Lyla Dejesus
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018 was a grand affair, with 200 guests in attendance at the lunchtime reception at Frogmore House. However, the event was marked by a seating plan controversy involving Harry's brother and sister-in-law, Prince William and Kate Middleton. The couple allegedly ignored the seating arrangements made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who had followed the American tradition of placing married couples beside each other. William and Kate, however, preferred the British tradition of sitting apart from each other and changed their place cards, causing a stir and irking the newlyweds.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Harry's wedding | 19 May 2018 |
| Place of Harry's wedding | St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle |
| Couple who ignored the seating plan | Prince William and Kate Middleton |
| Seating arrangement at the wedding | Couples were seated together |
| Reason for ignoring the seating plan | To maintain the British wedding tradition of sitting apart |
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What You'll Learn
Kate Middleton's dress at Prince Harry's wedding
At Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle, Kate Middleton wore a pale primrose yellow wool silk coatdress by Alexander McQueen. She accessorised with a hat designed by Philip Treacy and shoes by Jimmy Choo. This was in keeping with British tradition.
The Duchess of Cambridge had given birth to her third child, Prince Louis, less than a month before the wedding, which was her first major public appearance since the birth. She accompanied her two eldest children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, who served as a page boy and bridesmaid, respectively.
Kate's choice of Alexander McQueen was perhaps unsurprising, as she had worn the designer for both her children's christenings. She also wore an Alexander McQueen dress to Princess Charlotte's christening, which was the same as the one she wore to Harry and Meghan's wedding, although there are slight differences between the two coats.
Kate's dress was a far cry from the ivory lace gown she wore at her own wedding to Prince William, where Harry served as master of ceremonies.
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Prince William and Kate Middleton ignored seating plans
Prince Harry claimed that his brother, Prince William, and sister-in-law, Princess Kate, ignored his wedding rule with Meghan Markle and changed the seating arrangements. At the reception, Harry and Meghan had the Prince and Princess of Wales seated next to one another, following the American tradition of having couples sit together. However, the couple allegedly wanted to maintain the British wedding tradition of sitting apart from one another.
When Harry confronted William and Kate about this incident, they claimed that another person must have changed their place cards, and even accused Harry and Meghan of altering the seating chart at Pippa Middleton and James Matthews' wedding. Harry denied this, recalling how he and Meghan had been separated by a huge flower arrangement and had wanted to sit together but had not altered the seating plan.
This incident caused quite a stir, with some sources claiming that William and Kate committed the "biggest wedding-guest faux pas there is" and caused "seating chart chaos". However, it is worth noting that William and Kate had followed the American tradition at their own wedding, where couples sat together, which was a departure from the usual British custom.
Despite this hiccup, Harry and William's relationship has been a loving one, with Harry expressing his love for his sister-in-law and describing how lucky his brother was to have found a woman who loved him unconditionally. William, in turn, described Kate as his "rock" and shared how much his late mother, Princess Diana, would have loved her.
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Prince Harry's speech
The speech also took a heartfelt turn when Harry spoke movingly about his love for his sister-in-law and how lucky his brother was to have found a woman who loved him unconditionally. Harry also mentioned his late mother, Princess Diana, sharing how much she would have loved Kate.
After the speeches, Harry and Pippa Middleton had arranged a surprise for the newlyweds in the throne room. Harry then announced it was "time for some serious partying", and he crowd-surfed and stage-dived as the music was turned up.
Harry also made a sweet comment to William when he saw Kate walking down the aisle at Westminster Abbey. As tradition dictates, William, wearing the uniform of the Colonel of the Irish Guards, did not turn around. However, Harry turned to his brother and said, "Right, she is here now".
At Harry's own wedding to Meghan Markle, William and Kate caused a stir by ignoring the seating plan. Harry and Meghan had followed the American tradition of placing married couples beside one another, but William and Kate wanted to maintain the British tradition of sitting apart. They allegedly switched their place cards, which irked Harry.
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Kate Middleton's arrival at Westminster Abbey
Princess Kate arrived at Westminster Abbey, beaming, for her annual Christmas Carol Service. Wearing an Alexander McQueen red coat, she made her way into the venue, joined by her husband, Prince William, and their three children, Princes George and Louis, and Princess Charlotte. The event is considered one of Kate's most iconic appearances in the royal calendar.
The service, titled "Royal Carols: Together at Christmas," has been hosted by Princess Kate annually since 2021. It shines a light on individuals across the UK who have showcased love, kindness, and empathy towards others in their communities. This year's event, held on December 6, 2024, was particularly significant for the Princess, who had been diagnosed with cancer earlier that year.
The Westminster Abbey arrival holds a special place in the royal family's history, as it was also the venue for Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding ceremony on April 29, 2011. The traditional ceremony was followed by a reception at Windsor Castle, hosted by the then Prince Charles.
At Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018, William and Kate found themselves at the centre of a seating arrangement controversy. They allegedly ignored the seating plan, switching their place cards to sit apart, contrary to the American tradition of placing married couples together. This caused some tension, with Harry expressing his displeasure in his book.
Despite the seating arrangement incident, Prince Harry served as the master of ceremonies at William and Kate's wedding, delivering a humorous speech filled with affection for the couple. He affectionately referred to them as the "dude and the duchess" and imitated William by calling Kate "baby."
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Kate Middleton's role at the wedding
Kate Middleton, now the Princess of Wales, attended Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018. While she was not a bridesmaid or maid of honour, her children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, were page boys and bridesmaids.
Kate's role at the wedding was a subtle one, as is customary for royal weddings. She was not part of the bridal party, but she did greet the 650 guests invited to the champagne reception at St George's Hall, alongside her husband, Prince William.
Kate and William caused a stir at the wedding by changing their seating places. The couple swapped their place cards, choosing to sit apart from each other, which went against the American tradition of placing married couples side by side. This was a notable breach of wedding guest etiquette, and Harry mentions it in his memoir, "Spare".
Harry also mentions in his book that William and Kate accused him and Meghan of altering the seating plan at Pippa Middleton's wedding, which Harry denies.
Despite this, Harry and William's relationship at the time of the wedding seemed warm. Harry made an affectionate comment to William when he saw Kate walking down the aisle, and he gave a heartfelt speech about his love for his sister-in-law.
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Frequently asked questions
At Prince Harry's wedding, Kate Middleton and Prince William sat together, ignoring the seating plan.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle followed the American tradition of placing married couples beside one another. However, William and Kate wanted to maintain the British wedding tradition of sitting apart from one another.
In his book, Spare, Harry writes that William and Kate switched their place cards and changed seats at his wedding. He also mentions that he wished he could have spent more time with Meghan at Kate's sister Pippa Middleton's wedding in 2017.
When confronted, they claimed that another person must have changed their place cards. They also accused Harry and Meghan of altering the seating chart at Pippa Middleton's wedding.
Kate wore a figure-flattering yellow coat dress by Alexander McQueen, accessorized with a hat designed by Philip Treacy and shoes by Jimmy Choo.
