Americans Captivated By Royal Wedding

On Saturday, 19 May 2018, millions of Americans woke up early to watch the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The wedding, which took place at Windsor Castle in England, drew an estimated 29 million viewers in the US across 15 networks. This number far exceeded the American viewership of Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011, which was watched by 22.8-23 million people.

The wedding had 29.2 million viewers in the US

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a highly anticipated event, with millions of Americans tuning in to watch the royal nuptials. The ceremony, which took place at Windsor Castle in England, was broadcast live on multiple channels, attracting a significant audience.

According to Nielsen data, an estimated 29.2 million viewers in the United States tuned in to witness the royal wedding. This number represents the audience across 15 different broadcast and cable networks that aired the wedding ceremony live. The high viewership can be attributed to various factors, including the early morning start time of 7 a.m. EST, which may have encouraged viewers to tune in before their daily activities.

The royal wedding attracted a larger American audience compared to the 2011 wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. The previous royal wedding garnered 22.8 million viewers across 11 networks. The increased interest in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding can be attributed to several factors, including Markle's American nationality and the merging of cultures and countries.

The breakdown of viewership across different networks provides additional insights. NBC led the way with an average of 6.4 million viewers, closely followed by ABC with 6.3 million. CBS attracted 4.8 million viewers, while Fox News and CNN had 1.9 million and 1.8 million viewers, respectively. These numbers indicate a strong interest in the royal wedding among American audiences, with many choosing to wake up early or tune in during their morning routines.

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle captivated Americans, with nearly 30 million people choosing to spend their Saturday morning witnessing the union of a British royal and an American actress. The high viewership underscores the appeal of royal weddings and the interest they generate, especially when there is a connection to the United States.

It was broadcast on 15 channels

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a major media event in the US, with 15 channels broadcasting the ceremony live. The 7 a.m. ET start time didn't deter millions of Americans from tuning in to watch the royal nuptials. In fact, the wedding drew an estimated 29 million viewers in the US, according to Nielsen data. That's a huge number of people and represents almost a tenth of the entire US population!

The 15 channels that aired the wedding were: ABC, BBC America, CBS, CNN, CNNe, E!, Fox News Channel, Freeform, HLN, MSNBC, NBC, PBS, Telemundo, TLC, and Univision. Each of these networks contributed to the impressive overall viewership numbers. NBC led the way with an average of 6.4 million viewers, followed closely by ABC with 6.3 million. CBS averaged 4.8 million viewers, while Fox News and CNN both had around 2 million viewers each. Even the least-watched network, MSNBC, still attracted an audience of 1 million people.

The extensive coverage and high viewership of the wedding can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, Markle's American nationality generated a lot of interest in the US. Secondly, the wedding took place on a Saturday, making it more accessible to viewers than if it had been held on a weekday. Additionally, the ceremony's early start time may have encouraged people to tune in, as they could watch the wedding before getting on with their day.

The high ratings also reflect the public's fascination with royal weddings and the merging of two cultures and countries. The guest list included a mix of celebrities and notable figures, such as Oprah Winfrey, George and Amal Clooney, and Idris Elba, which likely added to the appeal for many viewers.

There were 6.9 million social media interactions

Social media platforms have become a significant part of our lives, with many people spending a considerable amount of time on them daily. So, it is no surprise that the royal wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sparked a lot of interest and discussion on these platforms. According to Nielsen data, there were 6.9 million total interactions across Facebook and Twitter related to the wedding. This number is a testament to the popularity of the couple and the fascination that people had for their union.

The high number of social media interactions can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, Meghan Markle is an American, and her marriage to a British royal created a lot of buzz in the United States. People were eager to celebrate and discuss the union of an American actress with a member of the British royal family. Secondly, the wedding took place early on a Saturday morning in the United States, starting at 7 a.m. ET. This timing may have encouraged people to take to social media to follow the event and engage in conversations with others who were also watching.

The 6.9 million interactions also reflect the diverse ways in which people consumed the wedding content. While the traditional television networks drew an estimated 29 million viewers in the US, many people also chose to stream the wedding ceremony online or follow it through social media platforms. The convenience of being able to watch or engage with the event from anywhere, at any time, likely contributed to the high number of social media interactions.

Additionally, the royal wedding was not just a cultural moment in Britain but also in the United States. The merging of two cultures and countries captivated audiences on both sides of the pond. The celebrity guests, the diverse performances, and the presence of an American preacher and a gospel choir all added to the uniqueness of the event. All these factors contributed to a global conversation about the wedding, with people from different backgrounds and locations sharing their thoughts and reactions on social media.

The 6.9 million social media interactions also highlight the impact of the event beyond just the day of the wedding. The discussions and engagement continued long after the ceremony ended, with people sharing photos, videos, and memories of the event. The wedding also sparked conversations about mixed-race identities, as Meghan Markle became one of the first mixed-race members of the British royal family. The event and the subsequent social media interactions became a platform for people to discuss and celebrate diversity and cultural representation.

It outperformed the last royal wedding in US viewership

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a highly anticipated event, with millions of Americans tuning in to watch the royal nuptials. The ceremony, which took place at Windsor Castle in England, attracted an estimated 29 million viewers in the US alone, according to Nielsen data. This number is based on the 15 channels that broadcast the wedding live, including major networks such as ABC, CBS, and NBC.

The high viewership numbers for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding are even more impressive when compared to the last royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011. The 2011 royal wedding garnered significantly fewer viewers, with 22.8-23 million Americans tuning in across 11 networks. This means that the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle saw an increase of approximately 6 million viewers in the US, outperforming the last royal wedding in terms of viewership.

There are several factors that could have contributed to the higher viewership numbers for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. Firstly, Meghan Markle is an American, which naturally drew more interest from American audiences. Secondly, the timing of the wedding may have played a factor, as it took place on a Saturday morning, making it more accessible for viewers to tune in. Additionally, the increased availability of streaming options and the growth of social media since the 2011 wedding may have also contributed to the higher viewership numbers.

The royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a massive event that captivated audiences worldwide. The high viewership numbers, particularly in the US, showcase the interest and excitement surrounding the union of a British royal and an American actress. The event brought people together, drawing in a larger audience than the previous royal wedding and creating a memorable moment in time.

It drew a bigger audience than the Winter Olympics

The royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attracted a lot of attention. The ceremony, which took place at Windsor Castle in England, drew an estimated 29 million viewers in the US alone. This figure is based on the 15 channels that aired the wedding ceremony live and measures the number of viewers that tuned in when the ceremony officially started at 7 a.m. EST.

These impressive ratings were higher than those for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, which averaged 19.8 million viewers a night. The royal wedding also outperformed the year's Oscars ceremony (26.5 million viewers) and more than doubled the numbers on Game of Thrones, one of TV's most-watched shows (12.1 million viewers for the previous season finale).

The high ratings for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the wedding took place between a British royal and an American actress, which likely drew more interest from American audiences. Secondly, the wedding was historic and of greater interest to US viewers as Markle is an American and one of the first mixed-race members of the British royal family. The wedding also unapologetically centred her blackness, with a black American preacher giving an address and a performance by a gospel choir.

The royal wedding captivated audiences on both sides of the pond and drew a bigger audience than the Winter Olympics. It was a major ratings success and reflected the public's interest in this historic and culturally significant event.

Frequently asked questions