Junior Rasmussen
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was a historical event, drawing in roughly 1.9 billion viewers worldwide. The couple tied the knot in a fairytale wedding on 19 May 2018 at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. The new Duke and Duchess of Sussex had not one, but two wedding receptions. The first celebration took place immediately after the ceremony at St. George's Hall in Windsor Castle, hosted by the Queen for 600 guests. The second reception was a private evening event for around 200 guests, hosted by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at Frogmore House, a royal residence in Windsor.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 19 May 2018 |
| Location | St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle |
| Reception venue | Frogmore House, Windsor Castle |
| Number of receptions | 2 |
| Number of guests at the first reception | 600 |
| Number of guests at the second reception | 200 |
| Cake | Lemon and elderflower sponge by Claire Ptak |
| Bride's dress | Givenchy gown |
| Groom's attire | Formal military attire |
| Bride's ring | Aquamarine Asprey cocktail ring |
| Entertainment | Elton John, Idris Elba, The Atlantic Soul Orchestra |
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What You'll Learn
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding receptions
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding celebrations included not one, but two receptions. The first was a lunchtime gathering hosted by the Queen for 600 guests from the wedding congregation. This reception took place immediately after the ceremony at St. George's Hall in Windsor Castle. Guests enjoyed Pol Roger Champagne, canapés, and bowl food. There were also speeches from Prince Charles and Prince Harry, with the best man, William, serving as compère. The couple cut their wedding cake, a lemon and elderflower sponge by Claire Ptak, at this reception.
The second reception was a private evening event for around 200 guests, hosted by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at Frogmore House, a royal residence in Windsor, just half a mile from Windsor Castle. The menu for this reception was created by royal chef Mark Flanagan and included seasonal ingredients sourced from the Queen's estates. Rumours suggest that there was a speech from the bride, Meghan, and a cheeky best man speech by William. The event also included a joint speech by Prince Harry's close friends, Tom "Skippy" Inskip and Tom Van Straubenzee.
The evening reception also featured a fireworks display and music from DJ Sam Totolee, who played many of Prince Harry's favourite house tracks. There were also special musical guests, including DJ Idris Elba and The Atlantic Soul Orchestra. Notably, Idris Elba played "Still D.R.E." at Meghan's request, and Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" was also included in the setlist given to him by Meghan. Musician Elton John, a guest at the wedding, played the piano and performed four of his songs, including "Circle of Life" and "Tiny Dancer".
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St. George's Hall and Frogmore House venues
St. George's Hall, located in Windsor Castle, is the largest room in the castle, spanning 180 feet (55.5 meters) in length and 29.5 feet (9 meters) in width. The venue has been used by the Queen to host formal state dinners with world leaders. It suffered severe damage in the 1992 Windsor Castle fire but was later renovated in a modern Gothic style. St. George's Hall hosted the first wedding reception for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, with 600 guests from the wedding congregation. The guests were served Pol Roger Champagne, canapes, and bowl food, followed by a lemon and elderflower sponge cake.
Frogmore House, a 17th-century English country house located about a mile from Windsor Castle, was the venue for the second, more private wedding reception for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The house has been a royal residence for over 300 years and has been used by the royal family for various occasions, including honeymoons and retreats. It features stunning grounds and luxurious indoor spaces. The evening reception at Frogmore House included a speech from the bride, Meghan Markle, and a best man speech by William. The dinner was prepared by the royal chef Mark Flanagan, featuring seasonal ingredients sourced from the Queen's estates. The reception concluded with a fireworks display.
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The royal wedding guest list
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a historical event, drawing in roughly 1.9 billion viewers worldwide. The royal wedding guest list included both famous and non-famous faces.
