Harry-Meghan Wedding: Australian Viewing Time

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in the United Kingdom. The ceremony began at 12:00 midday BST, which was 9:00 pm AEST in Australia.

The first guests to arrive at the chapel were the 1,200 members of the public who had been invited to watch the celebrations outside the church. They started arriving at 6:00 pm AEST (9:00 am local time). The main wedding guests began arriving between 6:30 pm and 8:00 pm AEST (9:30 am to 11:00 am local time). The rest of the extended royal family began to arrive at 8:20 pm AEST (11:20 am local time). Prince Harry and his best man, Prince William, arrived at 8:45 pm AEST (11:45 am local time), and the Queen arrived at 8:55 pm AEST (11:55 am local time). Meghan Markle arrived at 8:59 pm AEST (11:59 am local time), and the ceremony began at 9:00 pm AEST (12:00 pm local time).

The wedding ceremony began at 9 pm AEST

The wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle began at 9 pm AEST. The highly anticipated event was held on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, United Kingdom. The ceremony commenced at 12:00 midday BST, which was 9 pm in Australian time.

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attracted worldwide attention, with approximately 250 members of the British Armed Forces involved and a guest list including A-list celebrities and prominent political figures. The ceremony was broadcast live globally, with an estimated 1.9 billion viewers tuning in, making it one of the biggest televised events in history.

The day began early for the public guests, who started arriving at St George's Chapel from 6 pm AEST. They were followed by the main wedding guests, who began to arrive from 6:30 pm to 8 pm AEST. The members of the royal family started to arrive at 8:20 pm AEST, with Prince Harry and his best man, Prince William, arriving at 8:45 pm AEST. Following royal protocol, Queen Elizabeth arrived last at 8:55 pm AEST.

The ceremony itself began at 9 pm AEST, with the Reverend Michael Curry from Chicago giving the address, while the Dean of Windsor, David Conner, conducted the service. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, officiated as the couple exchanged their marriage vows. The wedding service lasted for about an hour, concluding at 10 pm AEST.

The newlyweds then emerged from St George's Chapel and spoke to representatives from charities associated with Prince Harry. They then embarked on a carriage procession through the streets of Windsor, which took approximately 15 to 25 minutes. The celebrations continued with two receptions: the first at St George's Hall for all 600 wedding guests, and the second at Frogmore House, hosted by Prince Charles, for a more intimate gathering of 200 guests.

The Archbishop of Canterbury officiated the wedding

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was held on Saturday, 19 May 2018, in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, officiated the wedding using the standard Anglican church service for Holy Matrimony published in Common Worship, a liturgical text of the Church of England. The traditional ceremony was noted for its inclusion of African-American culture.

In March 2021, Meghan told Oprah Winfrey in a televised interview that she and Harry had actually tied the knot three days before their public wedding. She claimed that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, officiated their private ceremony in the backyard of their home. However, the Archbishop of Canterbury denied this, stating that the legal wedding took place on Saturday, 19 May, and that he signed the wedding certificate on that day. He confirmed that he had private meetings with the couple before the wedding but refused to disclose any details.

The Archbishop of Canterbury's role in the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a significant aspect of the event. By officiating the wedding, he followed in the tradition of the Church of England for royal weddings. The use of the standard Anglican church service for Holy Matrimony added a traditional and solemn touch to the ceremony.

The choice of the Archbishop of Canterbury as the officiant also carried symbolic significance. As the spiritual leader of the Church of England, his presence emphasised the importance of the occasion. Additionally, the Archbishop's involvement added a sense of continuity with previous royal weddings, as he has officiated other royal weddings in recent years.

In conclusion, the Archbishop of Canterbury played a crucial and symbolic role in the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. By officiating the wedding using the standard Anglican church service, he ensured that the ceremony followed royal tradition and included a sense of solemnity. Furthermore, his presence as the spiritual leader of the Church of England added to the significance and symbolism of the occasion.

The wedding reception was held at St George's Hall

The wedding reception for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was held at St George's Hall, a grand venue fit for a royal celebration. The hall, located in the centre of Liverpool, England, is a Neoclassical building that opened in 1854. With its concert halls, law courts, and grand architecture, it provided an elegant setting for the royal couple's festivities.

