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The wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, United Kingdom. The wedding was a historical event, drawing in roughly 1.9 billion viewers worldwide. The ceremony began at 12:00 midday BST, with the newlyweds exiting the chapel at 1:00 pm. The wedding was followed by a carriage procession through Windsor at 1:00 pm, which was the last part of the day that was broadcast to the public.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 19 May 2018 |
| Time | 12:00 GMT |
| Location | St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle |
| Bride | Meghan Markle |
| Groom | Prince Harry |
| Guests | 600 |
| Best Man | Prince William |
| Bride's Father | Thomas Markle (did not attend) |
| Bride's Escort | Prince Charles |
| Officiant | Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Ceremony Duration | 1 hour |
| Cake | Lemon and elderflower |
| Cake Designer | Claire Ptak |
| Photographer | Alexi Lubomirski |
| Fireworks | Yes |
| Television Coverage | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
The ceremony began at 12:00 pm GMT
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, with the bride and groom arriving at 11:40 am and 11:45 am, respectively. The ceremony was followed by a carriage procession through Windsor at 1:00 pm, with the newlyweds exiting the chapel and taking an open carriage ride, marking the last part of the day that was broadcast to the public.
The wedding was a highly anticipated event, with approximately 1.9 billion viewers tuning in worldwide, making it one of the biggest televised events in history. The guest list included British royals such as Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Charles, and Queen Elizabeth II, as well as American A-listers like Serena Williams, Priyanka Chopra, and Meghan's Suits costars. The public started arriving at the grounds of Windsor Castle as early as 8:00 am, with the main congregation and guests arriving at the chapel at 9:30 am. The wedding day was not declared a bank holiday, unlike the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.
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600 guests attended
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on 19 May 2018 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, UK. The ceremony commenced at 12:00 midday BST. The guest list included approximately 600 people, most of whom had a "direct relationship" with the couple. This was a smaller ceremony and reception compared to that of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, which had over 2000 attendees.
The 600 guests at the ceremony included friends, family, and relations of the couple. In addition, 200 close friends of the couple were invited to attend the evening reception at Frogmore House, hosted by the Prince of Wales. Prince Harry's father, Prince Charles, hosted the party.
The guest list also included 2,000 members of the public in the grounds of the Windsor wedding. This included 500 members of the Royal Household, 1,200 inspiring citizens and young people chosen by Lord Lieutenants, 200 guests from charities the couple has close associations with, and 100 local school children.
Notable guests at the wedding included Meghan's friends Serena Williams and Priyanka Chopra, and her Suits co-stars Abigail Spencer, Gabriel Macht, and Patrick J. Adams. Prince Harry's ex-girlfriends, Cressida Bonas and Chelsea Davy, were also in attendance, along with famous couples like George and Amal Clooney, Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford, and Victoria and David Beckham.
The wedding ceremony was noted for the inclusion of African-American culture. It was officiated by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, using the standard Anglican church service for Holy Matrimony.
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The Queen arrived last at 11:52 am
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a highly anticipated event, with an estimated 1.9 billion viewers tuning in worldwide. The ceremony took place at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, a venue that held special significance for the couple.
The day began early, with the public arriving at the grounds of Windsor Castle as early as 8:00 am. The wedding guests, including members of the royal family and Meghan's family, started to arrive at 9:30 am, with Prince Harry and his best man, Prince William, taking their places at 11:40 am. At 11:45 am, Meghan and her mother, Doria, arrived at the chapel, joined by the flower girls and page boys.
Following royal protocol, the Queen arrived last at 11:52 am. As the final member of the royal family to depart for the ceremony, the Queen's arrival signaled that the wedding was about to commence. At 12:00 pm, the wedding ceremony began, marking the start of a new chapter for Harry and Meghan.
The ceremony was a traditional affair, with Prince Harry wearing a military uniform and Meghan's dress remaining a closely guarded secret until the big day. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, officiated the wedding, using the standard Anglican church service for Holy Matrimony. The inclusion of African-American culture in the ceremony was also noted.
Following the ceremony, the newlyweds exited the chapel at 1:00 pm and took an open carriage ride through Windsor, providing the public with a glimpse of the happy couple. The wedding concluded with small fireworks displayed above Frogmore House, and the release of three official wedding photos taken by photographer Alexi Lubomirski.
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The ceremony was Anglican
The wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was Anglican. The wedding was held on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, with the ceremony commencing at 12:00 midday BST. The wedding was a historical event, drawing in roughly 1.9 billion viewers worldwide.
The ceremony included a scripture lesson from The Song of Solomon in the Christian Bible, read by Prince Harry's maternal aunt, Baroness Fellowes. The sermon was delivered by Michael Curry, the 27th Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church, who was the first African-American elected to this prestigious role in 2015. Curry's 14-minute address, which quoted Martin Luther King Jr., emphasised the redemptive property of love.
The wedding ceremony also included prayers offered by Chaplain to the Queen Rose Hudson-Wilkin and the Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London Anba Angaelos. The marriage vows were those published in Common Worship, which included the promise "to love and to cherish" each other. The Archbishop of Canterbury later confirmed that the couple was not legally married until their ceremony at Windsor Castle, despite exchanging vows privately a few days prior.
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The Archbishop of Canterbury officiated
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, officiated the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. The wedding, which took place on 19 May 2018, was a historical event, drawing in roughly 1.9 billion viewers worldwide.
In a March 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan revealed that she and Harry had exchanged vows in a private ceremony three days before their public wedding. She shared that the private ceremony was officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, in their backyard. Meghan explained that they wanted their union to be just between the two of them, away from the spectacle of the public wedding.
The Archbishop of Canterbury initially remained silent on the matter. However, he later clarified that the legal wedding took place on the Saturday, referring to the public ceremony. He confirmed that he signed the wedding certificate, a legal document, and would have committed a criminal offense if he signed it knowing it was false.
While the specifics of the private ceremony remain unknown, it is speculated that it was an informal exchange of vows between the couple, with just the Archbishop present. The public wedding ceremony at St. George's Chapel, recognized by the Church of England and the law, was attended by numerous VIPs and included special touches that reflected Harry and Meghan's personalities.
The Archbishop of Canterbury's role in officiating the wedding of Meghan and Harry, both publicly and privately, added a significant element to the highly anticipated royal wedding.
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Frequently asked questions
The ceremony is expected to last 12 minutes, starting at 12 p.m. GMT (7 a.m. ET) and ending at 12:12 p.m. GMT (7:12 a.m. ET).
The wedding took place on Saturday, May 19, 2018.
The wedding ceremony was held at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, United Kingdom.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, officiated the wedding using the standard Anglican church service for Holy Matrimony.
