Deborah Chan
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was one of the biggest weddings of the decade, with an estimated 2 billion viewers worldwide. The wedding took place on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, United Kingdom. The couple's wedding reception was held at St. George's Hall in Windsor Castle, with a second private reception hosted by Prince Charles at Frogmore House, a royal residence half a mile from Windsor Castle. The wedding and receptions were attended by numerous celebrities and notable figures, including George and Amal Clooney, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, and James Corden.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 19 May 2018 |
| Location | St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, UK |
| Couple | Prince Harry and Meghan Markle |
| Ceremony Type | Traditional |
| Reception Venue | St George's Hall, Windsor Castle |
| Reception Guest List | Around 200 guests |
| Reception Entertainment | Elton John, Idris Elba (DJ), Orchestra, Gospel Choir |
| Cake | Lemon and elderflower sponge by Claire Ptak |
| Fireworks | Yes |
| Wedding Flowers | Donated |
| Wedding Cake | Donated to Feeding Britain |
| Wedding Broadcast Profits | Donated to charity |
| Wedding Car | MINI 3dr Hatch sold at auction, proceeds donated to HIV charities |
| Wedding Stamps | Commemorative stamps issued by Royal Mail |
| Wedding Coin | Official UK £5 coin issued by the Royal Mint |
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What You'll Learn
- The wedding reception was held at Frogmore House, a 17th-century English country house
- The reception included a lemon elderflower cake created by pastry chef Claire Ptak
- There were two receptions following the wedding at Windsor Castle
- The first dance song was Land of 1000 Dances by Wilson Pickett
- The guest list included approximately 600 people, most of whom had a direct relationship with the couple
The wedding reception was held at Frogmore House, a 17th-century English country house
The wedding reception of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was held at Frogmore House, a 17th-century English country house located in the grounds of Windsor Castle, Berkshire. The house was built between 1680 and 1684 for tenants Anne Aldworth and Thomas May and was designed by Charles II's architect, Hugh May, who was also the uncle of Thomas May.
Frogmore House became a royal residence in 1792 when it was purchased by George III for his wife, Queen Charlotte. Queen Charlotte used the house as a country retreat for herself and her unmarried daughters. Over the years, the house has been occupied by several members of the British royal family, including Queen Victoria, who gave birth to her first child, Prince Albert Victor, at the house in 1864.
Frogmore House has been the site of numerous royal events and functions, including the wedding reception of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The couple chose the venue for its beautiful gardens and romantic setting, which was also the backdrop for their engagement photo shoot. The reception was hosted by Prince Charles and included a performance by special musical guests, as well as a lemon elderflower cake created by pastry chef Claire Ptak.
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. The ceremony was officiated by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, and included a traditional Anglican church service. The wedding was one of the biggest of the decade, with a global audience of hundreds of millions.
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The reception included a lemon elderflower cake created by pastry chef Claire Ptak
The wedding reception of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was held at St. George's Hall in Windsor Castle, on Saturday, 19 May 2018. The reception included a lemon elderflower cake created by pastry chef Claire Ptak, owner of the London-based bakery, Violet Bakery.
Harry and Meghan chose to break from tradition by selecting a spring-inspired cake. Most royal wedding cakes are fruit cakes, but the couple opted for a lemon elderflower cake covered in buttercream and decorated with fresh flowers. The cake was a departure from the norm, as the top tier of British wedding cakes is typically a fruit cake that can be served at the couple's first child's christening.
Claire Ptak, a California-raised, London-based baker, was chosen by the couple to create their wedding cake. Ptak described the cake as having "a delicate balance of sweet, bright lemons from the Amalfi Coast of Italy and the heady fragrance of elderflower." The cake was whipped up in the kitchens at Buckingham Palace and then transported to Windsor Castle for the reception.
The cake-making process involved greasing three 8-inch cake pans with butter or baker's spray and lining them with parchment paper. Granulated sugar was mixed with lemon zest until the sugar was aromatic and moist. The filling was made by beating heavy whipping cream until it held a firm peak and then folding in lemon curd. The buttercream frosting was made with elderflower cordial, and the cake was decorated with fresh, edible flowers.
The finished cake consisted of four large display cakes and enough bite-sized pieces to serve 800 guests at the reception. The couple laughed about how they cut their wedding cake with a sword.
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There were two receptions following the wedding at Windsor Castle
There were two receptions following the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle. The first was a luncheon hosted by the Queen at St. George's Hall for all 600 wedding guests. The second was an evening reception at Frogmore House, hosted by Prince Charles.
