
In May 2018, Meghan Markle gave an emotional speech at her wedding reception, breaking with British and royal tradition. In the speech, which she shared in the final episode of her and Prince Harry's Netflix documentary, Harry & Meghan, Markle described their romance as a modern fairytale, adding that above all, love wins. Markle also shared a story about the man she loves and the way they met, noting that they came from different worlds.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | May 19, 2018 |
| Location | Frogmore House |
| Occasion | Evening wedding reception |
| Host | Prince Charles |
| Attendees | 200 friends and family members |
| Speech content | A story about the couple's romance, described as a "modern fairytale" |
| Atypical | Yes, as it is unusual for brides to give speeches at British weddings |
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What You'll Learn

Meghan Markle broke royal tradition by giving a speech
Markle began her speech with a joke, saying, "It's been a while," which got a big laugh from the guests. She then shared a story about her relationship with Prince Harry, calling it a "modern fairytale." She described how they came from different worlds and how their relationship was portrayed in the press. Markle also read a poem that she had written for the royal wedding.
The Duchess of Sussex's speech was emotional, and she thanked her in-laws for welcoming her and her mother, Doria Ragland, into their family. She did not mention her father, Thomas Markle, who was unable to attend the wedding. Markle's speech was a break from traditional English royal proceedings, where only the best man, the host, and sometimes the groom make speeches.
Markle's decision to give a speech at her wedding reception is just one example of how she and Prince Harry broke royal protocol on their wedding day. The couple incorporated American traditions into their classic English royal proceedings, reflecting Markle's personality, heritage, and influence.
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Markle's speech described her romance with Harry as a modern fairytale
Meghan Markle's wedding speech at her wedding reception at Frogmore House was a break from English royal tradition, where typically only the best man, the host, and the groom speak. Markle's speech described her romance with Prince Harry as a "modern fairytale".
In the final episode of their Netflix documentary series, Harry & Meghan, Markle shared a sweet excerpt from her wedding speech, in which she said:
> Onto the crux of why I wanted to speak tonight. First of all, it’s been a while. But mostly, I wanted to share a story. A story that I wrote about the man that I love and the way that we met. Let’s call this a modern fairytale. Once upon a time, there was a girl from L.A.—some people called her an actress. And there was a guy from London—some people called him a prince. All of those people didn’t fully get it because this is the love story of a boy and girl who were meant to be together.
The couple's wedding day was a blend of American and English traditions, seamlessly transitioning between the two. Markle's speech was an emotional one, in which she thanked her in-laws for welcoming her and her mother, Doria Ragland, into their family. She also shared a poem that she had written for the royal wedding.
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She thanked her in-laws for welcoming her and her mother
In her wedding speech, Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, broke with English royal tradition by giving a speech at her wedding reception. Markle's speech was emotional, and she took the opportunity to thank her mother, Doria Ragland, for "always being there for [her] through everything". Markle also thanked her in-laws, King Charles III and Camilla Parker Bowles, for welcoming her and her mother into their family.
Markle's speech was shared in the final episode of the Netflix documentary series, Harry & Meghan. In the speech, Markle describes her relationship with Prince Harry as a "modern fairytale". She recalls the joke she made at the beginning of her speech, which got a big laugh: "It's been a while, but mostly I wanted to share a story. A story that I wrote about the man that I love and the way that we met. Let's call this a modern fairytale. Once upon a time, there was a girl from L.A.—some people called her an actress. And there was a guy from London—some people called him a prince. All of those people didn’t fully get it because this is the love story of a boy and girl who were meant to be together."
Markle's speech was a break from English royal tradition, where typically only the best man, the host, and the groom speak. However, it is more common for brides to give speeches at American weddings. Markle's speech was well-received, with guests describing the event as "more than you would ever imagine" and feeling "really part of their very special occasion".
Markle's wedding to Prince Harry also incorporated other American traditions, including at the classic English royal proceedings at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. The couple's wedding reception was held at Frogmore House, hosted by Harry's father, King Charles III, and his wife, Camilla Parker Bowles.
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Markle's father was not mentioned in the speech
In a break from tradition, Meghan Markle gave a speech at her wedding reception. Markle's speech, which she shared in the Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan, described her relationship with Prince Harry as a "modern fairytale". She also read out a poem that she had written for the royal wedding.
Markle's father, Thomas Markle, was notably not mentioned in the speech. This may have been due to their estrangement, as Thomas Markle did not attend the wedding. Instead, Markle thanked her mother, Doria Ragland, for "always being there for [her]". She also expressed her gratitude towards her in-laws for welcoming her and her mother into their family.
Markle's speech was well-received by guests, who described the occasion as "very special". It was also noted that Prince Harry's speech was "touching", with a mix of "sarcasm and humour".
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The speech was shared in the Netflix documentary 'Harry & Meghan'
In the Netflix documentary series, Harry & Meghan, Meghan Markle shared an excerpt from her wedding speech. Markle's speech was atypical for a bride in the U.K. as it is uncommon for brides to give a speech at British weddings. In her speech, Markle described her and Prince Harry's romance as a "modern fairytale", adding that "above all, love wins".
The speech, delivered at the wedding reception at Frogmore House, began with a joke: "Onto the crux of why I wanted to speak tonight. First of all, it’s been a while". This was followed by Markle's intention to share a story about "the man that I love and the way that we met". She described their different backgrounds, with her being "a girl from L.A." and him "a guy from London", and how they came together despite coming from different worlds. Markle also acknowledged that their relationship was portrayed in a certain way by the press.
Markle's speech was a break from royal protocol, as it is not customary for the bride to give a speech at royal weddings. Instead, the best man, the host, and the groom traditionally speak. However, Markle's speech was well-received, with guests describing the event as "very special" and feeling that "it was more than you would ever imagine it to be".
The Netflix docuseries provided an insightful look into the couple's relationship, from their early romance to their wedding day and beyond. It also delved into the challenges they faced, including their royal exit, and how they navigated their way through it all.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Meghan Markle gave a speech at her wedding reception, breaking with English royal tradition.
In her speech, Meghan described her romance with Prince Harry as a "modern fairytale". She also shared a story about "a girl from L.A." and "a guy from London", and how they were meant to be together.
Prince Harry also gave a speech, in which he thanked all the guests and received massive cheers when he mentioned "my wife and I".







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