members of the British royal family, such as Queen Elizabeth II, who conferred the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex upon the couple on their wedding day. Prince Harry's brother, Prince William, served as his best man, a break from royal tradition. Other members of the royal family in attendance included Prince Charles, who walked down the aisle with Meghan Markle, and Prince Philip.
In addition to the royal family, the guest list also included celebrities and public figures. Notable celebrities in attendance included Oprah Winfrey, George and Amal Clooney, Serena Williams, and Sir Elton John. The couple's wedding also included a performance by DJ Idris Elba, who played songs requested by Meghan, such as "Still D.R.E." and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" by Whitney Houston.
The guest list also included 1,200 members of the public who were invited to stand inside the grounds of Windsor Castle as a way of thanking them for their work supporting their communities. This aspect of the wedding was unique and allowed for a more inclusive celebration.
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a highly publicized event that captivated the world. With an extensive guest list and a global audience of nearly 2 billion people, the royal wedding was a grand affair that brought together a diverse range of guests to celebrate the union of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
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Frequently asked questions
The wedding ceremony lasted approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, from 12:00 midday BST to 2:30 pm.
The entire wedding celebration lasted one day, from the morning ceremony to the evening event at Frogmore House.
The wedding was planned in approximately 6 months, from the time the couple announced their engagement on November 27, 2017, to their wedding date on May 19, 2018.
