Royal Wedding: Megan And Harry's Big Day

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding date was Saturday, May 19, 2018. The ceremony took place at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom. The bride, an American former actress, wore a custom boatneck wedding gown by Givenchy Haute Couture, while the groom, a member of the British royal family, wore a Blues and Royals frock coat uniform. The wedding was attended by 600 guests, including celebrities such as George and Amal Clooney, David and Victoria Beckham, Idris Elba, Elton John, Serena Williams, and Priyanka Chopra, as well as members of the royal family. The couple exchanged vows and rings, with Meghan omitting the word obey from her vows, before sharing their first married kiss on the steps of St. George's Chapel. The wedding was televised and live-streamed around the world.

The wedding date was chosen with family availability in mind

The wedding date of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was chosen with family availability in mind. The date of the wedding was set for May 19, 2018, which was a Saturday. This broke with royal tradition, as royal weddings are typically held on weekdays. However, the date was chosen in part because it accommodated the schedules of senior members of the royal family.

The wedding date was also influenced by the pregnancies of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Zara Tindall, who were both expecting at the time. Additionally, Princess Eugenie had to postpone her wedding to Jack Brooksbank as Prince Harry outranked her in the royal pecking order.

The date of the wedding also meant that Prince William, who is the President of the Football Association, would not be able to attend the Emirates FA Final Cup, as is customary.

The wedding cake was untraditional

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 wedding cake was certainly an untraditional one, breaking from the typical fruit cake that is customary at royal weddings. Instead, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex opted for a lemon and elderflower cake, inspired by their spring wedding date.

The cake was created by London-based baker Claire Ptak, owner of Violet Cakes in East London. Ptak is known for her moist sponge cakes with incredible fillings, and this royal wedding cake was no exception. The cake was a lemon sponge, drizzled with elderflower cordial from the Sandringham estate, adding a lovely floral flavour. The cake was also filled with an elderflower Swiss meringue buttercream, a classic choice for wedding cake frosting.

The cake design was also a departure from the traditional tall, tiered cakes of royal weddings past. The Duke and Duchess chose a beautiful display of multiple cakes, with two single-tiered cakes and one two-tiered cake, all displayed on ornate gold stands from the royal family's collection. The cakes were adorned with 150 fresh flowers, including British peonies and roses, adding to the spring-inspired theme.

The cake took five days to prepare in the kitchen at Buckingham Palace by Ptak and her team of six bakers. It was a true labour of love, incorporating the best of spring flavours and ingredients, and resulting in a unique and delicious confection. The royal couple's choice of cake was certainly a break from tradition, adding a modern and personal touch to their special day.

The wedding was not declared a bank holiday

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was not declared a bank holiday, despite the public's hope for a day off. The news of their engagement prompted calls on social media for the nation to have the day off. However, Theresa May's official spokesperson stated that "there are no plans for a Bank Holiday. There isn't a precedent in this area."

The spokesperson pointed out that there were no bank holidays to mark the weddings of Prince Andrew in 1986 or Prince Edward in 1999, both of whom, like Harry, were not direct heirs to the throne. In contrast, a bank holiday was declared for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011, and for the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer in 1981.

While some politicians and members of the public supported the idea of a bank holiday, citing economic benefits and a boost in tourism, others argued that Prince Harry's position in the line of succession did not warrant a national day off.

The wedding took place on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. It was a break from royal tradition, as royal weddings typically occur on weekdays. The day also happened to be the same date as the FA Cup Final, which Prince Harry's brother, William, normally attends in his role as President of the Football Association.

The ceremony was less grand than other royal weddings

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 was noted for its departure from tradition and inclusion of African-American culture.

While the wedding was a grand affair, it was considered less grand than other royal weddings. The ceremony was held on a Saturday, breaking with the royal tradition of having weddings on weekdays. The guest list was smaller than other royal weddings, with around 600 people invited, most of whom had a "direct relationship" with the couple. The wedding also did not include a maid or matron of honour, and the bridesmaids and page boys were all children.

The wedding venue, St George's Chapel, is a historic site that has served as the venue for several royal weddings. The chapel is over 500 years old and is the final resting place of several monarchs. The wedding dress, designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, was simple and elegant, with a boat neckline, long sleeves, and a sweeping train. The bride's hair and makeup were also kept natural and minimal.

The ceremony itself was conducted according to the Christian liturgy for Holy Matrimony and included traditional vows. However, Meghan omitted the word "obey" from her vows, following the example of her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, and sister-in-law, Kate Middleton. The ceremony also included a unique sermon by American Bishop Michael Bruce Curry, who quoted Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Love Your Enemies" speech.

Overall, while the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a grand and memorable event, it was less grand in scale and tradition compared to other royal weddings.

The wedding did not include a balcony kiss

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor. The ceremony was a break with tradition, as royal weddings typically take place on weekdays. Notably, the wedding did not include a balcony kiss, as is customary for royal weddings.

The reason for the absence of a balcony kiss was the choice of venue. While royal weddings typically take place in London, at Westminster Abbey or St. Paul's Cathedral, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle opted for a more low-key setting, exchanging their vows at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. This location is nearly an hour and a half away from London, making it impractical for the newlyweds to travel to Buckingham Palace for the traditional balcony kiss. Additionally, there is no suitable balcony at Windsor Castle for such an occasion.

Instead, the couple shared their first kiss as a married couple on the steps of St. George's Chapel, in front of the cheering crowd. This moment marked a departure from the grand balcony kisses of previous royal weddings, such as those of Prince Harry's parents and grandparents.

The decision to forgo the balcony kiss reflects the couple's desire for a more intimate and personalised wedding experience, despite the grand scale of the event.

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