Harry's Wedding: Why We Should Care

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018 was a highly publicised event that captivated audiences worldwide. With an estimated 1.9 billion viewers, it was one of the biggest televised events in history. The couple's nuptials were significant for several reasons, including their departure from traditional royal customs and the inclusion of African-American culture in the ceremony.

However, opinions vary on whether people should care about the royal wedding. While many were excited to witness two lovely young people get married, others, like British comedian John Oliver, expressed indifference. A 2018 poll by YouGov found that 66% of Brits were not interested in the wedding, and there was a notable drop in the number of street parties compared to Prince William's wedding in 2011.

So, should we care about Prince Harry's wedding? Ultimately, it's a matter of personal interest and cultural significance. Some may view it as a fairy tale come true, while others may consider it just another over-the-top fascination with celebrities' private lives.

The wedding's cultural significance

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a significant cultural event for several reasons. Firstly, it marked the union of a member of the British royal family with an American actress, which fuelled public interest and curiosity. The wedding was also notable for its departure from certain royal traditions and the inclusion of African-American cultural elements.

One of the most talked-about aspects of the wedding was the bride's choice of dress and its designer. Meghan Markle's wedding gown was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller for the fashion house Givenchy. The dress featured a boat neckline, long sleeves, and a sweeping train, and was made of "double-bonded silk cady cushioned by an underskirt in triple silk organza". The silk veil was 16 feet long and embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as the California poppy, a nod to Markle's home state.

The wedding ceremony itself took place at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, a venue with a rich royal history. It is the final resting place of several monarchs, including King George VI, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and King Henry VIII. The chapel has also been the site of numerous royal weddings, including those of Queen Victoria's children.

The wedding ceremony incorporated both traditional and modern elements. The service was conducted according to the Christian liturgy for Holy Matrimony, with the Dean of Windsor, David Conner, officiating. The sermon was delivered by Michael Curry, the presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church in the United States. Curry's address emphasised the redemptive power of love and quoted Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Love Your Enemies" speech.

The music for the ceremony was carefully selected and performed by choirs, an orchestra, and fanfare trumpeters. The bride walked down the aisle to "Eternal Source of Light Divine" by Handel, and the hymns included "Lord of All Hopefulness" and "Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer", a favourite of Prince Harry's late mother, Princess Diana.

The wedding also featured a carriage procession through Windsor, with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle riding in an open-top Ascot Landau horse-drawn carriage. This procession allowed the public to catch a glimpse of the newlyweds and added to the spectacle of the event.

The cultural significance of the wedding extended beyond the ceremony itself. The Royal Mint produced an official £5 coin featuring the couple, and Royal Mail issued a set of commemorative postage stamps with their engagement photographs. The wedding was also widely televised, with an estimated 1.9 billion people tuning in worldwide, making it one of the biggest televised events in history.

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a cultural event that blended tradition and modernity, incorporating elements from both British and African-American cultures. It captured the public's imagination and showcased the couple's personal style and values, leaving a lasting impact on British society and popular culture.

The media's role in the public's interest

The media's role in generating public interest in Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle was significant. The wedding, which took place on May 19, 2018, was highly publicised and televised globally, with an estimated 1.9 billion people tuning in, making it one of the biggest televised events in history.

The media's coverage of the event was extensive and began well before the wedding day. The announcement of their engagement in November 2016 sparked widespread interest, and the lead-up to the wedding was closely followed by the media and the public. The choice of venue, the guest list, and the details of the ceremony and celebrations were all reported on and analysed in the months and weeks preceding the wedding.

On the day itself, media outlets provided live coverage of the event, with broadcasters and journalists from around the world descending on Windsor Castle, where the wedding took place. The guest list included celebrities and other well-known figures, adding to the media frenzy. The wedding was also live-streamed online, allowing people from all over the world to tune in and follow the proceedings in real time.

The media played a crucial role in shaping the public's perception of the wedding. The extensive coverage, including analysis of the dress, the flowers, the cake, and the guest list, contributed to a sense of spectacle and glamour. The media also highlighted the ways in which the wedding departed from royal tradition, such as the choice of a weekend wedding and the inclusion of African-American cultural elements in the ceremony.

