St. George's Chapel: A Historic Venue For Royal Weddings

St George's Chapel, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married, is located in the grounds of Windsor Castle and has been the site of numerous royal weddings. The chapel, which dates back to the 1300s, has a capacity of 800 people, making it a much more intimate space than Westminster Abbey, where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were married.

St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle

St George's Chapel, located in the Lower Ward of Windsor Castle, is one of the most beautiful ecclesiastical buildings in England. It is a fine example of late Perpendicular Gothic architecture, featuring slender pillars, large windows, and a magnificent stone fan-vaulted ceiling. The chapel was founded in the 14th century by King Edward III and has been extensively enlarged and redeveloped over the centuries.

The history of St George's Chapel is closely tied to the Order of the Garter, the highest order of chivalry in Britain. It was founded as the Mother Church of the Order and continues to be its spiritual home. Every June, the Sovereign and the Knights of the Garter attend an annual service of thanksgiving in the chapel, known as Garter Day. The interior of the chapel reflects its connection to the Order, with the insignia, swords, helmets, and banners of the Knights of the Garter displayed above the choir stalls.

The chapel has been an important site for royal services, weddings, and burials for centuries. It has been the setting for numerous royal weddings, including that of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018. It is also the burial place of many monarchs, including Henry VIII, Charles I, Edward VII, and Queen Elizabeth II. The King George VI Memorial Chapel, an annex to St George's Chapel, serves as the final resting place for King George VI, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and Prince Philip, among others.

St George's Chapel is typically open to visitors, and its beauty and historical significance make it a popular attraction. Visitors can admire the intricate details of the chapel, such as the medieval woodwork and ironwork, the heraldic stall plates, and the stunning stained glass windows. The chapel is a place of worship, with services held daily, and it welcomes those who wish to attend.

Meghan's 'something blue'

Meghans's Something Blue

Meghan Markle honoured the "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" wedding tradition by including a piece of blue fabric from the dress she wore on her first date with Prince Harry in her veil. The fabric was sewn into the hem of her wedding dress, and only she knew it was there.

The Duchess of Sussex described the wedding as a magical day. She revealed the detail in a clip from the documentary "Queen of the World", in which she was reunited with her wedding dress for the first time since the big day.

The dress designer, Clare Waight Keller, said that Meghan wanted to "bring some simplicity and just timeless elegance" to her ensemble. She added that the dress was "not overly feminine, but not really minimal either" and that it captured Meghan's "effortless American style".

Keller also revealed that Meghan's cathedral-length veil featured hand-embroidered flowers representing each of the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as the California poppy, the official flower of her home state. Embroidered crops of wheat, symbolising love and charity, were placed at the front of the veil.

Harry's military uniform

Prince Harry wore a Blues and Royals frock coat uniform for his wedding to Meghan Markle. He explained his choice in an audio clip from the "A Royal Wedding: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex" exhibit in Windsor, saying:

> I chose the frock coat as a uniform, with permission from my grandmother, because I think it's one of the smartest household cavalry uniforms. It's one of my favourites, and I was very fortunate to be able to wear that on the day.

Harry served in the British Army for 10 years and was deployed to Afghanistan twice. He lost his three honorary military titles (Captain General of the Royal Marines, Honorary Air Commandant of RAF Honington, and Commodore-in-Chief, Small Ships and Diving, Royal Naval Command) after he and Meghan stepped back from their senior royal roles in March 2020.

In the years since, Harry has not been permitted to wear his military uniform to various royal events, including the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Trooping the Colour celebration in June 2022, and the Queen's funeral in September 2022. However, he was granted permission to wear his military uniform for the Queen's final vigil in September 2022, following a request from King Charles III.

The Archbishop of Canterbury

The Archbishop also serves as the metropolitan archbishop of the Province of Canterbury, which covers the southern two-thirds of England. He is the senior primate and chief religious figure of the Church of England, although the British sovereign is the supreme governor of the church.

The Archbishop's main residence is Lambeth Palace in the London Borough of Lambeth. He also has lodgings in the Old Palace, located beside Canterbury Cathedral, where the Chair of St Augustine sits.

As holder of one of the "five great sees" (the others being York, London, Durham, and Winchester), the Archbishop of Canterbury is ex officio one of the Lords Spiritual of the House of Lords. He is one of the highest-ranking men in England and the highest-ranking non-royal in the United Kingdom's order of precedence.

The wedding cake

The cake was a layered lemon and elderflower cake, decorated with peonies and roses, and adorned with 150 fresh flowers. It was assembled at Windsor Castle on the morning of the wedding and presented on a striking gold stand. The cake was covered in Swiss meringue buttercream and featured an elderflower syrup drizzle, an Amalfi lemon curd, and an elderflower-infused Swiss meringue buttercream.

The cake was a labour of love for Ptak and her team, who spent five days perfecting the confection. Ptak revealed that Markle gave her free rein on the cake's design, stating:

> "Meghan, she specifically said to me, 'I don't want to tell you what to do… the reason why I've chosen you is because I love your baking and your work and your point of view and your ethos... And I was like, 'Oh my god, that's so cool. The best job brief ever!"

The cake was a hit with the newlyweds, who shared their first married kiss on the steps of St. George's Chapel after the ceremony.

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