Deborah Chan
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a significant event for several reasons. Firstly, it marked the union between a member of the British royal family and an American actress, blogger, charity ambassador, and advocate. The couple's relationship and engagement garnered much public interest, and their wedding was widely publicised and televised, attracting an estimated audience of 1.9 billion people worldwide. The wedding also departed from certain traditions typically associated with royal weddings and included elements of African-American culture in the ceremony. Additionally, the choice of Meghan's wedding dress, cake, and flowers was speculated to influence the decisions of other British brides. The event also had economic implications, with the wedding generating an estimated £1 billion for the British economy. Finally, the wedding was notable for the inclusion of several A-list celebrities and guests, such as Serena Williams, George Clooney, and Oprah Winfrey.
What You'll Learn
The wedding's cultural significance
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was significant for its cultural impact, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. Here are some key aspects of its cultural significance:
Representation and Diversity
Markle became the first person of mixed-race heritage to marry into the British royal family. This was seen as a significant step towards greater diversity and representation within the royal family, which has traditionally been predominantly white. The wedding sparked discussions about social change and the potential for a more inclusive monarchy.
Racial Justice and Equality
The inclusion of African-American culture in the wedding ceremony was also notable. The ceremony featured a gospel choir, The Kingdom Choir, who performed "Stand By Me," and the wedding procession included "This Little Light of Mine," symbolic of American civil rights in the 1950s and 1960s. These musical choices reflected a message of racial equality and justice.
Modernizing the Monarchy
The wedding also marked a departure from some traditional royal wedding customs. For example, the couple chose to have their wedding on a Saturday, breaking with the tradition of weekday weddings for British royals. Additionally, Markle's wedding dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, had a more modern and minimalist style compared to previous royal wedding gowns. The choice of a lemon and elderflower cake instead of the traditional fruitcake was another example of the couple's modern approach.
Fashion and Style Influence
Meghan Markle's wedding dress and overall style had a significant impact on bridal fashion. Her dress, with its bateau neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves, inspired many brides and set a new trend for minimalist and elegant wedding gowns. The veil, embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, also carried a meaningful message of unity and diversity. Markle's evening reception dress, a halter-neck gown by Stella McCartney, further showcased her fashion influence and provided another source of inspiration for brides-to-be.
Global Audience and Popularity
The wedding attracted a massive global audience, with an estimated 1.9 to 2 billion viewers worldwide, making it one of the biggest televised events in history. The high level of public interest and media coverage contributed to the cultural significance of the event, as it became a shared experience for people around the world.
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The ceremony and reception
The ceremony took place on Saturday 19 May 2018 at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in the United Kingdom. The bride, Meghan Markle, wore a white gown with a boat neckline and a five-metre-long silk veil, embroidered with the flowers of each country in the Commonwealth. Her hair was styled in an up-do and she wore the glittering Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau tiara, loaned to her by the Queen. Her bouquet featured a tribute to Prince Harry's late mother, Princess Diana, with the inclusion of forget-me-nots.
The groom, Prince Harry, wore the frockcoat uniform of the Blues and Royals, with special permission from the Queen to keep his short beard. He chose to wear a wedding ring—a platinum band with a textured finish—breaking with royal tradition.
The ceremony was officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and included a gospel choir, a young cellist, and a rousing address by the Most Rev Bishop Michael Curry, the first African-American presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church.
The couple exchanged vows, with Meghan omitting the word "obey" from hers, and sealed their promises with the exchange of rings.
Following the ceremony, the newlyweds shared their first married kiss on the steps of St George's Chapel, before embarking on a carriage procession through Windsor.
The reception was hosted by the Queen at St George's Hall, with approximately 600 guests in attendance. The menu included a selection of canapés, bowl food, and sweet treats, and entertainment was provided by Sir Elton John, who performed a "mini-concert".
The second reception of the day was a private, intimate affair hosted by the Prince of Wales at Frogmore House for the couple's 200 closest friends and family. The bride and groom changed into new outfits for the occasion, with Meghan wearing a bespoke lily white, high-neck gown made of silk crepe by Stella McCartney, and Harry donning a black tuxedo. Music was provided by DJ Idris Elba, and the newlyweds shared their first dance to Pickett's "Land of 1000 Dances".
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The dress and attire
Markle's hair was styled by Serge Normant, who rolled it up with a "face-framing fringe tucked behind her ears". Her makeup was done by Dior makeup artist Daniel Martin, who described the look as "a soft brown eyeshadow" with minimal makeup on the face. Markle's nails were painted in a "neutral pink-y beige" shade. Her bouquet, designed by Philippa Craddock, contained "forget-me-nots, scented sweet peas, lily of the valley, astilbe, jasmine and astrantia, and sprigs of myrtle". The groom, Prince Harry, hand-picked the forget-me-nots in honour of his late mother, Princess Diana.
Prince Harry wore the frock coat uniform of the Blues and Royals, in which he served for 10 years, including in combat in Afghanistan. The uniform was made by Dege & Skinner, gentleman's tailors and uniform makers of Savile Row, London. Harry received the Queen's permission to keep his beard, as beards were only permitted under exceptional circumstances in the British Army at the time.
The bridesmaids wore high-waisted silk dresses designed by Clare Waight Keller, with puff sleeves. The page boys wore uniforms by Dege & Skinner that resembled the uniform of the Blues and Royals worn by the groom and best man. Each page boy had his initials on the shoulders instead of rank badges.
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The guest list
Several of Prince Harry's ex-girlfriends, including Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas, were also in attendance, as were Meghan's friends and co-stars from the TV show "Suits," including Patrick J. Adams, who played her love interest on the show, and Abigail Spencer.
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The flowers
Flowers were an integral part of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. The couple's wedding flowers were designed by royal wedding florist Philippa Craddock, who sourced flora from various royal estates. The flowers were carefully and intentionally selected, with Prince Harry hand-picking flowers from Kensington Palace's private garden.
Meghan's wedding bouquet was a mix of tradition and modernity. It included sprigs of myrtle, a royal bridal bouquet tradition that dates back to Queen Victoria's wedding. The bouquet also featured Forget-Me-Nots, scented sweet peas, astilbe, jasmine, lily of the valley, and astrantia. The flowers were chosen by Prince Harry, who included Forget-Me-Nots in honour of his late mother, Princess Diana. The bouquet was tied together with a raw silk ribbon.
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Frequently asked questions
The wedding was important because it was a union between a member of the British royal family and an American actress. It was also the first time someone of mixed-race heritage married into the British royal family.
The wedding took place on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.
The wedding was noted for its inclusion of African-American culture in the ceremony. It was described as a "landmark for African Americans" and Black British, black, and mixed-race women.
The wedding was attended by approximately 600 guests, including A-list celebrities such as George and Amal Clooney, Serena Williams, Priyanka Chopra, and David and Victoria Beckham.
