Harry And Markle's Wedding Day Schedule

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on Saturday 19 May 2018 at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. The day began with the arrival of guests from 9:30 am, followed by the groom and best man, Prince William, at 11 am. The ceremony commenced at 12 pm, with the Dean of Windsor conducting the service and the Archbishop of Canterbury officiating. After the ceremony, the newlyweds embarked on a carriage procession through the streets of Windsor. The day concluded with a reception at St George's Hall and an intimate evening celebration at Frogmore House, hosted by the Prince of Wales.

Arrival of guests and the couple at Windsor Castle

The arrival of guests and the couple at Windsor Castle was a meticulously planned affair, with specific timings for each group. Here is a detailed breakdown of the schedule:

Guest Arrivals:

• 6:00 am: Roads in and around Windsor were closed to ensure security and facilitate the smooth arrival of guests and well-wishers.
• 8:00 am: Members of the public who had been invited to witness the royal wedding started to arrive and take their places. These individuals were specifically invited to honour their contributions to their communities.
• 9:00 am: The general guest arrivals commenced. Around 600 guests, including celebrities, royalty, and members of state, started to arrive at the Round Tower of Windsor Castle by coach. They then proceeded to enter St. George's Chapel through the South Door.

Royal Family Arrivals:

11:20 am: Members of the royal family, except for Queen Elizabeth II, began to arrive. This included a pregnant Zara Tindall and the Duchess of Cambridge, who left her newborn son at home.

Arrival of the Groom and Best Man:

11:45 am: Prince Harry, the groom, arrived with his best man and brother, Prince William. They arrived at St. George's Chapel together, much like they had done at Prince William's wedding in 2011. They were expected to wear military uniforms, but there was also a possibility that Prince Harry might opt for Morning Dress since he was no longer a serving officer.

Arrival of the Bride:

11:55 am: Meghan Markle, the bride, arrived at the chapel with her mother, Doria Ragland. They travelled through the Long Walk, waving to the public well-wishers. Upon reaching the castle, her mother entered the chapel through the Galilee Porch, while Meghan was joined by her bridesmaids and pageboys.

Arrival of the Queen:

11:52 am: Following royal protocol, Queen Elizabeth II, the grandmother of the groom, was the last member of the royal family to arrive.

The wedding ceremony commenced at 12:00 pm, with the Dean of Windsor conducting the service and the Archbishop of Canterbury officiating the vows. The schedule for the arrivals was meticulously planned to ensure that everyone was in place before the ceremony began.

The ceremony at St. George's Chapel

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle began at 12 pm on Saturday, 19 May 2018. The service was conducted according to the Christian liturgy for Holy Matrimony as set out in Common Worship of the Church of England. The Dean of Windsor, David Conner, conducted the service, with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, officiating the vows.

The ceremony lasted an hour and opened with prayers, followed by a reading from The Song of Solomon by Prince Harry's maternal aunt, Lady Jane Fellowes, and an address by the Most Reverend Michael Curry. The marriage vows were then exchanged, followed by the exchange of rings, the proclamation of marriage, blessings, and the singing of the National Anthem.

The ceremony also included music from two choirs, an orchestra, the chapel organ, and fanfare trumpeters. The bride walked down the aisle to "Eternal source of light divine" from Handel's Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne, sung by soprano Elin Manahan Thomas, with trumpet obbligato performed by David Blackadder. Other music during the service included the song "Stand by Me" by Ben E. King, arranged for choir by Mark Delisser, and "The Lord bless you and keep you" by John Rutter.

The carriage procession through Windsor

The procession was designed to allow Harry and Meghan to express their gratitude for the warm wishes they had received since their engagement. In a statement, the couple said: "They hope this short journey will provide an opportunity for more people to come together around Windsor and to enjoy the atmosphere of this special day." The public had already begun to line the route in the days leading up to the wedding, with some camping out to secure prime viewing spots.

The carriage procession was also an opportunity for the happy couple to greet the public and share their special day with the community. In the lead-up to the wedding, major roadworks and resurfacing were undertaken to ensure a smooth ride for the newlyweds. The roads outside Windsor Castle were given a fresh layer of tarmac and new coats of paint, and temporary parking restrictions were put in place for the day.

The procession was a highlight of the wedding celebrations, providing a memorable moment for both the royal couple and the thousands of well-wishers who turned out to catch a glimpse of them. It was a chance for the community to come together and celebrate, with the atmosphere described as joyous and festive. The procession was also a logistical feat, with careful planning and coordination to ensure the smooth and safe passage of the carriage through the streets of Windsor.

The reception at St. George's Hall

The reception took place in the largest room in Windsor Castle, which is 180 feet long and 29.5 feet wide. The room features an intricately carved fireplace and a colourful shield-covered ceiling celebrating the Order of the Garter, the most prestigious recognition of chivalry in Britain.

Guests were served Pol Roger Champagne, canapés, and bowl food before speeches from Prince Charles and Prince Harry. Best man, Prince William, served as compère. The wedding cake, a lemon and elderflower sponge by Claire Ptak, was also cut at the lunchtime reception.

St. George's Hall has hosted formal events before, including the wedding receptions of Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall in 2005, and Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly in 2008. The room has also hosted official state banquets and other formal dinners.

The evening reception at Frogmore House

For the evening reception, Meghan changed into a custom halter-neck gown with an open back, designed by Stella McCartney. The dress was made of silk crepe and featured a small train. The bride accessorised with a pair of 18-karat white gold Cartier drop earrings and an emerald-cut aquamarine ring, which previously belonged to Princess Diana. On her feet, she wore a pair of Aquazurra heels with light blue soles.

As for Prince Harry, he changed out of his formal military attire and into a black tuxedo.

The wedding cake, created by Claire Ptak of London's Violet Cakes, also broke from tradition. Instead of the typical fruitcake, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex opted for a lemon sponge cake with elderflower syrup, Amalfi lemon curd, and a Swiss meringue buttercream topping infused with elderflower. The cake was decorated with 150 fresh flowers, including peonies and roses.

Idris Elba served as the DJ for the evening and took song requests from Meghan. A source told People that Elba had the A-list guests "busting a groove" and that the bride seemed to particularly enjoy the music.

George Clooney served cocktails, and Serena Williams played beer pong. Harry and Meghan's first dance was to Wilson Pickett's "Land of 1000 Dances".

Both the bride and groom gave speeches. Harry's was light-hearted, with him playing guessing games with the guests about his media-given nicknames, and warmly thanking his father for hosting the reception. Meghan's speech, which broke royal protocol in her father's absence, was described by a guest as "very well-crafted... brilliant".

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