Royal Wedding: Holiday Or Not?

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was not declared a bank holiday in the UK. The date of the wedding, 19 May 2018, fell on a Saturday, which broke from the tradition of royal weddings being held on weekdays. While crowds were still able to gather to celebrate, the public did not get the day off work.

The wedding was not a public holiday

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was not declared a bank holiday in the UK. The date of the wedding, 19 May 2018, fell on a Saturday, which meant that crowds were still able to gather to celebrate the occasion. However, the day was not a public holiday.

Theresa May's official spokesperson stated that there was "no precedent in this area" for a bank holiday to be declared for the royal wedding. The spokesperson also pointed out that there were no bank holidays to mark the weddings of Prince Andrew in 1986 or Prince Edward in 1999.

The decision not to declare a bank holiday for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding may have been due to the fact that Prince Harry was not in the direct line of succession to the British throne at the time. He was fifth in line, while his brother, Prince William, who is a future king, had a bank holiday for his wedding to Kate Middleton in 2011.

While there was no bank holiday, licensing hours for pubs were extended to 1 am during the "celebration period", and many councils waived road closure fees to encourage street parties.

The wedding also fell on the same date as the FA Cup Final, which Prince Harry's brother, William, normally attends in his role as President of the Football Association. This meant that Prince William had to miss the final that year.

The wedding fell on a Saturday

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle fell on Saturday, May 19, 2018, which was a break from tradition. Typically, royal weddings are held on weekdays. For example, Harry's grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, were married on a Thursday, while his father, Prince Charles, and Princess Diana wed on a Wednesday. Harry's older brother, Prince William, and Kate Middleton also strayed from the usual schedule, marrying on a Friday.

The Saturday wedding date was chosen to avoid clashing with other events that month. Princess Charlotte's third birthday was on May 2, local elections took place on May 3, and the Duchess of Cambridge was due to give birth around that time as well.

While the wedding day was not declared a bank holiday, licensing hours for pubs were extended to 1 am on the Friday before and the Saturday of the wedding. Many councils also waived road closure fees, leading to a surge in street parties across the country.

The wedding cake was untraditional

The cake was inspired by the spring wedding date and featured a light, refreshing flavour. It was made with 200 Amalfi lemons, 500 organic eggs, butter, flour, sugar, and 10 bottles of Sandringham Elderflower Cordial. The cordial was a nod to Queen Elizabeth, as the liqueur is made from flowers harvested at one of her private homes. The elderflower flavour was also incorporated into the swiss meringue buttercream frosting.

In addition to breaking with tradition in terms of flavour, the cake also differed from typical royal wedding cakes in terms of size and presentation. Instead of a tall, multi-tiered cake, Meghan and Harry opted for a display of multiple cakes, including two single-tiered cakes and one two-tiered cake. The cakes were displayed on gold ornate stands from the royal family's collection.

The cake was decorated with 150 fresh flowers, including British peonies and roses, and adorned with elderflower Swiss meringue buttercream. The overall cost of the cake was estimated to be around $70,000.

The ceremony was held at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was not declared a bank holiday in the UK, unlike the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011.

St George's Chapel has been a popular choice for royal weddings, including those of Queen Victoria's children. The chapel is also the final resting place of several monarchs, including King George VI, the Queen Mother Elizabeth, Henry VIII, Charles I, King Edward IV, King Edward VII, King George III, King William IV and King George V.

The chapel features intricate stonework, stained glass windows, and heraldic plates and banners. It underwent restoration work between 1921 and 1930, and the lower ward now includes the Albert Memorial Chapel, where George III, George IV and William IV are buried.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding ceremony was noted for its inclusion of African-American culture. The traditional ceremony took place in the quire of the chapel, with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, officiating. The Dean of Windsor, David Conner, conducted the service, and the sermon was delivered by Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.

The wedding invitations specified a dress code of "Dress Uniform, Morning Coat or Lounge Suit" for men and "Day Dress and Hat" for women. The ceremony began at 12:00 midday and was attended by approximately 600 guests, as well as 1,200 members of the public who were invited to greet the couple outside the chapel.

The wedding had a celebrity guest list

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a star-studded affair, with a host of celebrities joining the royal family to celebrate the couple's special day. The guest list included many of Meghan's friends from her acting career, as well as some of Harry's famous friends and other notable guests.

Meghan's Acting Friends

Meghan's friends from her time on the TV show *Suits* were out in force, including Patrick J Adams and his wife Troian Bellisario, Abigail Spencer, Gina Torres, Sarah Rafferty, and Rick Hoffman. Abigail Spencer and Priyanka Chopra were also close friends of Meghan's, and she became friends with Chopra after meeting at the ELLE Women in Television dinner. Meghan's other acting friends in attendance included Janina Gavankar and Gina Torres.

Harry's Famous Friends

Harry's famous friends in attendance included James Corden and his wife Julia Carey, who attended in a morning suit. George and Amal Clooney were also there, with Amal wearing a stunning yellow dress. David and Victoria Beckham attended, as did Carey Mulligan and her husband Marcus Mumford. Tom Hardy and Charlotte Riley were also in attendance, as were Idris Elba and his fiancée Sabrina Dhowre.

Other Notable Guests

Other notable guests included Serena Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian, Oprah Winfrey, and Elton John, who performed at the lunchtime reception. James Blunt and his wife Sofia Wellesley, and Priyanka Chopra were also in attendance.

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