The wedding ceremony took place at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, and was attended by an estimated minimum of 2 billion viewers worldwide. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex exchanged vows in a fairytale wedding, complete with a gospel choir and a twist on the traditional wedding cake.
The first reception, hosted by the Queen, included a lemon and elderflower cake created by pastry chef Claire Ptak, owner of the London-based bakery, Violet Bakery. Harry and Meghan asked Ptak "to create a lemon elderflower cake that will incorporate the bright flavors of spring," according to a statement from the palace. The couple's first dance was to "Land of 1000 Dances" by Wilson Pickett, and they later watched a breathtaking fireworks display.
The second reception, hosted by Prince Charles, was a more intimate gathering at Frogmore House, a 17th-century English country house that has been a royal retreat for over 300 years. This reception included a speech from the bride, Meghan, and a naughty best man speech from William. The event ended with small fireworks displayed above Frogmore House, and guests were treated to music by special musical guests and a DJ set by Idris Elba.
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The first dance song was Land of 1000 Dances by Wilson Pickett
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor. The couple had a small, private garden ceremony before their extravagant royal celebration. The wedding ceremony was followed by a reception at St George's Hall in Windsor, where guests were treated to a lemon elderflower cake created by pastry chef Claire Ptak.
The first dance song at the reception was "Land of 1000 Dances" by Wilson Pickett. The song was written and first recorded by the American rhythm and blues singer Chris Kenner in 1962. It later became a bigger hit when covered by Cannibal & the Headhunters and Wilson Pickett. The song references several dance styles and moves, including the Twist, the Alligator, the Mashed Potato, the Watusi, and the Pony.
Wilson Pickett recorded the song during his first set of sessions at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, backed by the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and the Memphis Horns. The single became his third Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs No. 1 hit and his biggest pop hit, peaking at No. 6. The song has been featured in several movies and commercials, including The Great Outdoors, The Full Monty, and Sex Education.
The choice of "Land of 1000 Dances" as the first dance song added a fun and lively atmosphere to the royal wedding reception of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The song's upbeat rhythm and dance-themed lyrics created a joyful and celebratory ambiance for the newlyweds and their guests to enjoy and marked a memorable moment in the couple's extravagant royal celebration.
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The guest list included approximately 600 people, most of whom had a direct relationship with the couple
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a grand affair, with the ceremony taking place at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on 19 May 2018. The guest list for the wedding included approximately 600 people, most of whom had a direct relationship with the couple. The decision to not invite political leaders was a notable departure from royal tradition, with the only politician invited being former Prime Minister Sir John Major, who had a special connection to the princes after their mother's death.
The guest list for the wedding included a mix of royalty, celebrities, and close friends of the couple. Notable guests included Sarah, Duchess of York, who had not been invited to other royal weddings in the past. Among the non-royal guests were celebrities such as George and Amal Clooney, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, James Corden, Sir Elton John, and David and Victoria Beckham. Markle's Suits co-stars and non-work friends like Serena Williams and Oprah Winfrey were also in attendance.
The wedding ceremony was followed by two post-ceremony celebrations. The first was a lunchtime reception held at St. George's Hall, the largest room in Windsor Castle, with a guest list of around 600 people. The second reception was a private evening event hosted by Prince Charles at Frogmore House, a royal residence half a mile from Windsor Castle. This reception was attended by around 200 guests, including close friends and family of the couple.
The wedding celebrations were a mix of traditional and modern elements, with a gospel choir and a lemon elderflower cake created by pastry chef Claire Ptak. The couple also donated their wedding flowers and gave the remaining profits from the BBC broadcast to Feeding Britain, an organisation focused on eliminating hunger in the UK. The world watched as Harry and Meghan exchanged vows, with a minimum estimated viewership of 2 billion people worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, they had two receptions. The first was a lunchtime reception at St. George's Hall in Windsor Castle. The second was a private evening reception at Frogmore House, hosted by Prince Charles.
Guests were treated to a lemon and elderflower cake created by pastry chef Claire Ptak. The best man, William, served as compère, and there were speeches from the bride, best man, and Harry's close friends, Tom "Skippy" Inskip and Tom Van Straubenzee.
Dinner was prepared by royal chef Mark Flanagan and was more formal than the lunchtime reception. The evening concluded with a fireworks display.
Notable guests at the wedding and receptions included George and Amal Clooney, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, James Corden, Elton John, Serena Williams, David and Victoria Beckham, and James Blunt.
