Meghan And Harry: Living Together Before Marriage

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was a highly publicised event, watched by an estimated 1.9 billion people worldwide. However, three days before the ceremony at St George's Chapel, the couple secretly exchanged vows in their backyard.

The royal wedding took place on 19 May 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor. The couple had been dating for almost two years, after being set up on a blind date by a mutual friend in July 2016. They got engaged in November 2017 and moved in together at Nottingham Cottage, in the grounds of Kensington Palace.

The wedding ceremony was followed by a carriage procession through Windsor, and a reception at St George's Hall, hosted by the Queen. The couple then changed into eveningwear for a private reception at Frogmore House, hosted by the Prince of Wales.

Meghan and Harry's secret wedding

In March 2021, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry revealed in a televised interview with Oprah Winfrey that they had a secret wedding ceremony three days before their public royal wedding. The couple shared that they exchanged personal vows in their backyard with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, officiating. Meghan said, "We called the archbishop and we just said, 'look, this thing, this spectacle is for the world, but we want our union between us.' So the vows that we have framed in our room are just the two of us in our backyard with the Archbishop of Canterbury."

However, the Archbishop of Canterbury later addressed these claims, stating that the legal wedding occurred on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, and that he signed the wedding certificate, confirming it as a legitimate ceremony. He added that he had private meetings with the couple before the official wedding but refused to disclose any details.

The secret ceremony caused a stir, as it was thought that the exchange of vows in a backyard without witnesses or a registered venue would not be legally recognized as a marriage. Despite the controversy, the revelation provided a glimpse into the couple's desire for an intimate union amidst the grandeur of their public wedding.

The royal wedding of Meghan and Harry on May 19, 2018, was a grand affair with approximately 600 guests and millions of viewers worldwide. The couple exchanged vows in a traditional ceremony, incorporating elements of African-American culture. The bride wore a stunning gown designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, while the groom donned a Blues and Royals frock coat uniform. The day was filled with heartfelt moments, including a tribute to Princess Diana through Meghan's bouquet, which included her favorite forget-me-not flowers.

The public wedding was a highly anticipated event, with guests ranging from royalty to A-list celebrities. The ceremony was followed by a luncheon reception hosted by the Queen and an intimate evening reception hosted by Prince Charles. The celebrations included performances by Elton John and a gospel choir, as well as a DJ set by Idris Elba. The newlyweds' first dance was to "Land of 1000 Dances" by Wilson Pickett.

While the secret backyard ceremony may not have been legally binding, it represented a private and meaningful moment for Meghan and Harry before their official wedding, showcasing their desire for an intimate union amidst the public spectacle.

Meghan's wedding dress

Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy. The dress epitomised "a timeless minimal elegance, referencing the codes of the iconic House of Givenchy and showcasing the expert craftsmanship of its world-renowned Parisian couture atelier founded in 1952."

The dress was made of "double-bonded silk cady cushioned by an underskirt in triple silk organza" and featured a boat neckline, long sleeves, and a sweeping train. The silk fabric was exclusive and delicate, requiring the embroiderers to wash their hands every 30 minutes to keep the dress immaculate. The dress was also designed with only six seams, and without any lace or other embellishments.

Markle chose Waight Keller because she wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent and admired the designer's "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour." The two worked closely together to design the dress, which included discreet texts and phone calls, and eight fittings.

The dress was revealed when Markle stepped out of the car at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for the wedding ceremony. It was paired with a 16-foot-long silk tulle veil, which was embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as wintersweet and the California poppy, representing Markle's home state. The veil took 500 hours to complete and was secured by a diamond bandeau tiara, made in 1932 for Queen Mary.

Markle's wedding ensemble also included white gold and diamond earrings and a bracelet made by Cartier, and her hair and makeup were done by longtime friend and makeup artist Daniel Martin, who created a natural look.

The royal wedding ceremony

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was held on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in the United Kingdom. The ceremony was officiated by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, using the standard Anglican church service for Holy Matrimony. The groom's maternal aunt, Baroness Fellowes, read a scripture lesson from The Song of Solomon, and the Dean of Windsor, David Conner, conducted the service. The sermon was delivered by Michael Curry, the presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church, who quoted Martin Luther King Jr. in his address.

The bride's bouquet, designed by Philippa Craddock, included forget-me-nots, handpicked by the groom in honour of his late mother, Princess Diana. The wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller under the Givenchy fashion house. It featured a boat neckline, long sleeves, and a sweeping train. The groom and his brother, the Duke of Cambridge, wore the frock coat uniform of the Blues and Royals, with the groom wearing the rank of major.

The ceremony was attended by approximately 600 guests, including A-list celebrities such as George and Amal Clooney, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, and James Corden. The bride was walked down the aisle by her father-in-law, Prince Charles, after her own father was unable to attend due to health reasons.

The wedding incorporated elements of African-American culture and broke with several royal traditions. Notably, the bride's bouquet was placed on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey, following a tradition started by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. The ceremony also featured a gospel performance of "Stand By Me" by Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir, which was requested by Prince Charles.

The wedding cake was a layered lemon and elderflower cake decorated with peonies, designed by London-based baker Claire Ptak. The royal couple shared their first married kiss on the steps of St. George's Chapel, before departing in an open-top Ascot Landau horse-drawn carriage.

The wedding reception

The Queen's Reception

The lunchtime reception was attended by all 600 guests who were invited to the wedding ceremony. They were treated to a variety of canapés, including salmon, asparagus, and panna cotta with quail egg, as well as larger bowl canapés and dessert canapés. The guests were also entertained by a performance from Sir Elton John, who sang several songs, including "Tiny Dancer", which he dedicated to Meghan.

The Evening Reception

The evening reception was a more intimate affair, with only the couple's 200 closest friends invited. The bride and groom arrived at the reception in a vintage blue Jaguar E-type convertible, adorned with a special license plate bearing the date of their nuptials.

For the evening reception, Meghan changed into a custom halter gown with an open back by Stella McCartney, made of silk crepe and featuring a small train. She accessorised with a pair of 18-karat white gold Cartier drop earrings and a giant aquamarine cocktail ring that once belonged to Princess Diana. Her hair was styled by George Northwood.

The groom, Prince Harry, changed out of his military attire and into a black tuxedo.

The music for the evening was provided by DJ Idris Elba, who played a playlist provided by the bride, which included Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody".

The wedding cake, designed by Claire Ptak, was also served at the evening reception. It was a layered lemon and elderflower cake decorated with peonies in shades of white and cream.

Meghan's wedding bouquet

Meghan Markle's wedding bouquet was designed by London-based florist Philippa Craddock. The bouquet was comprised of scented sweet peas, lily of the valley, astilbe, jasmine, astrantia, and several flowers hand-picked by Prince Harry from the couple's private garden at Kensington Palace. The flowers chosen by Harry included forget-me-nots, which were his late mother, Princess Diana's favourite flower.

The bouquet also included a sprig of myrtle, which is a royal tradition dating back to the wedding of Queen Victoria's daughter, Princess Victoria in 1858. Myrtle symbolises hope and love, making it a fitting addition to any bride's bouquet.

The bouquet was described as understated and rich in significance. The stems were held together by a raw silk ribbon.

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