Junior Rasmussen
The wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry of Wales took place at noon local time in the UK, which was 8 pm AEST. The couple departed Windsor Castle at 4 am AEST to head to the wedding reception at Frogmore House.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, May 19, 2018 |
| Time | 6:30-8:00 pm AEST |
| Location | St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle |
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What You'll Learn
Royal wedding guests arrive
The wedding guests, comprising around 600 people, included members of the royal household, local schoolchildren, and "regular" people associated with charities and community organizations. The guest list also featured several predictable attendees from the British royal family, including Harry's grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip; his father and stepmother, Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall; and his brother and sister-in-law, William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Various cousins, such as Zara and Peter Phillips and Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, were also in attendance.
Female guests at British royal weddings, including those who are royalty and those who are not, often follow the tradition of covering their heads, especially when the wedding takes place in the spring. This tradition can lead to some eye-catching headwear, as seen at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, where Princess Beatrice of York's hat spawned its own Facebook page with thousands of fans.
In addition to the 600 guests inside the chapel, several thousand more were invited to stand on the grounds of Windsor Castle to watch the wedding party arrive and depart. This group included approximately 2,640 members of the public, who were invited by Harry and Meghan themselves.
The guests at a royal wedding must adhere to certain etiquette rules. For instance, at an ordinary wedding, friends of the groom sit on one side, and friends of the bride sit on the other. However, at a royal wedding, the royal family sits on the right-hand side of the church, while the friends and family of the non-royal partner sit on the left.
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Meghan Markle arrives
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in the United Kingdom. The bride, Meghan Markle, arrived at the Chapel's West Steps by car with her flower girls and page boys. This was the first time the world saw Meghan in her wedding dress, a custom boatneck gown by Givenchy Haute Couture.
Meghan spent the night before the wedding at Cliveden House with her mother, Doria Ragland, while Prince Harry stayed at Coworth Park Hotel with his brother and best man, the Duke of Cambridge. On the morning of the wedding, Prince Harry's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, conferred upon him the titles of Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel. Meghan's father, Thomas Markle Sr., did not attend the wedding due to his recent heart surgery. Prince Charles accompanied Meghan down the aisle instead.
The wedding ceremony began at 9:00 pm AEST, with Meghan arriving at the west steps of the chapel with one minute to spare before the official start. The Reverend Michael Curry from Chicago, Illinois, gave the address, while the Dean of Windsor, David Conner, conducted the service, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, officiated as the couple exchanged their marriage vows.
Following the ceremony, the newlyweds, now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, spoke to 200 representatives from charities associated with Prince Harry. They then boarded an Ascot Landau carriage pulled by Windsor Grey horses for a procession through the town, which lasted approximately 25 minutes. A reception was held at St George's Hall, followed by a more intimate gathering at Frogmore House, where Meghan changed into a high-neck, sleeveless Stella McCartney gown.
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Queen arrives last
It is customary for the Queen, as the most senior member of the British royal family, to arrive last at events and engagements. However, at weddings, this tradition is sometimes broken, as was the case at the wedding of her grandson, Prince Harry, to Meghan Markle. The Queen arrived with her husband, Prince Philip, just before Meghan drove up to St. George's Chapel.
The Queen's arrival at a wedding is a significant moment, and it is important to ensure that the timing is well-coordinated. The couple, their families, and the wedding party should be in place and ready to receive Her Majesty. It is customary for the Queen to be greeted and welcomed by the hosts and other dignitaries before taking her place near the front of the ceremony venue.
In the case of a surprise appearance, such as at the wedding of John and Frances Canning, the Queen's arrival may be kept discreet until the last moment. The staff at Manchester Town Hall, where the wedding was held, asked the couple to wait in a corridor, and just a few minutes later, the Queen arrived with Prince Philip and other dignitaries. The couple's guests were stunned and amazed to see the Queen in attendance as the guest of honour.
The timing of the Queen's arrival can also be influenced by the wedding's schedule and flow. It is essential to consider the time of year and the sunset when planning the timing of the ceremony and reception. The Queen's presence may warrant adjustments to the timeline to ensure her comfort and that of the other guests. For example, providing ample time for hair and makeup, ensuring a smooth flow of events, and allowing for transportation and photography. Additionally, the Catholic gap between the ceremony and reception can be a factor to consider when planning the timing of the wedding.
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Harry and Meghan depart for reception
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. The ceremony began at 12:00 pm BST, and the newlyweds exited the chapel at 1:00 pm.
After the ceremony, Harry and Meghan departed for their reception at St. George's Hall in Windsor Castle, where they were joined by 600 guests for a lunchtime celebration. This was the first of two receptions held that day, with the second being a smaller, more intimate gathering for just 200 of the couple's closest friends and family at Frogmore House on the castle grounds.
The couple made their way to the reception in an open Ascot Landau carriage, pulled by Windsor Grey horses, for a procession through the town of Windsor, which took approximately 25 minutes. They travelled along the Long Walk, a straight tree-lined path, back to Windsor Castle, where the reception was held.
Harry and Meghan's wedding day was highly publicised and televised globally, with an estimated audience of 1.9 billion people tuning in to watch the ceremony. The day's events included a traditional ceremony, a lunchtime reception, and a private evening affair, with the couple making their marriage vows in front of a select group of guests.
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Royal procession
A royal wedding procession is a grand affair, steeped in tradition and ritual. The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, which took place on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London, serves as a perfect example. The procession commenced with the arrival of the Queen, Prince Philip, and the clergy. Catherine, the bride, then made her entrance, walking down the aisle on her father's arm, accompanied by her bridesmaids and page boys, including Prince George and Princess Charlotte. This was followed by the groom's party, which included the best man, William's brother, Prince Harry.
The route of the procession to the ceremony is also carefully planned. For the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, the procession travelled between Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey, passing through iconic London locations such as The Mall, Horse Guards Parade, and Whitehall. The roads around the processional route were closed to traffic early in the morning to accommodate the event.
The seating arrangement within the ceremony venue is another important aspect of the royal wedding procession. At a typical wedding, friends of the groom sit on one side, while friends of the bride sit on the other. However, in a royal wedding, tradition dictates that the royal family sits on the right-hand side of the church, with the friends and family of the non-royal partner on the left. This was the case at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, where the royal family took their seats on the right, while Meghan's friends and family sat on the left.
The procession also extends beyond the ceremony itself. After the wedding, the newlywed couple traditionally makes an appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, as was the case with Prince William and Catherine Middleton. The couple is often joined by other members of the royal family, who stand without smiling on the balcony to watch a fly-past of aircraft in celebration.
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Frequently asked questions
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