Harry's Post-Wedding Glow-Up

Prince Harry's appearance has been the subject of much speculation following his wedding to Meghan Markle. One notable change is his decision to wear a wedding ring, making him the first man in his family to do so. Harry's choice of ring also broke with tradition, as he opted for a platinum band instead of the classic royal Welsh gold. In addition to his ring, Harry's attire on his wedding day was a topic of interest. He chose to wear a military uniform, specifically the frockcoat uniform of the Blues and Royals, granted by special permission from the Queen. However, there have been speculations that Harry's relationship with his family members, including his grandfather Prince Philip, has changed since his marriage. According to royal biographer Ingrid Seward, Philip has been unable to comprehend why Harry wanted to leave the royal family and has since walked away from the situation.

Prince Harry's wedding band broke two royal traditions

When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married on May 19, 2018, they broke a few royal traditions. One of the most notable was Prince Harry's decision to wear a wedding band, making him the first man in his family to do so. Traditionally, men in the British royal family do not wear wedding bands, with Prince Harry's brother, father, and grandfather all forgoing the ring.

Another break from tradition was the choice of ring material. While it was expected that Prince Harry's ring would be crafted from Welsh gold, following a tradition set by the Queen Mother in 1923, he instead opted for a platinum band.

In addition to the wedding band, Prince Harry also chose to wear a military uniform on his wedding day. He wore the frockcoat uniform of the Blues and Royals, for which he received permission from the Queen. This was a departure from the typical morning dress or lounge suit typically worn by male royals on their wedding day.

Prince Harry's military uniform on his wedding day

Prince Harry chose to wear a military uniform on his wedding day. He wore the frockcoat uniform of the Blues and Royals, a cavalry regiment in the British Army formed in 1969. The Blues and Royals was the regiment he served in when he was part of the army.

The uniform included a blue doeskin frockcoat, white gloves, a white buckskin belt with sword slings, and black trousers with a red stripe down the side. The uniform was crafted by Savile Row tailor Dege & Skinner, who also made the uniforms for the pageboys.

Prince Harry chose to wear a major's uniform as opposed to that of a general, despite his appointment as Captain General of the Royal Marines by the Queen. The Queen granted him permission to wear the uniform, which was decorated with the Victoria Cross and his various medals.

The Blues and Royals uniform holds a special significance for Prince Harry, as it represents his first regiment and the strong connections he has with the people he served alongside.

Prince Harry's relationship with Prince Philip

Prince Harry is said to have had an especially close relationship with his grandfather, Prince Philip. The two shared a connection through their military service and their commitment to veterans, and were frequently seen smiling and laughing together at royal events.

Prince Philip played a major role in the lives of his grandchildren and was said to have taken Harry and his brother, William, under his wing after the death of their mother, Princess Diana.

Harry and his wife Meghan's charity, Archewell, posted a special tribute on its homepage after Prince Philip's passing on April 9, 2021.

However, according to royal biographer Ingrid Seward, Harry's relationship with his grandfather suffered a setback after he and Meghan decided to exit the royal family. Prince Philip was unable to comprehend why Harry, sixth in line to the throne, wanted to leave. Seward writes that Philip has now "walked away" from the situation, feeling that his advice fell on "deaf ears."

Seward also writes that Philip was deeply upset by Harry and Meghan's decision to quit and could neither understand nor relate to it. He was also dismayed by how the couple treated the Queen, announcing their exit before consulting her.

According to Seward, Philip's absence from the Sandringham Summit signaled that he didn't want to be part of the discussion about Harry and Meghan's exit. She adds that while the Queen is the head of state, Philip has always been the head of the family, overseeing the running of the royal country estates and family matters.

Harry reflected on returning to the U.K. for Prince Philip's funeral in his Netflix series, saying that it was hard, especially spending time with his brother and father, who were very much focused on the same misinterpretation of the situation. Harry added that he has had to make peace with the fact that he will probably never get a genuine apology from his family.

Prince Harry's relationship with his oldest friends

For instance, royal author and expert Tom Quinn claimed that Harry's friends "won't visit him" in his new home in Montecito, California, because they find Meghan "difficult". He also asserted that Harry's army friends felt "betrayed" by the way he wrote about his military service in his memoir, "Spare", and now feel like they have "nothing in common" with him.

Additionally, Harry's decision to step back from his royal duties and move to the United States with Meghan in 2020 is believed to have complicated his relationship with his father, King Charles, and other members of the royal family. The Duke's memoir, which included claims and accusations against the monarchy, further strained these relationships.

However, it is important to note that the specifics of Prince Harry's relationships with his oldest friends may not be publicly known, and some sources suggest that he has maintained connections with certain individuals. For example, Harry and his brother, Prince William, were close friends with Hugh Van Cutsem, whose father was a longtime friend of their father, King Charles. While there were rumours of a falling out between Harry and Hugh, the latter was reportedly among the guests at Harry and Meghan's wedding.

Weird royal wedding souvenirs

Royal weddings have always been a source of fascination for people around the world, and the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was no exception. While there were the usual commemorative plates, mugs, and tea towels with images of the happy couple, there were also some more unusual souvenirs created to mark the occasion. Here are some of the weirdest royal wedding souvenirs from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's big day:

• Swimsuits: Online printing service Bags of Love offered custom swimsuits featuring photographs of the royal couple. The swimsuits were certainly memorable, with their stretched features and extreme close-ups, but they were not exactly flattering.
• Condoms: A company called Crown Jewels sold commemorative condoms with a box decorated with a photo of the couple. The box reportedly played "God Save The Queen" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" when opened.
• Comic Book: A 28-page comic book retelling the love story of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was available for purchase on Amazon.
• Doughnuts: Dunkin' Donuts released a limited-edition heart-shaped doughnut called the "Royal Love" to celebrate the royal wedding.
• Coffee: Heidi's Bakery in Windsor created limited-edition royal wedding coffees with intricate portraits of the couple on each cup.
• Slippers: Birdies offered "The Songbird Slippers," inspired by Meghan Markle's style, for those who wanted to walk in her shoes.
• Fascinators: For those wanting to make a fashion statement at their viewing parties, Chili's restaurants offered fascinators inspired by food items like burgers, ribs, fajitas, and margaritas.

While some of these souvenirs may seem strange or unusual, they all reflect the excitement and interest surrounding the royal wedding. People want to feel like they are a part of the celebration, and these souvenirs, weird or not, help create lasting memories of the event.

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