Deborah Chan
The world watched as Meghan Markle, the American actress, married Prince Harry, the grandson of Queen Elizabeth, in May 2018. The ceremony, held at St. George's Chapel, was filled with music and personal touches. The most notable performance was by the Kingdom Choir, who sang Stand By Me, a song with a deep political message and a popular wedding tune. However, the song that Meghan Markle walked down the aisle to was Eternal Source of Light Divine by George Frideric Handel, a choice made by Prince Harry himself.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Meghan Markle's procession song | "Eternal Source of Light Divine" by George Frideric Handel |
| Performer | Soprano Elin Manahan Thomas |
| Wedding song | "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King |
| Performer | The Kingdom Choir |
| First dance song | "I'm in Love" by Wilson Pickett |
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What You'll Learn
The Kingdom Choir's performance of ''Stand By Me'
The Kingdom Choir's performance of "Stand By Me" was a highlight of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding ceremony. The song, originally performed by American singer-songwriter Ben E. King, has been covered by over 400 artists, including Otis Redding, John Lennon, and Tracy Chapman. It was inducted into the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry in 2015 and is considered "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
The predominantly Black choir's performance of the song at Markle's wedding to Prince Harry was symbolic of a more inclusive royal family. Markle, whose mother is Black and father is white, is biracial, and the song "Stand By Me" has a deep political message of solidarity for people of colour. The choir's performance of the song was especially meaningful in this context.
The Kingdom Choir's performance of "Stand By Me" was not the only song played at the wedding, but it was likely the most significant. The song is about enduring love, making it a popular choice for weddings. The couple also chose "I'm in Love" by Wilson Pickett for their first dance, adding a personal touch to their special day.
The choir's performance of "Stand By Me" at the royal wedding brought them newfound notoriety, with their website crashing twice on the night of the wedding and their following increasing significantly. The choir conductor, Karen Gibson, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to perform at the wedding and the impact it had on their lives.
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'Eternal Source of Light Divine' by George Frideric Handel
The song "Eternal Source of Light Divine" by George Frideric Handel was performed by Welsh soprano Elin Manahan Thomas at the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. The song was chosen by Prince Harry himself and served as the processional music for Meghan Markle's entrance as she walked down the aisle.
The choice of the angelic operatic composition was a surprise to many, as it was not a traditional wedding song like "Here Comes The Bride". The song, however, held a special meaning for the couple, as Prince Harry explained in the audio guide for the Windsor Castle exhibit, "A Royal Wedding: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex". He shared that the song captured the feeling he had for his bride and that whenever they heard it, it would transport them back to their wedding day.
The song was a perfect pairing to Meghan's entrance into St. George's Chapel, where she wore a stunning Givenchy Haute Couture dress and a 16-foot veil. She was escorted by her father-in-law, Prince Charles, who also advised the couple on their wedding music. The couple added several personal touches to their wedding, including their first dance to "I'm in Love" by Wilson Pickett, making the day even more memorable.
"Eternal Source of Light Divine" is a beautiful piece of music that not only enhanced the wedding ceremony but also held a deep significance for the couple, allowing them to relive their special day whenever they hear it.
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'I'm in Love' by Wilson Pickett was their first dance
Music played a pivotal role in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. The ceremony, steeped in tradition, was also a culture-blending celebration. The music selected for the occasion reflected this.
The Kingdom Choir performed a rendition of "Stand By Me", a song with a rich history. The original, written and performed by Ben E. King, rose to popularity during the civil rights movement. It was used as a rallying cry for solidarity among people of colour. The predominantly black choir's performance of the song at the wedding of Markle, a biracial woman, to Prince Harry seemed symbolic of a more inclusive royal family.
The couple's first dance as newlyweds was to "I'm in Love" by Wilson Pickett. This song choice, revealed in the book Finding Freedom, was one of the previously unknown magical moments of the day.
The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, also chose Meghan's entrance music. He picked "Eternal Source of Light Divine" by George Frideric Handel, performed by Welsh soprano Elin Manahan Thomas. The song, described as an "angelic operatic composition", was a perfect pairing with Meghan's entrance into St. George's Chapel.
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Meghan's entrance song was chosen by Prince Harry
Meghan Markle's wedding to Prince Harry was one of the most highly anticipated events of the year. The world watched as Meghan walked down the aisle of St. George's Chapel in a stunning Givenchy Haute Couture dress and 16-foot veil, escorted by her father-in-law, Prince Charles. The music playing as she entered was a carefully chosen surprise—an angelic operatic composition, "Eternal Source of Light Divine" by George Frideric Handel, hand-picked by Prince Harry himself.
Harry explained his choice in the audio guide for the Windsor Castle exhibit, "A Royal Wedding: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex". He said he was "looking for something completely different" and that the piece epitomised "the whole feeling that I have for her". The song, performed by soprano Elin Manahan Thomas, now holds a special significance for the couple. "Wherever we are, whatever we’re doing, we can close our eyes, listen to that music and take ourselves straight back to that moment," Harry said.
The Duke of Sussex's choice of his bride's procession song was just one of many personal touches the couple added to their wedding day. Their first dance as newlyweds was to "I'm in Love" by Wilson Pickett, and the predominantly black Kingdom Choir's rendition of "Stand By Me" was another highlight of the culture-blending ceremony. The choir's performance of the 1961 blues ballad, originally by Ben E. King, was particularly symbolic, as the song was used as a rallying cry for solidarity during the civil rights movement.
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The couple's wedding songs were revealed in the book 'Finding Freedom'
The wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry featured a number of songs that were revealed in the book Finding Freedom. The ceremony, which took place at St. George's Chapel, included a performance by the Kingdom Choir, who sang "Stand By Me", a 1961 blues ballad by Ben E. King. The predominantly black choir's performance of this song seemed to symbolise a more inclusive royal family, given Markle's biracial heritage. The song choice also carried a deep political message, as it had been used as a rallying cry for solidarity during the civil rights movement.
Another notable song from the wedding was "Eternal Source of Light Divine" by George Frideric Handel, which was handpicked by Prince Harry for Markle's walk down the aisle. The operatic composition was performed by soprano Elin Manahan Thomas and accompanied Markle's entrance in a stunning Givenchy Haute Couture dress and 16-foot veil.
The couple also shared their first dance as newlyweds to "I'm in Love" by Wilson Pickett, as revealed in the book Finding Freedom. This song choice added yet another romantic and magical moment to their unforgettable wedding day.
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Frequently asked questions
Meghan Markle walked down the aisle to "Eternal Source of Light Divine" by George Frideric Handel. The song was performed by Welsh soprano Elin Manahan Thomas.
The song was chosen by Prince Harry, the groom himself.
Yes, the Kingdom Choir also performed a rendition of "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's first dance was to "I'm in Love" by Wilson Pickett.
The predominantly black Kingdom Choir's performance of "Stand By Me" seemed symbolic of a more inclusive royal family, given Markle's biracial heritage.
