
The arrival of the Queen at a wedding is a grand affair, with protocols and procedures to be followed. Queen Elizabeth II's arrival at royal weddings has been a memorable event, with crowds of fans eagerly awaiting her entrance. Typically, the Queen is not the first to arrive at the wedding, and she usually enters after the other guests are seated. At Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011, Queen Elizabeth II arrived with her husband, Prince Philip, their son, Prince Charles, and other royal family members. The Queen's arrival time and role at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018 were also highly anticipated, with the public eager for a glimpse of her grand entrance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Wedding | 19 May |
| Bride | Meghan Markle |
| Groom | Prince Harry |
| Queen's Arrival Time | Not mentioned |
| Queen's Entry | Likely to be grand |
| Queen's Transport | Car |
| Queen's Path | "Long Walk" |
| Queen's Attire | Monochromatic coat, floral dress, purple floral hat, black handbag |
| Queen's Gesture | Gave her official blessing to the marriage |
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What You'll Learn

Queen Elizabeth II attends a town hall wedding
In 2012, Frances and John Canning were surprised when Queen Elizabeth II attended their wedding at Manchester Town Hall. The late royal, who typically only accepted invites from family or prestigious dignitaries, showed up and even chatted with the couple. The couple received a call from the venue staff informing them that they would be sharing the venue with an "important VIP". They later learned that the guest was none other than Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. The couple wrote a letter to Buckingham Palace, inviting her to their wedding, and received a reply thanking them for the invitation.
On the day of the wedding, the staff asked the couple to wait in the corridor, and a few minutes later, the Queen arrived. She knew both their names and the couple was delighted by her presence. They also had the opportunity to take photos with the Queen and her husband, Prince Philip.
Queen Elizabeth II has attended other weddings, including that of her grandson, Prince Harry, to Meghan Markle. The Queen gave her official blessing to the marriage, and she arrived at St. George's Chapel with her husband, Prince Philip, their son, Prince Charles, and Camilla Parker-Bowles, Duchess of Cornwall. The royal family members approached the church using Windsor Castle's "Long Walk", allowing fans to see them approach the chapel. The royal family arrived after the other guests were seated.
Queen Elizabeth II's own wedding to Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark took place on November 20, 1947, at Westminster Abbey. The guest list included five kings, five queens, and eight princes and princesses. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Geoffrey Fisher, and the Archbishop of York, Cyril Garbett, officiated the ceremony.
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The Queen's arrival at Meghan and Harry's wedding
The wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on 19 May 2018 was a highly anticipated event, with fans eager to catch a glimpse of the royal family, particularly Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen's arrival at the wedding was a grand affair, with members of the public and the media gathered to witness the occasion.
Queen Elizabeth II played a significant role in the wedding of her beloved grandson, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle. As the royal family arrived after the other guests were seated, all eyes were on the Queen as she made her entrance into St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. The Queen was accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip, who notably did not require a wheelchair or cane, making a remarkable post-surgery debut. The couple waved to the crowds as they walked into the church, with the Queen dressed in a bright green monochromatic coat, a floral dress, and her signature black handbag.
The royal family's arrival at the wedding followed a traditional procession. According to reports, they approached the church using Windsor Castle's "Long Walk," allowing fans to see them as they made their way to the chapel. While many royal family members arrived by car, Prince Harry, the groom, and his best man, Prince William, entered the church through a side entrance at the West Steps.
The Queen's presence at the wedding carried a lot of significance. She had already shown her support for the couple's union by issuing an official blessing for their marriage in March. The wedding ceremony further solidified the special bond between Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Harry, as she referred to him as her "most dearly beloved grandson."
In addition to the Queen, other royal family members also played essential roles in the wedding. Prince George served as a page boy, and Princess Charlotte was a bridesmaid, joining several other children in the wedding party. The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, was also in attendance, although she did not have an official role in the wedding party.
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The Queen's arrival at Princess Eugenie's wedding
Princess Eugenie's wedding to Jack Brooksbank was a grand affair, with around 800 guests in attendance. The Queen, dressed in a pale blue ensemble, arrived at the wedding with her husband, Prince Philip, by her side. The 92-year-old monarch waved to the gathered crowds as she made her way inside St. George's Chapel in Windsor.
