Rhiannon Hendricks
On May 19, 2018, Meghan Markle, an American former actress, tied the knot with Britain's Prince Harry at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. The wedding, which was one of the biggest televised events in history, attracted an estimated 1.9 billion viewers worldwide. In the lead-up to the ceremony, Markle was baptized and confirmed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, in the Church of England. On her wedding day, Markle wore a dress designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, and her makeup was done by her friend, Daniel Martin, using products from Dior and Tatcha. The couple's wedding day included a traditional ceremony, a luncheon reception hosted by the Queen, and a private evening celebration.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wedding date | May 19, 2018 |
| Wedding location | St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, United Kingdom |
| Bride's name | Meghan Markle |
| Groom's name | Prince Harry |
| Bride's occupation | Actress |
| Groom's occupation | Prince |
| Bride's nationality | American |
| Groom's nationality | British |
| Bride's age | 36 |
| Groom's family | British royal family |
| Bride's family | N/A |
| Wedding dress designer | Clare Waight Keller |
| Makeup artist | Daniel Martin |
| Wedding reception DJ | Idris Elba |
| Honeymoon destination | Unknown, speculated to be East Africa |
| Wedding coin | £5 coin produced by the Royal Mint |
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What You'll Learn
- Meghan's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller
- The wedding cake and flowers were speculated to influence other British brides
- The couple's first kiss was after exchanging vows, on the steps of St. George's Chapel
- Meghan and Harry chose American Bishop Michael Bruce Curry to deliver a sermon
- Meghan's father was not in attendance, so Prince Charles walked her down the aisle
Meghan's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy. Markle chose Waight Keller because she wanted to highlight the success of a leading British designer. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers, with Markle and Waight Keller working closely together on the design.
The simple white dress was made of silk with three-quarter-length sleeves, an open boat neckline, and a train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. The design sought to convey modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts while paying homage to the history of the Givenchy house. The veil, embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, also included a piece of the blue dress Markle wore on her first date with Prince Harry.
Markle and Waight Keller first met in mid-February, with the designer keeping the collaboration a secret from everyone, including her family. They worked together through texts, phone calls, and brief meetings, with Markle citing Waight Keller's elegant aesthetic and relaxed demeanour as reasons for choosing her. The dress was completed in just five months, with eight fittings, before Markle's wedding to Prince Harry on 19 May 2018.
The wedding broke from royal tradition in several ways, including the fact that Meghan, a divorcee, was welcomed into the Royal Family with open arms.
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The wedding cake and flowers were speculated to influence other British brides
The wedding cake is often the centrepiece of any wedding, and Meghan Markle's was no exception. The Duchess of Sussex's cake was a unique creation that broke with tradition and was speculated to influence other British brides.
The cake was created by London-based pastry chef and food writer Claire Ptak, who owns the bakery Violet in East London. Ptak and Markle share a Californian upbringing, and the baker was previously interviewed by the Duchess for her lifestyle blog, The Tig. The cake was a four-tiered lemon and elderflower confection, a flavour combination that held special significance for the couple. The elderflower cordial used in the buttercream frosting was sourced from Queen Elizabeth II's Sandringham estate, where it was made using a bespoke recipe. The cake was also decorated with 150 fresh flowers, including British peonies and roses, the latter of which is said to be Markle's favourite.
The cake consisted of three separate pieces: one two-tier wedding cake and two single-tier cakes. This made it a relatively more modest creation compared to other royal wedding cakes, though it still served 600 guests. The cake was covered in decadent Swiss meringue buttercream and displayed on an intricate gilt cake stand from the royal family's personal collection.
The choice of a smaller cake and the use of fresh flowers and unique flavours were speculated to influence other British brides. Markle's wedding cake offered a modern and personalised take on the traditional multi-tiered, royal-iced cake. It demonstrated that even a modest cake could be a stunning showstopper, potentially inspiring brides to prioritise flavour, sentiment, and visual appeal over size and grandeur.
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The couple's first kiss was after exchanging vows, on the steps of St. George's Chapel
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a grand affair, with the couple's first kiss taking place on the steps of St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, immediately after exchanging vows. The ceremony, officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, united the British royal family member with the American actress.