The first celebration, a luncheon reception hosted by the Queen, was held at St. George's Hall in Windsor Castle. The lunchtime gathering included 600 guests from the wedding service congregation. The guest list included the following:
- The bride and groom, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex
- Prince Harry's father, King Charles III (then the Prince of Wales)
- Prince Harry's brother, Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge
- The bride's mother
- The groom's brother, with whom he stayed the night before the wedding
- 10 bridesmaids and page boys, including Prince Harry's nephew and niece, Prince George and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge
- Meghan Markle's famous friends and co-stars, including Serena Williams, Ben and Jessica Mulroney, Jill Smoller, Janina Gavankar, Misha Nonoo, and Oprah Winfrey
- Suits co-stars, including Patrick J. Adams, Gina Torres, Abigail Spencer, Sarah Rafferty, Rick Hoffman, and Gabriel Macht
- George and Amal Clooney
- David and Victoria Beckham
- Idris Elba
- Tom Hardy
- James Corden
- Sir Elton John
- Joss Stone
- Will Greenwood
- James Haskell
- Johnny Wilkinson
- Clive Woodward
- Nachos Figueras
- James Blunt
- Marcus Mumford and his wife Carey Mulligan
The second reception was a private evening event for around 200 guests hosted by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at Frogmore House, a royal residence in Windsor. The guest list included the following:
- Tom "Skippy" Inskip and Tom Van Straubenzee, Prince Harry's close friends, who gave a joint speech
- DJ Sam Totolee, who played many of Harry's favourite house tracks
- DJ Idris Elba, who was invited by Harry and played "Still D.R.E." at Meghan's request
- The Atlantic Soul Orchestra, who performed at the event
- Special musical guests, as expected
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The lemon and elderflower cake
The wedding cake of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, was a lemon and elderflower cake. The cake was designed by London-based cake designer Claire Ptak, who spent five days perfecting the couple's lemon sponge confection with her team. The cake was covered with buttercream and decorated with fresh flowers, specifically peonies in shades of white and cream. It featured elderflower syrup made at the Queen's residence in Sandringham from the estate's own elderflower trees.
The cake was served at the first wedding reception, which took place immediately after the ceremony at St. George's Hall in Windsor Castle. The lunchtime gathering was hosted by the Queen for 600 guests from the wedding congregation. The cake cutting also took place at this reception.
The second reception was a private evening event for around 200 guests, hosted by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at Frogmore House, a royal residence in Windsor. Frogmore House was also the venue for Harry and Meghan's official engagement photos.
The wedding ceremony and receptions were historical events, drawing in roughly 1.9 billion viewers around the world. The wedding cake baker, Claire Ptak, spent five days perfecting the couple's lemon and elderflower cake with her team. The cake was a unique and refreshing take on the traditional fruitcake typically served at royal weddings.
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The Duchess of Sussex's evening dress
The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, wore not one but two wedding dresses on her wedding day. The first, a simple silk gown with a bateau neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves, was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller under the Givenchy label.
For her evening reception, the Duchess changed into a bespoke lily white high-neck gown made of silk crepe, designed by Stella McCartney, daughter of Sir Paul McCartney. The dress featured a halter neckline and a sleeveless, Slinky silhouette, bringing a modern touch to traditional royal aesthetics. McCartney said she was “so proud and honoured” to have been chosen by the Duchess, as she promotes eco-friendly fashion, vegan leathers, and sustainability—values that are on-brand for the philanthropic Duchess.
The Duchess paired her evening dress with Princess Diana's aquamarine Asprey cocktail ring, which was meant to be the "something blue" that some brides incorporate into their wedding. She also wore satin shoes from Aquazurra, with nude mesh and soles painted in baby blue. Her hair was styled in an up-do by George Northwood.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had two wedding receptions.
The first reception was held at St. George's Hall in Windsor Castle. The second reception was hosted at Frogmore House, a royal residence in Windsor.
The first reception was attended by 600 guests, including the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William, and other members of the royal family. The second reception was a private event for around 200 of the couple's closest friends and family. Notable guests included George and Amal Clooney, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, James Corden, Elton John, David and Victoria Beckham, and Meghan's Suits co-stars.
The first reception included speeches from Prince Charles, Prince Harry, and Prince William, as well as the cutting of the cake, a lemon and elderflower sponge. The second reception featured a speech from the bride, Meghan, and a best man speech by William. DJ Sam Totolee played many of Harry's favourite house tracks, and Elton John performed four of his songs. The reception concluded with a fireworks display.
For the first reception, Meghan wore a white halter-neck fishtail gown designed by Stella McCartney. For the second reception, she changed into a custom halter gown with an open back, also by Stella McCartney, and a pair of Aquazurra heels with light blue bottoms. She also wore an aquamarine cocktail ring that belonged to Princess Diana.
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