Harry And Meghan's Wedding Time

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on Saturday 19 May 2018 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, UK. The ceremony began at 12 pm BST (7 am ET) and was attended by various celebrities, including David Beckham, Elton John, and Oprah Winfrey. The newlyweds then took a horse-drawn carriage ride through Windsor, starting at 1 pm UK time (8 am ET).

The wedding ceremony

The wedding was noted for its inclusion of African-American culture and its departure from traditional royal customs. For instance, Meghan Markle was the first person of mixed-race heritage to marry into the British royal family. The ceremony also included a 14-minute sermon from Michael Curry, the presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church, who quoted Martin Luther King Jr. and emphasised the redemptive power of love.

Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller under the Givenchy fashion house. It was made of "double-bonded silk cady cushioned by an underskirt in triple silk organza" and had a boat neckline, long sleeves, and a sweeping train. Her veil was 16 feet long and embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as the California poppy, her home state's flower.

Prince Harry wore the frock coat uniform of the Blues and Royals, with permission from the Queen. He served in the regiment for 10 years, including in combat in Afghanistan. He wore the rank of major with various medals and ribbons, including the Royal Victorian Order, Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan, and Queen Elizabeth II Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals.

The ceremony was attended by around 600 guests, including celebrities such as David Beckham, Elton John, and Oprah Winfrey. Markle's former Suits co-stars were also in attendance. Approximately 250 members of the British Armed Forces were involved in the wedding, with most units having a connection to Prince Harry.

The carriage procession

The carriage was pulled by six Windsor Grey horses, including two father-and-son pairs: Storm and Tyrone, and Plymouth and Londonderry. The procession started at Windsor Castle, with the horses drawing the carriage along High Street and through Windsor Town, before returning to the castle along the Long Walk. The journey lasted just under 25 minutes.

The carriage was escorted by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. The newlyweds waved nonstop to the cheering crowds of adults and children who had gathered from across Britain and the world. The roadway was so narrow that those in the crowd could nearly reach out and touch the royal couple.

The Queen's reception

The reception was also where Prince Harry gave an impromptu speech, which a guest described as "very off-the-cuff, which was lovely".

The evening reception

The dress code for the evening was a classic tuxedo for Prince Harry, who also shaved off his beard, and a halter-neck, open-back dress by Stella McCartney for Meghan Markle. The Duchess of Sussex also wore an emerald-cut aquamarine ring that formerly belonged to Princess Diana. George Northwood styled her hair for the private party.

In a break with tradition, the bride gave a speech at the event, as did the Duke of Cambridge, who was the best man. The music was provided by DJ Idris Elba and The Atlantic Soul Orchestra. Elba played songs from a setlist provided by Meghan, including "Still D.R.E." and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" by Whitney Houston. The event ended with a small fireworks display above Frogmore House.

The wedding outfits

The Bride

For the ceremony, Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress was made of "double-bonded silk cady cushioned by an underskirt in triple silk organza" and had a boat neckline, long sleeves and sweeping train. The silk veil was 16 feet long and was embroidered with 55 flowers, representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as Wintersweet, which grows in front of Nottingham Cottage, where she and Harry lived, and the California Poppy, the state flower of California. It was secured by a diamond bandeau tiara, made in 1932 for Queen Mary and lent to Markle by Queen Elizabeth II. The centre brooch had been a wedding gift from the County of Lincoln in 1893. The tiara is a platinum band, made up of eleven sections, a detachable centre brooch with interlaced opals and diamonds. The shoes were also from Givenchy, and had a pointed couture design.

Other ensembles worn by the bride included white gold and diamond earrings and a bracelet made by Cartier. Markle's hair was styled into a bun that was 'messy in a controlled way' and was done by Serge Normant. Her makeup was done by Dior make-up artist Daniel Martin, who described the look as "a soft brown eyeshadow" with minimal makeup on the face. Her nails were painted in a "neutral pink-y beige" for the ceremony. The bride's bouquet, designed by Philippa Craddock, contained "forget-me-nots, scented sweet peas, lily of the valley, astilbe, jasmine and astrantia, and sprigs of myrtle from a plant grown from the myrtle used in the Queen's wedding bouquet". The flowers were chosen by the groom, who handpicked forget-me-nots in honour of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

For the evening reception, the Duchess of Sussex wore a halter-neck, open back dress by Stella McCartney and an emerald-cut aquamarine ring that formerly belonged to Princess Diana. Her hair was styled by George Northwood especially for the more relaxed evening.

The Groom

Prince Harry and the Duke of Cambridge wore the frock coat uniform of the Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons) in which both were commissioned, and Prince Harry served for 10 years, including in combat in Afghanistan. The uniforms were made by Dege & Skinner, gentleman's tailors and uniform makers, of Savile Row, London. The groom asked for and received the Queen's permission to keep his beard, as beards were then only permitted under exceptional circumstances in the British Army. Prince Harry wore the rank of major with the star of the Royal Victorian Order, of which he is a Knight Commander, along with the ribbons of the Royal Victorian Order, Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan, Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal and Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and Army Air Corps wings.

The Wedding Party

The bridesmaids and page boys wore outfits designed by Clare Waight Keller. The young bridesmaids wore high-waisted silk dresses with puff sleeves, while the page boys wore uniforms by Dege & Skinner that resembled the uniform of the Blues and Royals worn by the groom and best man. Each page boy had his initials on the shoulders in place of rank badges.

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