Junior Rasmussen
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on Saturday 19 May 2018 at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. The ceremony commenced at 12:00 midday BST and was attended by approximately 250 members of the British Armed Forces, with the public arriving from 8:00 am. The wedding was not declared a bank holiday, unlike the nuptials of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, and it fell on the same date as the FA Cup Final. The couple delayed their honeymoon until a week after their wedding, with their destination kept private.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 19 May 2018 |
| Time | 12:00 Midday BST |
| 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 | Officer in the Blues and Royals |
| Bride's Attire | High-waisted silk dress designed by Clare Waight Keller |
| Groom's Attire | Frock coat uniform of the Blues and Royals |
| Flowers | Forget-me-nots, scented sweet peas, lily of the valley, astilbe, jasmine, astrantia, and sprigs of myrtle |
| Guest List | Approximately 2,000 members of the public, family, and friends |
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What You'll Learn
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding date and location
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on the 19th of May 2018. The couple's wedding was not declared a bank holiday, unlike the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. The wedding date was also the same as the FA Cup Final, which Prince Harry's brother, William, normally attends in his role as President of the Football Association.
The wedding ceremony was held at St. George's Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle. The chapel is at least 500 years old and has served as the site of numerous royal weddings, including those of Queen Victoria's children. The couple chose this venue because they were "delighted that the beautiful grounds of Windsor Castle will be where they begin their lives together as a married couple".
The wedding was officiated by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, who used the standard Anglican church service for Holy Matrimony published in Common Worship, a liturgical text of the Church of England. The ceremony was noted for the inclusion of African-American culture.
The wedding was witnessed by an estimated 2 billion people worldwide, with 600 guests in attendance. The bride's dress, as well as the cake and flowers, were speculated to be influential on the choices of other British brides for their weddings. The couple delayed their honeymoon until a week after their wedding, making their first public appearance as a married couple at Prince Charles' 70th Birthday Patronage celebration at Buckingham Palace.
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The ceremony
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a grand affair, with approximately 250 members of the British Armed Forces involved, and a guest list of 600 people, including members of the Royal Family, members of Meghan's family, and staff from the Royal Household and Crown Estate. The ceremony took place at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, which had been decorated with locally sourced greenery and seasonal flowers, including peonies, white garden roses, and foxgloves.
The day began early, with the public arriving at the grounds of Windsor Castle from 8 am. Wedding guests started to arrive from 9.30 am, with members of the Royal Family arriving from 11.20 am. Prince Harry and his best man, Prince William, arrived at 11.40 am, and Meghan and her mother, Doria, arrived at 11.45 am. They were joined by six flower girls and four page boys, including Prince George and Princess Charlotte. At 11.52 am, the Queen arrived at the chapel, as is tradition, being the last member of the Royal Family to depart for the ceremony.
After the ceremony, the newlyweds exited the chapel and embarked on a carriage procession through Windsor Town, returning to Windsor Castle along the Long Walk, offering the public a glimpse of the couple.
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The reception
The wedding reception of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was an exclusive affair, with details slowly trickling out to the public over the weekend. The couple had two post-ceremony celebrations, including a luncheon reception hosted by the Queen at St. George's Hall, and a private evening affair at Frogmore House.
The luncheon reception, hosted by the Queen, was held at St. George's Hall, where the 600 guests in attendance were treated to a performance by Sir Elton John. The menu, created with seasonal ingredients sourced from the Queen's estates, was prepared by royal chef Mark Flanagan and included at least three courses. The couple's wedding cake, a lemon elderflower cake, broke from tradition, deviating from the typical fruit cake served at royal weddings.
The private evening reception, held at Frogmore House, featured a speech from the bride, Meghan Markle, which broke long-standing protocol. Prince Harry also gave a speech, thanking his friends for their support and praising his new wife. Prince William, the best man, gave a humorous speech that included references to Harry's growing bald spot and their late mother, Princess Diana. Harry's close friends, Tom "Skippy" Inskip and Charlie van Straubenzee, also gave a joint speech.
The evening reception included a smaller, more intimate dinner for the couple's closest friends and family. The dinner was followed by a fireworks display, which was visible to onlookers like Hello magazine reporter Emily Nash, who shared the moment on Instagram. The fireworks held special significance for Harry, reminding him of his childhood visits to Disney with his mother, Princess Diana.
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The honeymoon
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, had their honeymoon after their wedding in 2018. The couple first met in 2016 on a blind date. In 2020, they stepped back from their royal duties and moved to California, where they have since launched commercial ventures, including several Netflix series and a lifestyle brand.
Although the specific details of their honeymoon remain private, it is known that they travelled to various destinations, including the Royal Yacht Britannia, where they explored islands such as Trinidad and Antigua, similar to other royal couples. The Royal Yacht Britannia has been a popular choice for royal honeymoons, with Princess Anne and Mark Phillips, and Princess Caroline and her first husband, also choosing to spend their honeymoons aboard the yacht.
Harry and Meghan's honeymoon may have included a visit to Scotland, where the Royal Family often gathers at Balmoral, as well as time spent in a hunting lodge on the estate, similar to Prince Charles and Princess Diana's honeymoon.
The couple's honeymoon could have lasted for several weeks, as they had a variety of destinations and activities planned. They likely had a mix of relaxation and exploration during their honeymoon, as is customary for royal couples.
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The guests
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a grand affair, with a guest list that included both public figures and members of the British royal family. The event, which took place on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, was attended by approximately 2,000 members of the public who had been invited to the grounds of the castle.
The royal family was well represented at the wedding, with Prince Harry's paternal grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, in attendance. The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry's father and stepmother, were also present, as were the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry's brother, Prince William, and his sister-in-law. Other notable royal guests included Princess Alexandra, Lady Ogilvy, the Prince's first cousin, twice removed, and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, who are also the Prince's first cousin, twice removed.
In addition to the royal guests, several of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's close friends and family members were in attendance. Notable guests included Serena Williams, a professional tennis player and long-time friend of the bride, and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, the founder of Reddit. George Clooney and James Corden also attended, as well as Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, and several of her Suits co-stars: Patrick J. Adams, Gabriel Macht, and Sarah Rafferty.
The wedding also had a special performance by Idris Elba, a longtime friend of Prince Harry, who deejayed at the reception. He played Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" for the newlyweds' first dance.
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Frequently asked questions
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 ceremony commenced at 12:00 midday BST.
The duration of the wedding ceremony is not known. However, it is known that the couple invited 2,000 members of the public to the grounds of the Windsor wedding.
The length of their engagement is not known, but it was announced in November 2017 that they were engaged.
