Royal Morning Wedding: Harry And Meghan's Unique Choice

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding took place on a Saturday morning, breaking with royal tradition, which usually sees weddings take place on weekdays. The ceremony began at 12:00 midday.

Harry and Meghan's wedding was held on a Saturday, breaking with royal tradition

Harry and Meghan's wedding was held on Saturday, 19 May 2018, breaking with the tradition of royal weddings taking place on a weekday. The ceremony began at 12 pm BST (7 am ET) and was followed by a carriage procession through Windsor at 1 pm BST (8 am ET). The wedding took place at St George's Chapel, Windsor, with the bride and groom arriving at the chapel at 9.30 am, followed by members of the Royal Family.

The couple's decision to hold their wedding on a Saturday was a break from the usual royal tradition of weekday weddings. For example, Harry's older brother, Prince William, married Kate Middleton on a Friday, while their father, King Charles III, married Princess Diana on a Wednesday. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip also exchanged vows on a Thursday.

The timing of Harry and Meghan's wedding was also notable as it coincided with the FA Cup Final, which Prince William normally attends in his role as President of the Football Association. However, a statement from Kensington Palace confirmed that the timing of the wedding would not clash with the match, and Prince William did not attend the final that day.

The bride's veil was a nod to Princess Diana

The veil worn by Meghan Markle at her wedding to Prince Harry on 19 May 2018 was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The veil was a nod to Princess Diana in several ways.

Firstly, the veil was 16 feet long, echoing the epically long train and veil worn by Diana at her wedding to Prince Charles in 1981. Secondly, the veil's trim was embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, along with two of Meghan's favourites: Wintersweet, which grows outside Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace, and the California Poppy, the state flower of California, Meghan's home state.

The veil also included Meghan's "something blue", with a piece of fabric from the dress she wore on her first date with Harry stitched into it.

In addition, Meghan's wedding bouquet featured a tribute to Princess Diana, with Harry including his late mother's favourite flower, forget-me-nots, in the arrangement.

The wedding took place at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on Saturday 19 May 2018. The castle has been the home of royalty for almost 1,000 years and is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. Founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, it has since been the home of 40 monarchs.

St George's Chapel was founded in the 14th century by King Edward III and enlarged in the late 15th century. It is a Royal Peculiar, a church under the direct jurisdiction of the monarch, and the Chapel of the Order of the Garter. The chapel has been the site of many royal services, weddings, and burials.

The choice of venue for Harry and Meghan's wedding was significant. In a statement, Kensington Palace Communications Secretary Jason Knauf said:

> Prince Harry and Ms Markle are delighted that the beautiful grounds of Windsor Castle will be where they begin their lives together as a married couple.

The chapel has particular significance for the royal family, with Harry's grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, buried there. It has also been the site of several royal weddings, including that of Harry's uncle, the Earl of Wessex, and his cousin, Peter Phillips.

The wedding ceremony began at midday and was conducted according to the Christian liturgy for Holy Matrimony as set out in Common Worship of the Church of England. The Dean of Windsor, David Conner, conducted the service, with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, performing the marriage ceremony.

The ceremony included elements of African-American culture

The wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on 19 May 2018 was noted for including elements of African-American culture. The ceremony was conducted according to the Christian liturgy for Holy Matrimony as set out in Common Worship of the Church of England, the mother Church of the Anglican Communion. The service was a blend of African-American and Windsor traditions.

The ceremony included a sermon from Michael Curry, the first black presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church. Curry's 14-minute address quoted Martin Luther King Jr. and emphasised the redemptive property of love. The ceremony also included a performance from Karen Gibson and the Kingdom Choir, who sang "Stand By Me" in a gospel style. The song "This Little Light of Mine" by Etta James, which was played as the couple walked out of the chapel, is also associated with African-American civil rights in the 1950s and 1960s.

The ceremony was also notable for the inclusion of Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, who is African-American. Ragland's long dreadlocks, which were tucked underneath her hat, were seen as a reminder that black women's natural hair is regal too.

The couple's wedding rings were mismatched

The wedding rings of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were mismatched. Markle's ring was fashioned from a piece of Welsh gold, gifted to her by Queen Elizabeth II. Harry's ring, on the other hand, was made of platinum with a textured finish, breaking with royal tradition. The royal family has used Welsh gold for wedding bands since the Queen Mother's wedding in 1923. Harry's decision to opt for a platinum ring was a reflection of the couple's willingness to break with royal customs.

The rings were created by London's Cleave & Company, the court jewellers and medallists to the Queen. The company also designed Meghan's engagement ring, which featured a large central diamond from Botswana and two smaller diamonds from Princess Diana's collection.

In 2019, Meghan replaced the original gold band on her engagement ring with a thin micro-pavé band. Additionally, she wears an eternity ring, likely added to her collection to mark a special occasion, such as a wedding anniversary or the birth of a child.

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