Lyla Dejesus
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding on May 19, 2018, at Windsor Castle drew several comparisons to Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011. From the dresses to the jewellery, the public has been keen to compare the two weddings. In his memoir, Spare, Prince Harry revealed that he was not Prince William's best man at his wedding, despite public belief. Harry also writes about how William didn't want to wear the uniform he did and how he felt his brother's wedding was a goodbye to their old relationship. While there is no information on the duration of the ceremonies, the public's interest in comparing the two weddings is evident.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | Prince William and Kate Middleton: 2011 |
| Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: 19 May 2018 | |
| Location | Prince William and Kate Middleton: Westminster Abbey |
| Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: Windsor Castle | |
| Wedding Gown | Prince William and Kate Middleton: Bespoke wedding gown designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen |
| Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: Modern wedding gown designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy | |
| Wedding Bands | Prince William and Kate Middleton: Welsh gold wedding band |
| Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: Gold wedding band made out of Welsh gold | |
| Engagement Ring | Prince William and Kate Middleton: Sapphire engagement ring |
| Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: Custom ring featuring a gold band, two diamonds from Princess Diana's personal collection and a centre stone from Botswana | |
| Bouquet | Prince William and Kate Middleton: Small all-white bouquet with lily of the valley, sweet William, hyacinth, ivy and a sprig of myrtle |
| Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: Small bouquet including forget-me-nots, sweet peas, lily of the valley, astilbe, jasmine, astrantia and a sprig of myrtle | |
| Bridesmaids and Page Boys | Prince William and Kate Middleton: Four bridesmaids and two page boys |
| Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: 10 bridesmaids and page boys |
Explore related products
Wedding attire
The wedding attire of both the couple and the guests at royal weddings is always highly anticipated and closely scrutinised. This was certainly the case for both Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011 and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018.
For her wedding to Prince William, Kate wore a long-sleeved lace gown designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The dress reportedly cost $434,000 to make. Kate's devotion to the look may have stemmed from her love of white, which she revealed on a 2011 royal tour in Los Angeles. She paired the dress with the Robinson Pelham diamond earrings she received from her parents as a wedding gift.
For her wedding to Prince Harry, Meghan wore a timeless and elegant gown designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, the first female Artistic Director of the French fashion house, Givenchy. Meghan's bouquet featured an array of blooms, including forget-me-nots, which were Princess Diana's favourite flower.
Both weddings were attended by a host of well-dressed guests. At William and Kate's wedding, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie wore controversial fascinators, while Victoria Beckham stood out in heels despite being pregnant. At Harry and Meghan's wedding, Princess Eugenie opted for a simple, comfortable look, while Princess Beatrice wore a beaded dress and a minimal hat. Other notable guests included Cressida Bonas, who wore a colourful pattern, and Charlotte Riley, who wore a floral dress with a matching hat.
A Catholic Wedding: Half-Mass Duration Explained
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Wedding jewellery
While there is no direct information on which wedding was longer, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding ceremony has drawn several comparisons to Prince William and Kate Middleton's. From the location to the jewellery, both weddings were heavily covered by the press.
When it comes to wedding jewellery, there are a plethora of options to choose from. Whether you are looking for ready-to-wear bridal jewellery sets, elegant earrings, bespoke necklaces, or statement bracelets, there is something to complement every style.
For those who want to stick to tradition, vintage and classic pearl designs are a timeless choice. For the free-spirited bride, boho-inspired pieces are a perfect fit. And for those who want to make a statement, jewellery adorned with Swarovski crystals, cubic zirconia crystals, rhinestones, or hypoallergenic alloys is sure to turn heads.
The metal colour can also be chosen to match the wedding theme. Sparkling silver, shimmering gold, and rose gold are all popular choices, with the latter being an ultra-feminine option.
For brides who want to add a touch of sophistication to their wedding gown, choosing jewellery with high-grade cubic zirconia, sparkly Swarovski crystals, or quality pearls can elevate their look.
When it comes to earrings, necklaces, and bracelets, there are a variety of designs and metals to choose from, ensuring that every bride can find something that suits her unique style.
Wedding Readings: How Long Should They Be?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Wedding flowers
Flowers are an integral part of wedding celebrations and are often used to convey a message or symbolise something meaningful to the couple. They are also a great way to add a pop of colour or a subtle accent to the wedding decor and theme.