The choice of St George's Hall carried symbolic significance as well. The hall has a rich history, having served as the site of triennial music festivals and various other cultural and civic events throughout the years. It is known for its unique blend of Greek and Roman influences in its design, with one architectural historian hailing it as "one of the finest neo-Grecian buildings in the world."

The interior of St George's Hall is just as impressive as its exterior. The Great Hall, or Concert Hall, is the largest room, featuring an organ on its north wall and two long corridors flanking the east and west walls. The hall is adorned with sculptures, reliefs, and intricate plaster work. The Small Concert Room, which can accommodate up to 480 people, is elliptical in shape and features a balcony supported by caryatids, creating an intimate and elegant atmosphere.

For the royal wedding reception, St George's Hall was transformed into a magical setting. The Queen hosted the luncheon reception, and guests were treated to a variety of canapés and bowl foods, including salmon, asparagus, and panna cotta. The menu also featured a special nod to Harry's famous red hair, with ginger beverages served alongside the delicious spread.

The entertainment at the reception continued the royal theme, with Sir Elton John performing for the newlyweds. The "I'm Still Standing" singer, who had also performed at Princess Diana's funeral, was invited at Prince Harry's request. Another notable performance was by 19-year-old cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, who played a solo specially requested by Meghan herself.

The reception at St George's Hall was a memorable affair, filled with music, delicious food, and the joy of celebrating the union of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The hall's grandeur and historical significance added to the magic of the day, making it a fitting choice for the royal couple's wedding festivities.

The wedding cake was a lemon and elderflower cake

The cake was a departure from the traditional fruit cake served at royal weddings. Instead, the couple chose a light, spring-inspired flavour, with a nod to royal heritage. The cake was made with 200 Amalfi lemons, 500 organic eggs from Suffolk, butter, flour, sugar, and 10 bottles of Sandringham Elderflower Cordial. The cordial, made from flowers harvested at one of Queen Elizabeth's private homes, was used to soak the cake layers and was also incorporated into the frosting.

The cake was made up of three separate pieces: one two-tier cake and two single-tier cakes, adorned with 150 fresh flowers, mostly British peonies and roses. The cakes were displayed on gold ornate stands from the royal family's collection. The cake took Ptak and her team five days to bake and ice.

In an interview, Ptak revealed that Meghan had given her free rein over the cake design: "Meghan, she specifically said to me, 'I don't want to tell you what to do… the reason why I've chosen you is because I love your baking and your work and your point of view and your ethos.' And I was like, 'Oh my god, that's so cool. The best job brief ever!'".

The wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller

Waight Keller described the process of designing the dress as an "incredibly beautiful relationship of trust and intimacy" between herself and Markle. The designer revealed that she had so many emotions leading up to the royal wedding, as she understood the significance of the occasion and the importance of realising the bride's vision. She also emphasised the unique perspective she brought to the design as a woman who had been through the process of getting married herself.

Markle chose Waight Keller to design her wedding dress because of the designer's "timeless and elegant aesthetic, impeccable tailoring, and relaxed demeanour". The Duchess of Sussex wanted her wedding dress to reflect her personal style and veer away from past royal bridal fashion trends of opulent lace and crystal embellishments. She also wanted to incorporate meaningful details, such as a piece of fabric from her first date with Prince Harry, which was stitched into her veil as her "something blue".

The veil was just as intricate as the dress, with Waight Keller designing it to represent the distinctive flora of all 53 Commonwealth countries, as well as Wintersweet from Kensington Palace and the California Poppy, the state flower of California, where Meghan grew up. The veil was 16 feet long and was secured by a diamond bandeau tiara, made in 1932 for Queen Mary, which was lent to Markle by Queen Elizabeth II.

The final creation was a result of months of secret preparations and several meetings between the designer and the bride. The dress was a true thing of beauty and a dream come true for Meghan Markle, who described Waight Keller as someone who "completely respected what I wanted to see for the day".

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