Queen's Absence At Harry's Wedding Explained

The Queen was present at Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018, but there was speculation in the lead-up to the event that she might not attend. As the Head of the Church of England, the Queen represents the Church and its values, including its views on divorce. As Markle is a divorcee, it was speculated that the Queen may not feel able to witness her second marriage. This was the case with Prince Charles' second marriage in 2005, to which the Queen did not attend the ceremony, only the reception.

The Queen's attendance at Prince Harry's wedding was uncertain due to her role as Head of the Church of England, which discourages divorce

Queen Elizabeth II is the head of the Church of England, which has historically opposed divorce. The Church only began permitting marriage to divorced persons with a living former spouse in 2002. Meghan Markle, who married Queen Elizabeth's grandson Prince Harry, was previously married to Hollywood producer Trevor Engelson.

Queen Elizabeth's role as head of the Church of England, therefore, made her attendance at the wedding uncertain. While the Church's stance on divorce has softened over the years, there are still traditionalists who believe that "marriage means forever, full stop".

Despite the uncertainty, Queen Elizabeth did attend the wedding, arriving just before Markle, as is customary. The Archbishop of Canterbury, who officiated the wedding, expressed his joy at the upcoming nuptials, saying, "I am so happy that Prince Harry and Ms. Markle have chosen to make their vows before God".

Queen Elizabeth's attendance at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was significant given the Church of England's historical opposition to divorce and the fact that Markle is divorced. The Queen's presence at the wedding reflected the evolving nature of the Church's stance on divorce and remarriage.

The Queen wore bright green to the wedding, a colour she often wears to stand out

The Queen stood out at Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle in a bright lime green ensemble. The outfit consisted of a lime green silk tweed coat with frogging detail, designed by Stewart Parvin, over a floral dress in lime, lemon, purple, and grey printed silk, also by Parvin. The hat, designed by Angela Kelly, was in the same shade of green as the coat and featured a purple flower on its brim. The Queen's choice to wear such a bright colour was likely a practical decision, as she often wears bold colours to stand out so that well-wishers can spot her in a crowd.

The Queen's biographer Robert Hardman once quoted her as saying, "I can never wear beige because nobody will know who I am." Her daughter-in-law, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, confirmed this in the documentary The Queen at 90: "She needs to stand out for people to be able to say 'I saw the Queen.' Don't forget that when she turns up somewhere, the crowds are two, three, four, ten, 15 deep, and someone wants to be able to say they saw a bit of the Queen's hat as she went past."

The Queen's vibrant outfit at her grandson's wedding was no exception to her signature style of bright monochromatic ensembles. The colour green was a popular choice at the wedding, with the bride's mother, Doria Ragland, wearing pistachio, and Pippa Middleton in pale green.

The Queen had the best seat in the house, with the seat in front of her left empty

The Queen, Elizabeth II, had the best seat in the house at her grandson Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle. The seat in front of her was left empty, as is customary, so that she could have a nice view. This seat is also said to be the Queen's favourite.

Queen Elizabeth II is the head of the Church of England, and as such, her attendance at the wedding was not a given. The Church of England teaches that marriage is for life, and divorce is not encouraged. Clergy are urged to think carefully before remarrying a couple. As Meghan Markle is a divorcee, the Queen may not have felt able to attend or witness Markle's second marriage—even if it was to her grandson.

The Queen's attendance at Prince Harry's wedding broke with royal tradition. In the past, the Queen has not attended the weddings of family members when one or both of the couple were divorcees. For example, the Queen did not attend the wedding of her son and first in line to the throne, Prince Charles, to Camilla Parker-Bowles in 2005. Both had been previously married, and the Queen skipped the ceremony, only attending the reception.

However, in the decade since Prince Charles' second marriage, the royal family has modernised its outlook to remain relevant, taking a more lenient attitude towards divorce.

The Queen did not sing 'God Save the Queen' at the ceremony

The Queen did not sing "God Save the Queen" at the ceremony. This is likely because, as the British monarch, she is also the Head of the Church of England, which teaches that marriage is for life and does not encourage divorce. As Meghan Markle is a divorcee, the Queen may not have felt comfortable singing a song about herself during her grandson's second marriage.

This wouldn't be the first time the Queen has skipped the wedding ceremonies of family members due to one or both of the wedding party being a divorcee. The Queen did not attend the wedding ceremony of her son and first in line to the throne, Prince Charles, and Camilla Parker-Bowles in 2005, only joining for the reception afterwards. At the time, she said:

> I am not able to go... I do not feel that my position [as Supreme Governor of the Church] permits it.

The Queen's strong personal faith and her commitment to her role as Defender of the Faith may have influenced her decision not to sing "God Save the Queen" at Prince Harry's wedding.

The Queen finished eating first at the reception, signalling that everyone else was finished

At Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding reception, the Queen was the first to finish eating, signalling that everyone else was finished. This is in keeping with royal dining etiquette, which dictates that no one is allowed to sit until the Queen sits, and that when the Queen finishes eating, everyone else must finish too.

Indeed, the Queen's dining habits and unspoken dining rules have been well-documented. For example, it is known that the Queen Mother was always late for dinner, so the time of dinner was misrepresented to ensure that she would not be the last to arrive. The Queen also does not like garlic and will not eat it.

At Prince Harry's wedding, the Queen wore bright green, which has been interpreted as a power move. As the most senior member of the royal family, protocol dictates that the Queen arrives last to events and engagements; however, for weddings, an exception is made, and the Queen arrived just before Meghan Markle.

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