Franklin Dean
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had two wedding receptions following their wedding ceremony on 19 May 2018. The first reception was held at St. George's Hall in Windsor Castle, and the second was hosted by Prince Charles at Frogmore House, a royal residence in Windsor, half a mile from Windsor Castle. The first reception was a lunchtime gathering hosted by the Queen for 600 guests, while the second was a private evening event for around 200 guests. The couple reportedly wanted a ceremony that was personally meaningful to them, and the private reception at Frogmore House provided the perfect backdrop for their romantic engagement photoshoot.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for two wedding receptions | The private ceremony was personally meaningful to the couple |
| Number of receptions | Two |
| Type of receptions | One public, one private |
| Number of guests at the first reception | 600 |
| Number of guests at the second reception | 200 |
| Location of the first reception | St. George's Hall in Windsor Castle |
| Location of the second reception | Frogmore House |
| Host of the first reception | Queen Elizabeth II |
| Host of the second reception | Prince Charles |
| Dress at the second reception | White evening gown designed by Stella McCartney |
| Fireworks | Yes, at the end of the second reception |
| First dance song | "I'm in Love" by Wilson Pickett |
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What You'll Learn
- The first reception was a public-facing event with 600 guests
- The second reception was a private event with 200 guests
- The first reception was held at St. George's Hall in Windsor Castle
- The second reception was held at Frogmore House, a royal residence
- The private ceremony was personally meaningful to the couple
The first reception was a public-facing event with 600 guests
The first reception of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was a public-facing event with 600 guests. The lunchtime gathering was hosted by Queen Elizabeth II in St. George's Hall inside Windsor Castle. The hall, which is the largest room in the castle, was decorated with brightly coloured shields celebrating the Order of the Garter. Guests were served Pol Roger champagne, bowl food, and canapes before speeches from Prince Charles and Prince Harry. Prince William served as compere. The wedding cake, a lemon and elderflower sponge created by pastry chef Claire Ptak, was also cut during this reception. Sir Elton John performed for the guests.
The decision to hold a smaller ceremony and reception and not invite political leaders was influenced by Prince Harry's position as sixth in line to the throne and the limitations of the venue. The only politician invited was former Prime Minister Sir John Major, who had a special connection to Princes William and Harry.
The first reception was followed by a private evening event for around 200 guests at Frogmore House, a royal residence in the grounds of Windsor Castle. The second reception was hosted by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. Dinner at this reception was prepared by royal chef Mark Flanagan and was expected to be more formal, with at least three courses. The wedding cake was designed by London-based baker Claire Ptak, who created a lemon elderflower cake with buttercream icing and fresh flowers as decorations. Meghan Markle wore a halter-neck, open-back dress by Stella McCartney for the occasion. The event ended with a fireworks display.
While royal weddings often include two ceremonies, this is not unique to them. Many couples in England and Wales have dual ceremonies, often due to religious or personal reasons. For Harry and Meghan, the private ceremony held before the public wedding was personally meaningful to them.
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The second reception was a private event with 200 guests
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018 was a grand affair, with two wedding receptions. The second reception was a private event with 200 guests, hosted by Prince Charles, the father of the groom, and the Duchess of Cornwall at Frogmore House, a royal residence in Windsor, just half a mile from Windsor Castle. The venue holds a special significance for the couple as it was the backdrop for their romantic engagement photoshoot.
The guest list for the second reception included non-royal notable guests, including George and Amal Clooney, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, James Corden, Sir Elton John, and David and Victoria Beckham. Markle's Suits co-stars Patrick J. Adams, Gina Torres, and Abigail Spencer were also in attendance, as well as her non-work friends Serena Williams and Ben and Jessica Mulroney.
The dinner at the second reception was prepared by Royal Chef Mark Flanagan and was expected to be more formal than the lunchtime reception. The menu, created by the chef in collaboration with the couple, included seasonal ingredients sourced from the Queen's estates. The main course was a far cry from the bowl foods served at the first reception, with at least three courses planned for the evening.
The wedding cake, designed by London-based pastry chef Claire Ptak, was a lemon and elderflower sponge, decorated with peonies in shades of white and cream. The cake was cut during the daytime reception, but it was also served to guests in the evening. The party continued with music provided by DJ Idris Elba and The Atlantic Soul Orchestra. The bride, now the Duchess of Sussex, wore a halter-neck, open-back dress by Stella McCartney, and an emerald-cut aquamarine ring that once belonged to Princess Diana.
