Harry's Wedding: Order Of Service

The Order of Service for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was released by Kensington Palace on 18 May 2018, just a day before the couple tied the knot. The 21-page booklet included a breakdown of the events, from the arrival of the wedding party to the hymns, songs, prayers, readings and music. The Order of Service also revealed the vows, with Meghan following in the footsteps of Princess Diana and Kate Middleton by omitting the word obey from her vows.

Hymns and music

The hymns and music played at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding were a mix of classic and modern pieces. The prelude to the ceremony featured a large contingent of British composers, including Elgar, Vaughan Williams, and Peter Warlock. The orchestra, conducted by Christopher Warren Green, played:

• Elgar - Salut d’Amour, Serenade for Strings (first movement), and Chanson de Matin
• Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on Greensleeves
• Warlock - Capriol Suite, movements 2, 3, & 5
• Holst - St Paul’s Suite, movement 4
• Howells - Psalm-Prelude Set 1, No. 2
• Bach - Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 541

The bridal entrance was accompanied by Handel's "Eternal Source of Light Divine," originally composed in 1713 to mark the birthday of Queen Anne.

Hymns played a significant role in the ceremony, including:

• "Lord of All Hopefulness" with text by Jan Struther and a traditional folk tune as its melody
• "Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer" (Cwm Rhondda in Welsh), with lyrics by William Williams and music by Welsh composer John Hughes; this hymn was also played at Princess Diana's funeral

The signing of the register featured:

• Paradis - Sicilienne, a favourite among cellists
• Fauré - Après un rêve, a romantic piece about flying away with a lover
• Schubert - Ave Maria, one of Schubert's most enduring melodies, beautifully suited for the cello

The ceremony concluded with a choral version of the Ben E. King classic "Stand By Me," performed by Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir. The recessional featured a modern touch with Etta James's "Amen/This Little Light of Mine."

Arrival times

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was held on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in the United Kingdom. The ceremony began at 12:00 p.m. GMT (7:00 a.m. ET).

The Order of Service, released by the palace, outlined the following arrival times for key members of the wedding party:

• Prince Harry and Prince William: 6:40 a.m. ET
• Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall: 6:42 a.m. ET
• Doria Ragland (Meghan's mother): 6:42 a.m. ET (actual arrival at 6:45 a.m. ET)
• Prince Charles: 6:45 a.m. ET (actual arrival at 6:42 a.m. ET)
• Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip: 11:52 a.m. GMT (11:55 a.m. ET)
• Meghan Markle: 11:59 a.m. GMT

The main congregation and guests started to arrive at the chapel at 9:30 a.m., with the Queen and Prince Philip being the last members of the Royal Family to depart for the ceremony, as is tradition.

The public started to arrive at the grounds of Windsor Castle as early as 8:00 a.m., eager to catch a glimpse of the happy couple and their guests.

The day before the wedding, Kensington Palace announced that Prince Harry had selected his older brother, Prince William, as his best man.

On the morning of the wedding, Prince Harry's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, bestowed upon him the titles of Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton, and Baron Kilkeel. Markle became a princess of the United Kingdom, gaining the style of Her Royal Highness and the titles Duchess of Sussex, Countess of Dumbarton, and Baroness Kilkeel.

The wedding day was a carefully orchestrated event, with specific arrival times for the wedding party, and the public and media eagerly anticipating each moment.

Vows

The vows exchanged by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during their wedding ceremony were traditional, modernised Church of England vows. They were as follows:

Prince Harry: "I, Harry, take you, Meghan, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy law. In the presence of God, I make this vow."

Meghan Markle: "I, Meghan, take you, Harry, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy law. In the presence of God, I make this vow."

The couple then exchanged rings, with both saying: "I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage. With my body, I honour you, all that I am I give to you and all that I have I share with you within the love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit."

Like Princess Diana and Kate Middleton before her, Meghan omitted the word "obey" from her vows.

Readings

The only reading at the royal wedding was given by a member of Prince Harry's Spencer family, his aunt, Lady Jane Fellowes. Lady Jane is the older sister of the late Diana, Princess of Wales. She read from the Song of Solomon, which stresses the strength and power of love. The short reading proclaims:

> "My beloved speaks and says to me: 'Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for now, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.' ... Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is as strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If one offered for love all the wealth of one's house, it would be utterly scorned."

The decision to give the important role of delivering the reading to the late princess's sibling shows the strong connection Harry retains with his mother's family. Lady Jane, whose husband Baron Robert Fellowes is a former private secretary to the Queen, also gave a reading at Diana's funeral in 1997.

The rings

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle included a significant moment for the couple: the giving of the rings. In a break from tradition, both Harry and Meghan would be receiving wedding bands. This was notable because, at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, only Kate received a ring, with William opting out of wearing one.

Harry's decision to wear a wedding ring was a departure from the tradition followed by his blue-blooded brethren. According to British and European royalty expert Marlene Koenig, the choice to wear a wedding ring or not is a matter of personal preference, and there is no royal tradition dictating this custom. Harry's choice to wear a ring aligned with the modern tradition adopted by most married men in the UK.

The wedding bands chosen by the couple held symbolic significance. Meghan's wedding band was crafted from Welsh gold, continuing a royal tradition. Harry's ring, on the other hand, was made of platinum, setting him apart from other male royals.

During the ceremony, as they placed rings on each other's fingers, Harry and Meghan exchanged the following vows: "I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage. With my body, I honour you, all that I am, I give to you, and all that I have, I share with you, within the love of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit."

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