Harry's Veiled Wedding

On 19 May 2018, Prince Harry lifted Meghan Markle's veil before they said their vows at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. The veil was five metres long and made of silk tulle. It was held in place by the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau tiara, which was lent to Markle by the Queen. While Prince Harry initially struggled to lift the veil, the moment was ultimately a success and was described as super cute.

Prince Harry struggled to lift Meghan Markle's veil

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding ceremony was packed with romantic, adorable, and beautiful moments. One of the most memorable moments was when Prince Harry lifted Meghan's veil.

After Meghan made her entrance at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, accompanied by two page boys who held her train, she walked down the aisle alone before being met by Prince Charles. The first order of business was for Prince Harry to lift her long, gossamer veil. Although it may sound like a small and practical moment, for the thousands of viewers whose eyes were glued to the royal couple, the small act became one of the cutest and most romantic parts of the entire wedding.

However, it seems that Prince Harry struggled for a moment with Meghan's veil. One source describes it as a "royal wedding veil fail", where Harry appeared deeply confused about what to do with the veil. It was a minor and cute hiccup in an otherwise flawless ceremony.

After he carefully lifted and placed Meghan's veil, Prince Harry appeared to mouth "Hi" to his bride-to-be. The careful adjustment of the veil showed how much he cared for her, and the looks of pure love that they exchanged after the veil was lifted were incredibly romantic. The moment was made even more special as it was the first time the couple fully saw each other on their wedding day.

The veil was five metres long, made of silk tulle and held by a tiara

The veil was an important part of Meghan Markle's wedding ensemble. It was five metres long, or 16.5 feet, and was made of silk tulle. The veil was held in place by a tiara, specifically the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau tiara, which was lent to Markle by the Queen. The tiara is English and was made in 1932, with the central brooch dating from 1893. The veil was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, who also designed Markle's wedding dress. Waight Keller was an unexpected choice as dress designer, as she had only recently become the first female Artistic Director at the French fashion house Givenchy.

The veil was embroidered with delicate floral patterns along the edges, which carried a special meaning. Each flower represented the distinctive flora of one of the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, united in one spectacular composition. This was in line with Markle's wish to have all 53 Commonwealth countries with her on her journey through the ceremony. The veil was held by two pageboys as Markle entered Windsor Castle for the ceremony, and it was then lifted by Prince Harry before they said their vows.

The long, flowing veil made a powerful impact when paired with Markle's simple dress and hair pulled into a low bun. It was described as a "complete blindsider" by fashion commentator Caryn Franklin, who praised the "huge veil [with] lots of embroidery" and the "long, lean and modern" silhouette it created. The veil was a striking contrast to the chic, unembellished Givenchy gown, creating a dramatic and memorable look for Markle's wedding to Prince Harry.

The moment when Prince Harry lifted the veil was captured in photographs, adding to the fairy-tale nature of the occasion. It was a picture-perfect moment, with Harry carefully lifting the veil back from Meghan's tiara as she smiled up at him. This intimate gesture, shared between the couple before they exchanged their vows, was a touching detail in their wedding ceremony. The veil's length and intricate embroidery, combined with the sparkle of the tiara, created a romantic and ethereal effect for the royal bride's ensemble.

The veil was embroidered with flowers representing the Commonwealth

The veil Meghan Markle wore at her wedding to Prince Harry was embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth. Kensington Palace confirmed that Meghan asked for this to be done, with each country's flowers hand-embroidered in silk threads and organza. The veil was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, who also designed Markle's wedding dress.

The flowers on the veil were intended to represent the distinctive flora of each Commonwealth country, united in one spectacular composition. Markle wanted all 53 countries of the Commonwealth with her on her journey through the ceremony. The embroidery on the veil was intricate and delicate, adding a special meaning to the already stunning veil.

The veil was 16.5 feet (5 metres) long and made of silk tulle. It was held in place by the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau tiara, which was lent to Markle by the Queen. The majority of the flowers were embroidered on the back of the veil, with two of Markle's favourites on the front: Wintersweet, which grows in the grounds of Kensington Palace, and the California poppy, the state flower of California, where Markle was born.

The veil was a surprise for Prince Harry, who was "over the moon" to find out about the choice of embroidery. It was also well-received by other members of the royal family. The veil, paired with Markle's simple dress and hair, made a powerful impact and added a unique touch to the royal wedding.

Traditionally, the father of the bride lifts the veil

The tradition of wearing a bridal veil dates back to ancient Greek and Roman times. The veil was believed to protect the bride from evil spirits and ward off kidnappers. In the case of arranged marriages, the veil also served to prevent the groom from seeing the bride's face before the wedding.

In modern times, the bride herself may choose to lift the veil, or she may opt for a significant person in her life, such as her mother, to do the honour. The lifting of the veil can occur at any stage of the ceremony but is most commonly done at the start, allowing the bride to see clearly throughout the proceedings.

In the case of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, Prince Harry lifted Meghan's veil before they said their vows.

The veil is often lifted before vows or during the first kiss

One option is to have the father of the bride lift the veil to give his daughter a kiss before "handing her off" to the groom. This can be done when they reach the end of the aisle, or when she takes her place at the altar. Alternatively, the veil can be kept down until the bride and her father say goodbye, and then the groom can lift it before the ceremony begins.

Another option is to keep the veil down until right before the vows. At this point, either the bride or the groom can lift it. This was the choice made by Prince Harry, who lifted Meghan Markle's veil before they exchanged vows. The veil can also be lifted by the groom right before the first kiss, which is a more traditional choice, as it was originally done to prevent the groom from seeing the bride's face in arranged marriages.

Ultimately, the decision of when to lift the veil is a personal preference, and there is no right or wrong choice.

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