The private event ended with a specially designed fireworks display on the lawns of Frogmore House. The couple's first official Christmas card featured an image of them watching the fireworks, a memorable conclusion to their wedding celebrations.
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The first reception was held at St. George's Hall in Windsor Castle
The first reception of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was held at St. George's Hall in Windsor Castle, hosted by Queen Elizabeth II. The lunchtime gathering was a more public-facing event, with 600 guests from the wedding service congregation. The guests were served Pol Roger champagne, bowl food, and canapes, and the couple's wedding cakes were cut during the daytime reception. The cakes, made by baker Claire Ptak, were lemon and elderflower-flavoured, decorated with fresh flowers and displayed on historic pieces of gold plate from the royal collection. Harry and Meghan cut the cake using a ceremonial saber.
St. George's Hall is the largest room in Windsor Castle, at 180 feet long and 29.5 feet wide. The hall is decorated with brightly coloured shields celebrating the Order of the Garter. The venue was damaged in a fire that broke out in Windsor Castle in 1992, causing the roof of St. George's Hall to collapse, but the walls remained intact. It was later renovated in a modern Gothic style by architect Giles Downes.
The first reception was followed by a private evening event for around 200 guests at Frogmore House, hosted by Prince Charles. Frogmore House is a royal residence in Windsor, just half a mile from Windsor Castle. The wedding cake was a layered lemon and elderflower cake decorated with peonies in shades of white and cream. The cake designer, Claire Ptak, was chosen in March 2018.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had a private ceremony of marriage in their gardens at Kensington Palace three days before their public ceremony on 19 May 2018. The private ceremony was personally meaningful to them, with the couple exchanging personal vows in the presence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. The Church of England sources commented that this was not a legally recognised marriage ceremony, which requires two witnesses.
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The second reception was held at Frogmore House, a royal residence
The evening reception was hosted by Harry's father, Prince Charles, for around 200 guests. It was a more intimate and private event compared to the first reception, with a formal dinner prepared by Royal Chef Mark Flanagan. The menu, created with input from Meghan and Harry, featured seasonal ingredients sourced from the Queen's estates. The main course was likely at least three courses.
The wedding cake, designed by London-based pastry chef Claire Ptak, was a lemon and elderflower sponge, decorated with peonies in shades of white and cream. The cake was cut during the daytime reception, but it was also served to guests at the evening reception.
The bride, Meghan Markle, wore a halter-neck, open-back dress by Stella McCartney and an emerald-cut aquamarine ring that formerly belonged to Princess Diana. She also gave a speech, breaking with tradition. The best man, Prince William, also gave a speech, as did Harry's close friends, Tom "Skippy" Inskip and Tom Van Straubenzee.
The party ended with a specially designed fireworks display on the lawns of Frogmore House.
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The private ceremony was personally meaningful to the couple
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, was a grand affair with two wedding receptions. The first reception was held immediately after the ceremony at St. George's Hall in Windsor Castle, hosted by Queen Elizabeth II, and was a public-facing event with 600 guests. The second reception was a private evening event for around 200 guests, hosted by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at Frogmore House, a royal residence in Windsor.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, who was present at the private ceremony, confirmed that the legal wedding was on the Saturday, when he signed the wedding certificate. However, the private ceremony allowed the couple to exchange personal vows in a way that was meaningful to them, without the constraints of legal requirements. This is not uncommon, as many couples in England and Wales have dual ceremonies, with one that is legally recognised and another that is personally meaningful.
The private ceremony at Kensington Palace was a special moment for Harry and Meghan, allowing them to express their commitment to each other in an intimate and personal way, surrounded by the beauty of the palace gardens. It was a chance for them to connect deeply before the public ceremony and celebrations that followed.
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Frequently asked questions
Harry and Meghan had two receptions to accommodate their large number of guests. The first reception was a lunchtime event hosted by the Queen at St. George's Hall in Windsor Castle, with 600 guests from the wedding congregation. The second reception was a private evening event for around 200 guests, hosted by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at Frogmore House, a royal residence in Windsor.
Harry and Meghan got married at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, about 23 miles west of London.
It is estimated that a minimum of 2 billion people worldwide watched the wedding on TV.
Yes, Harry and Meghan had a private wedding ceremony three days before their public ceremony on 19 May 2018. The private ceremony was held in the gardens of Kensington Palace, with just the Archbishop of Canterbury present.
