Harry And Meghan's Wedding Venue Revealed

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was held on Saturday 19 May 2018 at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in the United Kingdom. The ceremony was noted for its inclusion of African-American culture.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding venue

The chapel has served as the site of weddings for Queen Victoria's children and has been the final resting place of several monarchs, including King George VI, the Queen Mother Elizabeth, Henry VIII, Charles I, King Edward IV, King Edward VII, King George III, King William IV, and King George V. More recently, when Prince Harry's grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, died in 2022 and 2021, they were also buried in the chapel.

The choice of venue was a departure from tradition, as unlike his brother, Prince William, who married Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey in London, Prince Harry chose a more intimate setting for his wedding. The chapel has a rich history and was an ideal choice for the couple, who wanted their wedding to be a blend of tradition and modernity.

The wedding ceremony was officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and included a blend of British and African-American cultural elements. The couple's wedding day was a fairytale come true, with a gospel choir, a stunning Givenchy wedding gown designed by Clare Waight Keller, and a lemon elderflower cake that broke from royal tradition.

The guest list

Notable guests included:

• Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Charles, and Queen Elizabeth II
• Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland
• Serena Williams
• Priyanka Chopra
• Abigail Spencer
• Gabriel Macht
• Patrick J. Adams and his wife, Troian Bellisario
• Meghan's Suits co-stars: Gina Torres, Sarah Rafferty, and Rick Hoffman
• Oprah Winfrey
• George and Amal Clooney
• Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford
• David and Victoria Beckham
• Idris Elba
• Elton John
• James Corden
• Tom Hardy
• Joss Stone
• Will Greenwood
• James Haskell
• Johnny Wilkinson
• Nacho Figueras
• James Blunt
• Ben and Jessica Mulroney
• Jill Smoller
• Janina Gavankar
• Misha Nonoo
• Harry's ex-girlfriends: Cressida Bonas and Chelsy Davy
• Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice
• Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and his wife, Princess Mabereng

The couple's wedding party also included 10 children, with five bridesmaids and five page boys under the age of seven. These included Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Rylan Litt, Remi Litt, Brian Mulroney, John Mulroney, Ivy Mulroney, Florence van Cutsem, Zalie Warren, and Jasper Dyer.

The wedding cake

The cake was comprised of multiple cakes, with two single-tiered cakes and one two-tiered cake, which was the tallest of the display. The cakes were adorned with 150 fresh flowers, including British peonies and roses, and displayed on ornate gold stands from the royal family's collection. The cake was estimated to cost $70,000.

Ptak was delighted to be chosen to create the cake, saying, "I can't tell you how delighted I am to be chosen to make Prince Harry and Ms. Markle's wedding cake. Knowing that they really share the same values as I do about food provenance, sustainability, seasonality, and most importantly flavor, makes this the most exciting event to be a part of."

The bride's dress

Waight Keller and Meghan Markle had several meetings to discuss the dress's design, and the pair collaborated closely on the final creation. The dress featured six delicately placed seams that flowed to the back of the gown, culminating in a 16-foot-long train. The three-quarter-length sleeves and open bateau neckline were the focal points of the design.

The fabric used for the gown was exclusive double-bonded silk cady, requiring extra-special care during the construction process. The embroiderers had to wash their hands every 30 minutes to keep the fabric immaculate. The dress was paired with matching shoes, also designed by Waight Keller and made of silk duchess satin.

Markle's veil was equally stunning, measuring 16 feet in length and embroidered with 55 flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, along with Wintersweet, which grew in front of Nottingham Cottage where the couple lived, and the California Poppy, the state flower of her home state. The veil was secured by a diamond bandeau tiara, made in 1932 for Queen Mary, and loaned to Markle by Queen Elizabeth II.

For the evening reception, Markle changed into a halter-neck, open-back dress by Stella McCartney. She accessorised with an emerald-cut aquamarine ring that had belonged to Princess Diana.

The ceremony

The bride's father, Thomas Markle, was unable to attend the ceremony due to health issues, so Meghan was met halfway down the aisle by her future father-in-law, King Charles III, who escorted her to the altar. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, officiated the wedding, using the standard Anglican church service for Holy Matrimony. The ceremony was also noted for its inclusion of African-American culture.

The royal couple exchanged vows in front of 600 guests, including extended family members, friends, and high-profile figures from the worlds of Hollywood, music, and sport. Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, was also in attendance and was said to have enjoyed meeting the Queen.

The wedding party included 10 children, with Prince George and Princess Charlotte joining five other bridesmaids and three page boys. The bridesmaids wore ivory silk dresses with flower crowns, while the page boys wore mini versions of the Blues and Royals frock coat uniform.

Meghan's gown, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, featured a boat neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a 16-foot-long veil embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth. Her something blue was a piece of fabric from her first date with Harry, stitched into the veil.

Prince Harry wore a uniform of the Blues and Royals, with permission from the Queen. He chose this uniform as one of his favourites and one of the smartest household cavalry uniforms.

The couple's wedding bands were also unique. Meghan wore a ring made from Welsh gold, gifted by the Queen, while Harry's band was made of platinum, breaking with royal tradition.

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