Prince Philip's attendance at the wedding had been uncertain after he underwent surgery earlier in the year. However, the 97-year-old was able to walk into the church without aid, accompanied by the Queen, a few paces behind her.
The wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank was a joyous occasion for the Royal Family, with the Queen hosting a lunch at Windsor Castle to celebrate the newlyweds. The festivities continued with a black-tie evening reception at the Royal Lodge, extending the celebrations for another day with a festival-style event.
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Queen's arrival at her own wedding
The arrival of the Queen at her own wedding was a grand affair. Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip wed on Nov. 20, 1947, at 11:30 a.m. GST at Westminster Abbey. Two days before the ceremony, the young couple celebrated with a ball at Buckingham Palace, which was reportedly a "sensational evening". The bride was joined by eight bridesmaids, including her sister, Princess Margaret, and her first cousins, Princess Alexandra of Kent and Margaret Elpinstone. The groom had his first cousin, David Mountbatten, by his side as best man. The princess's Norman Hartnell gown, made of Duchesse satin from Scotland and silk, featured a 15-foot silk tulle train and a bodice encrusted with 10,000 seed pearls and diamanté crystals.
The wedding was a grand affair, with an estimated 200,000 people making the trek to St James's Palace, where the couple's wedding gifts were displayed. The Queen's most notable piece of jewellery was the Queen Mary Fringe Tiara she wore. The groom, Prince Philip, designed gold compacts engraved with his and Elizabeth's initials for the wedding party. The couple's wedding was a historic event, with Princess Elizabeth becoming the 10th member of the British monarchy to be married at Westminster Abbey.
In more recent times, Queen Elizabeth II has made surprise appearances at the weddings of non-royals. In 2014, she attended the wedding of Frances and John Canning at Manchester Town Hall. The couple was surprised when they received a reply from Buckingham Palace accepting their light-hearted invitation to the Queen. Her Majesty even knew the couple by name and posed for photos with them. This was a rare occurrence, as the late Queen typically only accepted invites from family or prestigious dignitaries.
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Order of arrivals at a wedding
The order of arrivals at a wedding is an important aspect of the ceremony. While the specific order may vary depending on cultural and religious traditions, there is a general sequence that is commonly followed. Here is a detailed guide to the order of arrivals for a traditional wedding ceremony:
Before the Ceremony
The couple signs a marriage contract, known as the ketubah, in private. This usually takes place before the wedding day, but it can also be done shortly before the ceremony. This is followed by the bedeken or veiling, where the groom veils his bride's face.
Guests Arrival
The guests begin to arrive and take their seats. In the case of royal weddings, the public guests arrive first, followed by the guests attending the chapel ceremony. The royal family arrives last, after all the other guests are seated.
Wedding Processional
The wedding processional marks the start of the ceremony. The children chosen for the wedding party, such as ring bearers and flower girls, walk down the aisle one by one. In a Hindu wedding, the groom's family arrives first, and the bride's family waits to greet them. In a Jewish wedding, both parties' grandparents walk down the aisle.
Bridal Party Entrance
The bridal party enters next, including the bridesmaids, groomsmen, best man or woman, and maid/matron of honour. The bride may be escorted by her father, mother, or both, or she may choose to have no escort at all.
Bride's Entrance
The bride makes her grand entrance and walks down the aisle. In some traditions, such as Hindu weddings, the bride enters with her family, wedding party, and friends, with the bridal party leading the way to hide the bride until the big reveal.
Groom's Entrance
The groom enters and takes his place at the altar. In some cultures, the groom arrives on a ceremonial white horse, escorted by his friends and family, in a ritual known as the baraat.
Officiant's Arrival
The officiant, who may be a religious leader, friend, or family member, enters and stands at the altar to mark the beginning of the ceremony.
Recessional
After the ceremony, the newlyweds lead the recessional down the aisle, followed by the wedding party and guests. The order of the recessional is typically the reverse of the processional.
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Frequently asked questions
The Queen in this context refers to Queen Elizabeth II, who was married to Prince Philip.
Royals are usually the last guests to arrive at a wedding.
Yes, in 2012, Queen Elizabeth II attended the wedding of Frances and John Canning at Manchester Town Hall.
Yes, Queen Elizabeth II's wedding to Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark in 1947 has been mentioned in the news.











































