The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was televised on May 19, 2018, at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. The ceremony was broadcast on several networks, including ABC, FOX, NBC, CBS, PBS, BBC America, TLC, HBO, and CNN. It was also streamed live on YouTube via the British Monarchy's official channel, The Royal Channel. The event was one of the biggest televised events in history, with an estimated global audience of 1.9 billion people.
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The wedding was televised on several networks, including NBC
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was televised on several networks, including NBC. The ceremony took place on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, and was watched by an estimated 1.9 billion people worldwide, making it one of the biggest televised events in history.
In the United States, the wedding was aired on major networks such as ABC, FOX, NBC, CBS, PBS, and E!, with special coverage and commentary provided by notable figures in the entertainment industry. HBO also hosted a live broadcast with parody hosts, while BBC America provided a simulcast of the BBC's coverage from the UK.
The decision to televise the wedding followed the precedent set by Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011, which was also broadcast globally. The inclusion of media outlets and the live streaming of the event ensured that viewers worldwide could tune in and witness the royal couple exchanging their vows.
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was not just a significant event for the royal family but also marked a departure from certain traditions. The choice of a weekend wedding date, the inclusion of African-American culture in the service, and the bride's American citizenship all contributed to the unique nature of the ceremony.
The couple's engagement and wedding generated immense public interest, and the televised event allowed people around the world to celebrate and share in their special day.
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The couple's wedding date was unusual as it fell on a Saturday
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was highly anticipated, with an estimated 1.9 billion viewers tuning in to watch the ceremony. The couple's wedding date of May 19, 2018, was unusual as it fell on a Saturday. Historically, British royal weddings have taken place on weekdays. For instance, Prince William and Kate Middleton were married on a Friday, while Prince Charles and Princess Diana exchanged vows on a Wednesday. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip also broke with this tradition by getting married on a Thursday.
The choice of a weekend wedding date for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's nuptials was a departure from the usual royal tradition of holding weddings during the week. This decision may have been influenced by the couple's desire for a more intimate and personal experience, despite the large scale of the event. The Saturday wedding allowed for a broader audience to tune in and be a part of the celebration, either through television broadcasts or live streams.
The wedding ceremony took place at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, with the bride and groom becoming the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The event was attended by approximately 600 guests, including notable figures from both the British royal family and Hollywood. The day was filled with special moments, from the bride's dress to the music and the couple's first dance.
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Meghan's wedding bouquet featured a tribute to Princess Diana
On 19 May 2018, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in the United Kingdom. The wedding was a grand affair, with an estimated 1.9 billion viewers tuning in worldwide.
Meghan's wedding bouquet was a beautiful tribute to Princess Diana, featuring her favourite flower, forget-me-nots, alongside sweet peas, lily of the valley, astilbe, jasmine, and astrantia. Prince Harry hand-picked the forget-me-nots from their private garden at Kensington Palace, adding a personal touch to the bouquet. The arrangement also included a sprig of myrtle, a royal tradition symbolising love, which has been included in every royal bride's bouquet since Queen Victoria's wedding in 1840.
The bouquet was designed by florist Philippa Craddock, who created a "petite design, pulled together in a gentle, ethereal, relaxed style," as described by Kensington Palace. The flowers were carefully chosen to honour Princess Diana and to symbolise the love and marriage of the newlyweds.
Following the wedding, Meghan continued a royal tradition by placing her bouquet on the Grave of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey, honouring those who have fought and died for their country. This tradition was started by Queen Mother Elizabeth in 1923 as a tribute to her brother, Fergus Bowes-Lyon, who died in World War I.
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The wedding cake broke from royal tradition
The wedding cake of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle broke from royal tradition in several ways. Firstly, it was not a fruitcake, which is the traditional flavour for royal weddings. Instead, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex opted for a lemon and elderflower-flavoured cake. The cake was also not as tall as traditional royal wedding cakes, with two single-tiered cakes and one two-tiered cake, displayed on gold ornate stands from the royal family's collection.
The cake was created by London-based baker Claire Ptak, who was given free rein over the design by Meghan. Ptak is known for her rustic-chic style and focus on organic ingredients, which resonated with the couple. She created a light and refreshing spring-inspired cake with a Swiss meringue buttercream frosting, adorned with 150 fresh flowers, mostly British peonies and roses. The cake took five days to bake and ice, with Ptak and her team utilising the kitchens at Buckingham Palace.
The choice of cake designer and flavour reflected the couple's progressive values and their desire to make their wedding their own, while still incorporating nods to royal heritage. The cake was well-received, with Ptak's style and flavour choices influencing British baking and becoming a new favourite.
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The ceremony was held at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
The wedding ceremony was a traditional affair, with Prince Harry wearing a Blues and Royals frock coat uniform and Meghan Markle donning a simple boatneck gown designed by Givenchy's Clare Waight Keller. The couple exchanged vows in front of 600 guests, including A-list celebrities and senior members of the British royal family. The ceremony was officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and included a sermon by American Bishop Michael Bruce Curry, who quoted Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Love Your Enemies" speech.
The wedding ceremony also incorporated elements of African-American culture, with a gospel choir, The Kingdom Choir, performing "Stand By Me" and the couple exiting the chapel to Etta James's "This Little Light of Mine," symbolic of American civil rights in the 1950s and 1960s. Meghan's bouquet included forget-me-nots, Prince Harry's late mother Princess Diana's favourite flower, and her veil featured flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as the California poppy, representing her home state.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the wedding was televised. It was also live-streamed on computers and smart devices.
The wedding was aired on ABC, FOX, NBC, CBS, PBS, E!, BBC America, TLC, HBO, and CNN.
The ceremony commenced at 12:00 midday BST.
The wedding took place at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.