Harry's Wedding: On Or Off?

Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle was not called off. The couple married on 19 May 2018 at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in the United Kingdom. The wedding was a traditional affair, with a ceremony conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and a carriage procession through Windsor. The bride wore a dress designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, and the groom wore a Blues and Royals frock coat uniform. The couple's wedding rings were made by Cleave and Company.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding ceremony

The wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in the United Kingdom. The groom is a member of the British royal family, and the bride is American, with a background in acting, blogging, charity work, and advocacy.

The wedding was a traditional ceremony with a modern twist, incorporating elements of African-American culture. The bride's dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller for the French fashion house Givenchy. It featured a boat neckline, long sleeves, and a sweeping train, with a 16-foot silk veil embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth. Prince Harry wore the frock coat uniform of the Blues and Royals, with permission from the Queen to keep his beard.

The ceremony was officiated by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, using the standard Anglican church service for Holy Matrimony. The couple exchanged vows and rings before the Queen and 600 guests. Prince Harry told Meghan, "You look amazing," and the bride broke with royal tradition by not promising to "obey" her husband. Prince Harry also chose to wear a wedding ring, another break from royal custom.

The wedding service combined British tradition with modernity and the bride's African-American heritage. The Most Rev Bishop Michael Curry, the president of the US Episcopal Church, gave an address, and the Rt Rev David Conner, Dean of Windsor, conducted the service. Lady Jane Fellowes, the sister of Prince Harry's late mother, Princess Diana, gave a reading from the Song of Solomon.

The ceremony included a performance by the gospel choir, The Kingdom Choir, who sang "Stand By Me." The music was directed by James Vivian, the chapel's Organist and Director of Music, with an orchestra conducted by Christopher Warren-Green. The bride walked down the aisle to "Eternal source of light divine," sung by soprano Elin Manahan Thomas.

Following the ceremony, the newlyweds, now known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, kissed in front of cheering well-wishers on the steps of the chapel. They then travelled through Windsor in a horse-drawn carriage, greeting tens of thousands of well-wishers.

The wedding reception

The second reception was a more intimate affair hosted by Prince Charles at Frogmore House for the couple and their 200 closest friends. The bride and groom arrived at the evening reception in a sleek, vintage blue Jaguar E-type convertible, adorned with a special license plate bearing the date of their wedding. The couple had also changed into new outfits, with Meghan wearing a custom halter gown with an open back by Stella McCartney, and Harry opting for a black tuxedo. The wedding cake, created by Claire Ptak, broke from royal tradition with a lemon sponge cake with elderflower syrup, Amalfi lemon curd, and a Swiss meringue buttercream topping infused with elderflower. The reception also featured a DJ set by Idris Elba, who played a playlist provided by Meghan, and cocktails served by George Clooney.

The couple's guest list

The guest list for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding included several A-listers, in addition to members of the British royal family. The bride's pals Serena Williams and Priyanka Chopra showed up for the ceremony, as did her Suits co-stars Abigail Spencer, Gabriel Macht, and Patrick J. Adams (with his wife, Troian Bellisario).

Prince Harry's ex-girlfriends, Cressida Bonas and Chelsea Davy, were also in attendance, along with several famous couples, including George and Amal Clooney, Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford, and Victoria and David Beckham.

Other notable guests included James Corden, Sir Elton John, Joss Stone, Will Greenwood, James Haskell, Johnny Wilkinson, Clive Woodward, Nacho Figueras, Idris Elba, and Oprah Winfrey.

The couple's wedding party included 10 children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Rylan Litt, Remi Litt, Darren Litt, Brian Mulroney, John Mulroney, Ivy Mulroney, Florence van Cutsem, Zalie Warren, and Jasper Dyer.

Meghan Markle's wedding dress and veil

Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller under the fashion house Givenchy. The dress epitomised "a timeless minimal elegance", with sleek lines and sharp cuts. The silk dress featured an open bateau neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers in just five months, with Markle and Waight Keller meeting for eight fittings.

Markle's 16-foot silk tulle veil was hand-embroidered with a variety of flowers, including the California poppy, in honour of her home state, and wintersweet, which grows at Kensington Palace. The veil also featured flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, symbolising Markle's wish to have them with her during the ceremony. The veil took longer to create than the dress and was washed every 30 minutes during the embroidery process to ensure it remained immaculate.

The dress and veil were exhibited by the Royal Collection Trust at Windsor Castle and Holyrood Palace from October 2018 to October 2019.

The Duke of Westminster's wedding guest list drama

The Duke of Westminster, Hugh Grosvenor, married his fiancée, Olivia Henson, at Chester Cathedral in what was dubbed the society wedding of the year. The guest list included Prince William, who served as an usher, and King Charles, who is Grosvenor's godfather. However, Prince Harry, who is also a close friend of Grosvenor, declined his invitation due to the ongoing royal drama between the two brothers.

The wedding of the Duke of Westminster, Hugh Grosvenor, to his fiancée, Olivia Henson, on June 7, 2024, was highly anticipated as the society wedding of the year. The guest list included prominent members of British society and the royal family, with Prince William serving as an usher, and King Charles, who is Grosvenor's godfather. However, Prince Harry, who is also a close friend of Grosvenor, declined his invitation due to the ongoing royal drama between the two brothers.

The Royal Feud

Prince Harry and his brother, Prince William, have been estranged due to a long-running royal feud. The Duke of Westminster, who is close to both princes, found himself in a delicate position. While both brothers were believed to have been invited to the wedding, only Prince William attended, with Harry diplomatically declining his invitation to avoid any tension or awkwardness that could overshadow the couple's big day.

Transatlantic Travel Challenges

One of the factors contributing to Prince Harry's decision to decline the invitation was the challenge of transatlantic travel to the UK. Due to security concerns and the removal of his official support after stepping back from royal roles, travelling to the wedding would have been difficult for Harry. Additionally, he and his wife, Meghan Markle, no longer have access to Frogmore Cottage as a base during their stays in the UK.

Impact on the Wedding Day

Prince Harry's absence removed the potential difficulty of him being seated by his brother, Prince William, who welcomed guests and helped them find their places in the church pews. This avoided any potential awkward interactions or tensions between the estranged brothers, ensuring that the wedding day remained focused on the couple and their celebration.

Other Notable Guests

In addition to Prince William, other prominent guests at the wedding included Grosvenor's sisters, Lady Edwina and Lady Tamara, and their husbands, broadcaster Dan Snow and banker Edward van Cutsem. King Charles, who is Grosvenor's godfather, and the Princess of Wales, who is undergoing cancer treatment, were not in attendance.

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