Royal Wedding: A Historic Event

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a historic event that broke with several traditions associated with the British royal family. Markle became the first American, a woman of colour, a divorcee, and a well-known actress to marry into the royal family. The wedding was held on a Saturday, departing from the customary weekday royal weddings. It also fell on the same day as the Emirates FA Final Cup, a historic soccer cup competition in Britain, which Prince William, as the President of the Football Association, typically attends.

The couple's choice of a lemon elderflower cake with buttercream frosting instead of the traditional multi-tiered fruitcake was another break from tradition. The wedding was not declared a bank holiday, and it was held at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, a more intimate venue compared to Westminster Abbey, where Prince William and Kate Middleton wed.

The ceremony included a sermon by American Bishop Michael Bruce Curry, who quoted Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Love Your Enemies” speech. Meghan's father did not walk her down the aisle due to health reasons; instead, she walked solo until she was joined by Prince Charles halfway down the aisle. The couple also exchanged vows in a private backyard ceremony three days before the public wedding.

The wedding was attended by A-list celebrities, including Serena Williams, Priyanka Chopra, and George and Amal Clooney. It was estimated that around 1.9 billion people tuned in to watch the royal wedding, making it one of the biggest televised events in history.

Meghan Markle is the first person of mixed race to marry into the British royal family

Meghan Markle's marriage to Prince Harry in 2018 was a historic event for several reasons. Firstly, Markle became the first person of mixed race to marry into the British royal family. Markle, whose mother is African-American and whose father is white, identifies as mixed race. She has been open about her racial identity and has spoken out against the discrimination faced by herself and her family.

Markle's entry into the royal family was celebrated by some as a milestone for a royal family that had presided over centuries of slavery and colonialism. However, it is worth noting that historians have debated whether Markle was truly the first mixed-race member of the British monarchy. Some have claimed that Queen Charlotte, who married King George III in the 18th century, was also of mixed race, descended from a branch of the Portuguese royal family with roots in Africa.

Regardless, Markle's marriage to Prince Harry marked a significant departure from tradition and sent a powerful message about racial diversity and inclusion. It sparked conversations about the history of race and racism within the royal family and British society. The wedding was also notable for its inclusion of African-American cultural elements in the ceremony.

In addition to Markle's racial background, there were several other ways in which the wedding broke with royal tradition. The couple got married on a Saturday, whereas previous royal weddings had typically taken place on weekdays. The cake was a lemon elderflower confection, departing from the usual multi-tiered fruitcake. The wedding was not declared a bank holiday, and there was no balcony kiss or procession through London, as is customary for royal weddings.

Overall, the marriage of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry was a historic event that challenged conventions and represented a step towards a more modern and inclusive British monarchy.

The wedding was held on a Saturday, breaking with the tradition of royal weddings taking place on weekdays

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was held on Saturday, 19 May 2018, breaking with the tradition of royal weddings taking place on weekdays.

Historically, British royal weddings have been held on weekdays. For example, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip got married on a Thursday, Prince Charles and Princess Diana on a Wednesday, and Prince William and Kate Middleton on a Friday.

The choice to hold the wedding on a Saturday may have been influenced by the fact that the date fell on the same day as the FA Cup Final, which Prince Harry's brother, William, normally attends in his role as President of the Football Association. By holding the wedding on a Saturday, it allowed both events to take place without a clash.

The wedding took place at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, with approximately 250 members of the British Armed Forces involved in the ceremony. The bride's bouquet, designed by Philippa Craddock, included forget-me-nots, which were handpicked by the groom in honour of his late mother, Princess Diana.

The wedding was a break with tradition in several other ways as well. For instance, Meghan Markle became the first person of mixed-race heritage to marry into the British royal family, and the wedding was not declared a bank holiday, unlike previous royal weddings. The guest list also included fewer dignitaries and more celebrities, reflecting the couple's desire for a more intimate and personal celebration.

The wedding cake was lemon and elderflower-flavoured, breaking with the tradition of multi-tiered fruitcakes

The wedding cake of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a lemon and elderflower-flavoured cake, breaking with the tradition of multi-tiered fruitcakes. The cake was created by London-based baker Claire Ptak, who was given free rein by Meghan Markle to design the cake. Ptak's team spent five days making the cake in the kitchens of Buckingham Palace. The cake was covered in buttercream and decorated with 150 fresh flowers, including peonies and roses. The choice of flavour was inspired by the spring wedding date, while the elderflower cordial used was a nod to Queen Elizabeth, made from flowers harvested at one of her private homes.

The cake consisted of two single-tiered cakes and one two-tiered cake, displayed on separate stands rather than the traditional stacked tiers. This broke from the tradition of tall, multi-tiered cakes at royal weddings, such as the eight-tiered cake at Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding, or the nine-foot-tall cake at Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's wedding.

The cake was not only delicious but also aesthetically pleasing, with a stark white exterior of elderflower Swiss meringue buttercream and fresh blooms and green foliage. The cost of the cake was $70,000, with the high price tag due to the use of local and organic ingredients, including 200 specialty Amalfi lemons.

The choice of a lemon and elderflower cake was a unique and refreshing departure from the traditional fruitcakes typically served at royal weddings. It was a reflection of the couple's desire to make their wedding their own and incorporate their personal tastes and values. The cake was a stunning and memorable part of the historic wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

The wedding was not declared a bank holiday, unlike the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton

The wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry was not declared a bank holiday, unlike the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. This was because Prince Harry was further down the line of succession than his brother, so there was less pressure for him to have a traditional wedding. The date of the wedding, 19 May 2018, was also unusual as it fell on a Saturday. Typically, royal weddings are held on weekdays.

The wedding also coincided with the FA Cup Final, which Prince Harry's brother, William, normally attends in his role as President of the Football Association. However, in 2018, he had other plans! The wedding was still held on the weekend, and crowds were able to gather to celebrate the royal nuptials.

The royal family announced that they would pay for the wedding, which was estimated to cost around £32 million. The security costs were expected to be lower than those of the 2011 wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. By the end of May, the security costs were estimated to be between £2 million and £4 million. The overall cost of the wedding was later estimated to be £1 billion for the British economy, including an additional £300 million brought in by foreign tourists for travel and accommodation and £50 million spent on merchandise and souvenirs.

The wedding was held at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, a more low-key venue than Westminster Abbey

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was held at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on Saturday, May 19, 2018. The venue was a more low-key choice than Westminster Abbey, where Harry's brother, Prince William, married Kate Middleton. St. George's Chapel is located on the grounds of Windsor Castle, just outside of London, and is considered a quainter setting for a royal wedding.

St. George's Chapel holds a significant amount of royal history. The chapel is at least 500 years old and has been the site of numerous royal weddings, including those of Queen Victoria's children. It 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. More recently, Prince Harry's grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, were also buried in the chapel following their deaths in 2022 and 2021, respectively.

The choice of venue for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding reflected the couple's desire for a more intimate and personal celebration. In comparison to other royal weddings, the event was considered much more low-key and broke with several royal traditions. The wedding was not declared a bank holiday, and it fell on the same day as the FA Cup Final, which Prince William typically attends in his role as President of the Football Association.

The guest list for the wedding also reflected the couple's desire for a more intimate gathering. While there were still many notable guests in attendance, including members of the British royal family and celebrities, the focus was on creating a family affair rather than an official state occasion. Approximately 600 people were invited to the ceremony and reception, with an additional 200 close friends invited to a private evening reception.

Overall, the choice of St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, as the venue for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding reflected the couple's wish for a more low-key and intimate celebration compared to the grand setting of Westminster Abbey.

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