The wedding, held on Saturday, May 19, 2018, attracted an estimated 1.9 billion viewers worldwide, with 600 guests in attendance, including celebrities such as Serena Williams, Oprah Winfrey, and David and Victoria Beckham. The couple's first kiss as a married couple, on the chapel steps, was a highlight of the ceremony, with the public eagerly watching this significant moment in the royal nuptials.
The choice of venue, St. George's Chapel, was meaningful, as it had previously hosted other royal weddings, including that of Prince Harry's uncle, the Earl of Wessex, and his cousin, Peter Phillips. The chapel also held a blessing for the marriage of Harry's stepmother, the Duchess of Cornwall, to the then Prince of Wales.
The wedding ceremony incorporated elements of African-American culture, with the British gospel ensemble, The Kingdom Choir, performing "Stand by Me," and Chicagoan Michael Curry, the first Black presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, delivering a powerful sermon, quoting Martin Luther King Jr.
The couple's first kiss as husband and wife, witnessed by their guests and the world, marked the beginning of their new life together as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. It was a moment filled with anticipation and emotion, capturing the joy and celebration of their union.
The wedding ceremony and the couple's first kiss on the steps of St. George's Chapel were pivotal moments, not only for the newlyweds but also for the rich cultural history they represented and the global audience they captivated.
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Meghan and Harry chose American Bishop Michael Bruce Curry to deliver a sermon
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a highly anticipated event that took place on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in the United Kingdom. The wedding ceremony was a traditional Anglican service conducted by the Dean of Windsor, David Conner, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.
Meghan and Harry chose American Bishop Michael Bruce Curry, the 27th Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church, to deliver a sermon during their wedding. Bishop Curry is the first African-American presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, which is the US offshoot of the Church of England. In his powerful and passionate sermon, Bishop Curry not only celebrated the love between Harry and Meghan but also delivered a call to action, emphasising that love must be the answer to the world's problems. He evoked love's ability to heal and transform, even in the face of painful histories such as slavery.
The choice of Bishop Curry and the inclusion of African-American cultural elements in the wedding ceremony reflected Meghan's American background and her biracial identity, with her mother being African American and her father being Caucasian. Meghan's entry into the royal family as a mixed-race individual was greeted with enthusiasm and seen as a positive step forward, especially within the Commonwealth countries.
Bishop Curry's sermon captivated the elite guests in attendance and the global television audience. His words, inspired by civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.'s notion of the "redemptive power of love," left members of the Royal family stunned, with some spotted grinning and smirking as he delivered his outlandish and riveting address.
Overall, the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a significant event that blended traditions and cultures, with Bishop Michael Bruce Curry's sermon serving as a memorable highlight that emphasised the power of love and its potential to bring about positive change in the world.
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Meghan's father was not in attendance, so Prince Charles walked her down the aisle
On her wedding day, Meghan Markle will marry Prince Harry, thus becoming a princess of the United Kingdom and gaining the style Her Royal Highness and the titles Duchess of Sussex, Countess of Dumbarton, and Baroness Kilkeel. The wedding will take place on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, United Kingdom.
Meghan's father, Thomas Markle, was not in attendance due to "medical reasons," according to a source. In his stead, Prince Charles, then the Prince of Wales and Meghan's soon-to-be father-in-law, walked her down the aisle. This was done at Meghan's request, and she expressed gratitude for the Prince of Wales's willingness to do so.
The wedding ceremony was officiated by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, using the standard Anglican church service for Holy Matrimony. The Archbishop had also previously baptised Meghan and confirmed her in the Church of England on March 6, 2018, in a private ceremony.
The wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller under the Givenchy label and was estimated to cost about $265,000, paid for by the bride herself. The dress was simple and elegant, without lace, embellishments, or embroidered details, and featured a bateau neckline, structured three-quarter sleeves, and a sculpted waistline that fell into a train made of triple silk organza.
Following the ceremony, the newlyweds, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, rode through the streets of London in an open-top Ascot Landau horse-drawn carriage, sharing their first kiss on the steps of St. George's Chapel.
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Frequently asked questions
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on Saturday, 19 May 2018.
The wedding ceremony was held at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in the United Kingdom.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller under the Givenchy label. The dress was simple and did not include lace, embellishments, or embroidered details. It was inspired by Meghan's affinity for Audrey Hepburn, specifically Hepburn's iconic dress from the 1957 movie *Funny Face*. Markle also wore a 25-foot veil.