The media's interest in the wedding extended beyond the ceremony itself. In the days and weeks following the event, there was continued media coverage, including analysis of the wedding's cultural significance, particularly regarding Meghan Markle's background as a mixed-race American actress. The media also reported on the economic impact of the wedding, with estimates suggesting it generated £1 billion for the British economy and boosted tourism.

While not everyone shared the same level of enthusiasm for the wedding, with some polls indicating that a majority of Brits were not interested, the media's extensive coverage and the global audience it attracted demonstrated the enduring fascination with royal weddings and the public's interest in the lives of the royal family, particularly when it comes to landmark events such as weddings.

The wedding's economic impact

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was predicted to add over £1 billion to the British economy, according to Brand Finance, a brand consulting expert. The wedding attracted remarkable public attention, especially in the UK, the USA, and the Commonwealth. This resulted in a boost to the tourism industry, with an estimated £300 million in additional travel and accommodation spend.

The royal wedding also generated value in other sectors:

• PR Value: At least £300 million in earned media coverage for Brand Britain, including television broadcast coverage and online and print coverage worldwide.
• Retail and Restaurants: An estimated £250 million boost through parties, food, and celebratory drinks.
• Merchandise: Sales of wedding-related merchandise, such as commemorative coins, stamps, mugs, clothing, and accessories, were expected to exceed £50 million.
• Fashion: The 'Meghan Effect' was predicted to generate £150 million in increased clothing sales, creating export opportunities for British brands.

The overall economic impact of the wedding was estimated to be around £1.05 billion, including an additional £300 million from foreign tourists and £50 million spent on merchandise and souvenirs. The royal family's announcement that they would pay for the wedding, with costs for catering estimated at £286,000, also contributed to the economic impact.

The bride's background

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, was born Rachel Meghan Markle on August 4, 1981, in Los Angeles, California. Her father, Thomas Markle Sr., is a television lighting and photography director, and her mother, Doria Ragland, is a clinical therapist and yoga instructor. Markle's parents divorced when she was two years old, and she lived with her father full-time until she turned eighteen and went to university. She has two older half-siblings from her father's previous marriage, Samantha Markle and Thomas Markle Jr., with whom she is estranged.

Markle attended Hollywood Little Red Schoolhouse and graduated from Immaculate Heart High School, an all-girls Catholic school in Los Angeles. She then went on to study at Northwestern University, where she double-majored in theatre and international studies. During her time at Northwestern, she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and volunteered with the Glass Slipper Project. She also interned at the American embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and considered a career in politics.

Markle's acting career began at Northwestern University. She is best known for her role as Rachel Zane in the American legal drama 'Suits', in which she starred for seven seasons. She has also appeared in several films, including 'Get Him to the Greek', 'Horrible Bosses', and 'Anti-Social'. In addition to acting, Markle was a successful lifestyle blogger, running 'The Tig' from 2014 to 2017. She also had a side hustle as a freelance calligrapher and taught bookbinding.

Markle was previously married to American film producer Trevor Engelson from 2011 to 2014. They separated in 2013, citing irreconcilable differences. She began dating Prince Harry in mid-2016 and announced their engagement in November 2017. They were married on May 19, 2018, at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. Markle became a princess of the United Kingdom and assumed the style of Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Sussex.

The groom's family

Prince Harry is the second son of King Charles III (then the Prince of Wales) and Diana, Princess of Wales. Harry's grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, expressed their delight at the engagement.

On the morning of the wedding, Prince Harry's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, conferred upon him the titles of Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel. Harry's maternal aunt, Baroness Fellowes, read a scripture lesson from The Song of Solomon during the wedding service.

Harry's father, King Charles III, walked Meghan halfway down the aisle in the absence of her own father, Thomas Markle, who was unable to attend the ceremony due to medical reasons. Harry's brother, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, served as his best man.

Harry's wedding ensemble was a Blues and Royals frock coat uniform, chosen with permission from his grandmother, as it is one of his favourite uniforms. Harry's wedding band, made of platinum with a textured finish, broke with royal tradition.

Harry's mother, Princess Diana, was honoured in several ways during the wedding. Her favourite flower, forget-me-nots, was included in Meghan's wedding bouquet, and several flowers were also picked from the couple's garden at Kensington Palace, which had special significance to Diana. The couple's first dance was also to a song that was played at Diana's funeral.

Harry's stepmother, the Duchess of Cornwall, had her marriage blessed at the same venue as Harry's wedding.

Frequently asked questions