Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's wedding was one of the most highly anticipated events of 2018, with the couple's bridal party being no exception. Markle chose not to have a maid of honour, instead opting for six bridesmaids and four page boys, all children with close ties to the couple. The bridesmaids included Princess Charlotte, Ivy Mulroney, Florence van Cutsem, Zalie Warren, Remi Litt, and Rylan Litt.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Number of bridesmaids | 6 |
Ages of bridesmaids | 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 |
Dress designer | Clare Waight Keller |
Dress details | High-waisted, short puff sleeves, ivory silk radzimir, double silk ribbon bows at the back, pockets, pleated skirts |
Shoes | Aquazurra |
What You'll Learn
Princess Charlotte was a bridesmaid
Princess Charlotte, the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, was one of the bridesmaids at Meghan Markle's wedding. Charlotte, who was three at the time, was joined by five other bridesmaids: Ivy Mulroney, Florence van Cutsem, Zalie Warren, Remi Litt, and Rylan Litt. The young bridal party wore high-waisted dresses with puff sleeves, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy Haute Couture.
The choice of bridesmaids reflected Markle's closeness with stylist Jessica Mulroney and Benita Litt, as several of the bridesmaids were their children. The inclusion of her close friends' children was a notable difference from the Duchess of Cambridge's wedding in 2011, where the bridesmaids were all connected to William's side of the family.
In keeping with British royal wedding traditions, Markle's bridesmaids were children. Royal expert Marlene Koenig noted that "most of the bridesmaids are early teens or children" at royal weddings. Princess Charlotte had previously served as a bridesmaid at her aunt Pippa Middleton's wedding in 2017.
In the lead-up to Markle's wedding, there was a minor controversy surrounding the fitting of Princess Charlotte's bridesmaid dress. In his memoir, Spare, Prince Harry described a text exchange between Markle and his sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, about the dress being too big for Charlotte. The situation was resolved, and the tailor, Ajay Mirpuri, recalled working long hours to alter the dresses.
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Charlotte's dress didn't fit initially
Princess Charlotte's dress didn't fit initially, and this sparked a series of events that have since become a well-known anecdote from the lead-up to Meghan Markle's wedding.
Charlotte, the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, was one of Markle's six bridesmaids. Markle's wedding to Prince Harry took place on May 19, 2018, and in his memoir, Spare, Harry describes a text exchange between Markle and Charlotte's mother, Kate Middleton, about the ill-fitting dress. Markle chose not to have a maid of honour, so it's unclear who was responsible for the bridesmaids' dresses.
In the text exchange, Middleton told Markle that Charlotte's dress was "too big, too long, too baggy" and that she had cried when she tried it on. Markle responded by instructing Middleton to take Charlotte to see the tailor at Kensington Palace, but Middleton insisted that all the dresses needed to be remade. Markle, already under a lot of stress with the wedding, broke down, and Middleton later came by to apologise with flowers and a card.
The tailor, Ajay Mirpuri, has since spoken out about the incident, confirming that he altered all six dresses before the wedding. He recalled working "tooth and nail for four days" to make the necessary adjustments, with his team working until 4 am for three nights in a row. Mirpuri emphasised the high-pressure nature of weddings, especially one "at this level", and expressed sympathy for all involved.
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Meghan's goddaughters were bridesmaids
Meghan Markle's bridal party included six bridesmaids, four of whom were children with close ties to the couple. Two of Meghan's goddaughters, Remi and Rylan Litt, were bridesmaids at the wedding. Remi, aged 6, and Rylan, aged 7, are the daughters of Benita Litt, one of Meghan's closest friends.
In British royal weddings, attendants tend to be children, unlike in the US, where bridesmaids are usually the bride's closest friends. This was also the case for Meghan and Harry's wedding, with the bridesmaids including Princess Charlotte, Prince Harry's goddaughters Florence van Cutsem and Zalie Warren, and Meghan's goddaughters Remi and Rylan Litt.
The young bridesmaids wore dresses designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy Haute Couture. The high-waisted dresses were made of ivory silk radzimir with puffed sleeves and double silk ribbon bows at the back. The dresses also featured pockets and pleated skirts for a relaxed silhouette. The girls' shoes were designed by Aquazurra and monogrammed with the bridesmaids' initials and the wedding date, a gift from Meghan for them to keep.
The bridal party also included four page boys: Brian and John Mulroney, Prince George, and Harry's godson Jasper Dyer. The boys wore miniature versions of Prince Harry's Blues and Royals frockcoat, made by tailors Dege & Skinner on Savile Row.
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The bridesmaids wore Givenchy Haute Couture
The young bridesmaids, who were all children with close ties to the couple, included Princess Charlotte, Florence van Cutsem, Remi Litt, Rylan Litt, Ivy Mulroney, and Zalie Warren. They wore flower crowns on their heads and carried Meghan Markle's 16-foot-long silk tulle train as she walked up the steps of the chapel.
The bridesmaids' shoes were designed by Aquazurra, one of Meghan Markle's favourite footwear designers. Each pair was monogrammed with the bridesmaids' initials and the wedding date, serving as a gift to the children from the bride.
The tailor, Ajay Mirpuri, revealed that there was a disagreement about the fit of the bridesmaid dresses before the wedding. He altered all six dresses in the days leading up to the wedding, working long hours to ensure they were ready in time.
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The bridesmaids were children
Meghan Markle's wedding to Prince Harry was a beautiful affair, and the six bridesmaids added to the charm of the ceremony. The bridesmaids were children, which is customary for British royal weddings. The young girls, ranging in age from 2 to 7, were a delightful addition to the bridal party.
The bridesmaids included Princess Charlotte, the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who was just 3 years old at the time. She was joined by 4-year-old Ivy Mulroney, the daughter of Meghan's best friend, Jessica Mulroney, and her husband, Benedict Mulroney. Ivy's twin brothers, John and Brian Mulroney, served as page boys and had the honour of accompanying Meghan to the church and holding her train.
The other bridesmaids were Remi and Rylan Litt, aged 6 and 7, respectively. They were Meghan's goddaughters and the daughters of Benita Litt, one of Meghan's closest friends. Rounding out the group was 2-year-old Zalie Warren, the youngest of the bridesmaids and another goddaughter of Prince Harry.
The young bridesmaids wore flower crowns specially selected by Meghan and Prince Harry, designed by florist Philippa Craddock. The blooms were chosen to mimic the flowers in the bride's bouquet and included some of Princess Diana's favourites. The bridesmaids' dresses, designed by Clare Waight Keller, were made of silk with high waists and short puff sleeves.
The inclusion of these children as bridesmaids added a touch of whimsy and innocence to the royal wedding, and their adorable presence was surely a memorable part of the celebration.
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Frequently asked questions
Meghan Markle had six bridesmaids at her wedding.
Meghan Markle's bridesmaids were: Princess Charlotte, Ivy Mulroney, Florence van Cutsem, Zalie Warren, Remi Litt, and Rylan Litt.
The bridesmaids were between two and seven years old.
Meghan Markle chose not to have a maid of honour so as not to choose between her best girlfriends. Instead, she included her closest friends' children as bridesmaids.