Royal Wedding Flowers
Princess Kate's bouquet contained local flowers like lily of the valley, sweet William, myrtle, hyacinth, and ivy. She also followed the royal tradition, dating back to Queen Victoria, of carrying a sprig of myrtle in her wedding bouquet.
Meghan Markle's bouquet, on the other hand, featured an array of blooms such as forget-me-nots, Princess Diana's favourite flower, sweet peas, lily of the valley, astilbe, jasmine, and astrantia.
Other Royal Wedding Flowers
Royal brides have often chosen to include symbolic flowers in their bouquets. For instance, Queen Fabiola of Belgium carried a small, simple bouquet of white blooms when she married King Baudouin of Belgium in 1960. Similarly, Princess Caroline of Monaco held a small, waterfall bouquet of blessed white flowers at her 1978 wedding.
Some brides have opted for more greenery than florals, like Queen Rania of Jordan, who carried a bouquet filled with fresh greenery and notes of white and yellow flowers to match her gown. Others have chosen to accent their bouquets with white flowers, like Lady Sarah Armstrong Jones, who carried a round bouquet of white roses and seasonal blooms, and Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece, who carried an elegant nosegay bouquet of white blooms.
The choice of flowers often carries symbolic meaning. For instance, Princess Maud of Wales, the great-grandmother of Norway's current king, carried a bouquet of trailing white jessamine, which symbolises love and purity, along with orange blossoms for fertility, and myrtle, a Hebrew symbol for love and marriage.
Similarly, Princess Alexandra of Denmark, who later became Queen, carried a bouquet of white rosebuds for purity and innocence, lily of the valley for happiness, rare white orchids for love and fertility, and the traditional myrtle for love and marriage.
So, while I cannot comment on the length of the weddings, I hope this information on the royal wedding flowers, specifically of Princess Kate and Meghan Markle, provides a detailed and focused response to your request.
The Length of Princess Diana's Wedding Veil
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Wedding locations
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in the United Kingdom. The ceremony commenced at 12:00 midday BST. The chapel, which is at least 500 years old, has served as 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, and Henry VIII.
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, on the other hand, took place on Friday, 29 April 2011, at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The ceremony began at 11:00 BST. Westminster Abbey, founded in AD 960, has been the venue for most royal weddings in the last century, including those of William's grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, in 1947. The abbey has a usual seating capacity of 2,000 and is known for its particular status as a Royal Peculiar.
The Perfect Length for Wedding Vows: How Long?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Wedding parties
Kate's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, gave her diamond earrings to wear on her wedding day, as well as a 'something borrowed' in the form of the Cartier halo tiara, loaned from the Queen. Meghan's father, Thomas Markle, was due to walk her down the aisle, but due to his health, the future King of England, Prince Charles, stepped in.
The flowers in Kate's bouquet were lily of the valley, sweet William, myrtle, hyacinth, and ivy, in keeping with the royal tradition dating back to Queen Victoria's wedding of carrying a sprig of myrtle. Meghan's bouquet, designed by Philippa Craddock, included forget-me-nots, sweet peas, lily of the valley, jasmine, and a sprig of myrtle. Prince Harry hand-picked some of the flowers for his bride's bouquet.
The royal grooms wore military dress, with Prince William opting for the famous tunic of an Irish Guards officer, rather than his RAF Air Force uniform. Prince Harry wore a Blues and Royals officer's uniform with a forage cap, an aiguillette, cross belt, gold waist belt, and sword slings.
Wedding Portrait Sessions: How Long Should Couples Plan For?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding ceremony was held on May 19, 2018, while Prince William and Kate Middleton got married in 2011.
Some of the key differences were the wedding gown, the engagement ring, and the bouquet. Kate Middleton's wedding gown was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, while Meghan Markle's gown was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy. Prince William proposed to Kate with his mother's sapphire engagement ring, while Prince Harry proposed with a custom ring featuring a gold band, two diamonds from Princess Diana's collection, and a center stone from Botswana.
Yes, both weddings had some similarities. Both Prince William and Prince Harry wore military uniforms on their wedding day, following a royal tradition. Additionally, both Meghan and Kate borrowed tiaras from the Queen for their wedding day.
