Junior Rasmussen
Pippa Middleton is the younger sister of Kate Middleton, who married Prince William in 2011. In 2017, Pippa married James Matthews in a small, intimate ceremony with only 150 guests in attendance. One of the notable guests was Meghan Markle, who at the time was dating Prince Harry. Markle's attendance at the wedding was the subject of much media scrutiny, with some speculating that she would overshadow the bride. Ultimately, Markle and Harry decided that she would skip the ceremony and only attend the reception, where they were seated separately per Pippa's request that no couples sit together.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Pippa Middleton's wedding | 20 May 2017 |
| Pippa Middleton's wedding venue | St. Mark's Church in Englefield, Berkshire |
| Number of guests at Pippa Middleton's wedding | 150 |
| Meghan Markle's attendance at the ceremony | No |
| Reason for absence | To avoid media attention and not to overshadow the bride |
| Meghan Markle's attendance at the reception | Yes |
| Prince Harry's attendance at the ceremony | Yes |
| Prince Harry's attendance at the reception | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
- Meghan Markle attended the reception, not the ceremony
- Pippa Middleton was reluctant to invite Markle
- Markle and Harry were not allowed to sit together at the reception
- Markle and Harry drove three hours to the reception together
- Pippa Middleton's wedding received almost as much attention as her sister's
Meghan Markle attended the reception, not the ceremony
Although it was rumoured that Meghan Markle would attend Pippa Middleton's wedding ceremony, she was notably absent from the church. However, she did attend the reception at the Middleton family home in Bucklebury, England. Markle's absence from the ceremony was reportedly an attempt to avoid attracting too much attention and distracting from Pippa Middleton's moment.
Prince Harry drove an hour and a half back to London to pick up Markle, before driving another hour and a half to the Middleton estate for the reception. This meant that Harry was separated from his girlfriend for the ceremony, attending alongside his brother, Prince William.
At the reception, Markle and Harry were not allowed to sit together, due to Pippa Middleton's controversial seating plan. The plan separated all couples to encourage guests who weren't already acquainted to get to know each other. Markle sat next to Roger Federer's wife, Mirka, while Harry was sat with ITV News presenter Tom Bradby.
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Pippa Middleton was reluctant to invite Markle
Pippa Middleton was reluctant to invite Meghan Markle to her wedding to James Matthews in May 2017. This was reportedly due to concerns that Markle's presence alongside her boyfriend, Prince Harry, might overshadow the main event. Markle was not initially invited to the wedding ceremony, but she did attend the reception.
Markle and Prince Harry had only been dating for less than a year at the time of the wedding. According to royal reporters Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, Middleton and her mother, Carole Middleton, shared concerns that the presence of the royal couple might take attention away from the bride and groom.
Scobie and Durand also noted that the day before the wedding, The Sun ran a cover story pitting Meghan and Pippa against each other, with a headline comparing the two women's rear ends. This story likely added to the concerns about media scrutiny and the potential for a media circus if Markle attended the ceremony.
Ultimately, Markle and Prince Harry decided that she would not attend the wedding ceremony but would join him at the reception. Prince Harry drove an hour and a half back to London to pick up Markle, and then they drove another hour and a half to the Middleton estate for the reception.
At the reception, Middleton had a strict seating plan that separated all couples, including Markle and Prince Harry. This meant that Markle spent the night sitting next to Roger Federer's wife, Mirka, while Prince Harry was seated with ITV News presenter Tom Bradby.
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Markle and Harry were not allowed to sit together at the reception
Meghan Markle was invited to Pippa Middleton's wedding to James Matthews in May 2017. However, Markle and her then-boyfriend, Prince Harry, were not allowed to sit together at the reception. This was due to Pippa's strict seating plan, which separated every couple to encourage guests who weren't already acquainted to get to know each other. Markle spent the night next to Roger Federer's wife, Mirka, while Harry was seated with ITV News presenter Tom Bradby.
Pippa Middleton's wedding guest rules did not apply to Prince Harry and his girlfriend, Meghan Markle. Markle attended the wedding despite being Harry's unmarried plus-one. The couple tried not to attract too much attention by arriving separately at the ceremony. Prince Harry attended the ceremony alongside his brother, Prince William, and later returned to pick up Markle for the reception.
The wedding, held at St. Mark's 12th-century church in Englefield, Berkshire, was an intimate high-society event with only 150 guests. The reception took place within a custom glass marquee on the Middleton family's 18-acre estate. The evening included a five-course meal, an aerial flyover by a World War II fighter jet, and a singalong to the Beatles' "Shout!".
Pippa Middleton's wedding caused almost as much buzz as her sister Kate's wedding to Prince William in 2011. The guest list for Pippa's wedding included children, such as her nephew Prince George and niece Princess Charlotte, who served in the wedding party. The bride's younger brother, James Middleton, also brought his girlfriend, TV presenter Donna Air.
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Markle and Harry drove three hours to the reception together
It was rumoured that Meghan Markle would attend Pippa Middleton's wedding to James Matthews on 20 May 2017. However, Markle was not in attendance at the ceremony. She and Prince Harry were reportedly following royal protocol to ensure that royals do not upstage civilian events. Markle was also not invited to the wedding under Pippa Middleton's "no ring, no bring" rule, which meant guests could only bring a spouse or fiancé to the wedding as a date. However, the rule did not apply to Markle and Prince Harry, as they were in a relationship at the time.
After the ceremony, Prince Harry drove an hour and a half back to London to pick up Markle, and then another hour and a half to the Middleton estate for the reception. Markle made a grand entrance at the reception, held at the Middletons' $8 million estate in Bucklebury, England. The couple reportedly spent three hours driving to and from London so that Markle could be Harry's plus-one.
At the reception, Markle and Harry were not allowed to sit together, as Pippa Middleton had a strict seating plan that separated every couple to encourage guests who weren't already acquainted to get to know each other. Markle spent the night next to Roger Federer's wife, Mirka, while Harry was sat with ITV News presenter Tom Bradby.
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Pippa Middleton's wedding received almost as much attention as her sister's
Pippa Middleton's wedding to James Matthews in 2017 received almost as much attention as her sister's wedding to Prince William in 2011. Pippa's wedding was attended by 150 guests, compared to the 1,900 guests at her sister's wedding. However, the presence of royalty at Pippa's wedding, including her nephew and niece, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, and her brother-in-law, Prince Harry, and his girlfriend, Meghan Markle, drew significant media interest.
Pippa Middleton and James Matthews attempted to keep their wedding plans private, but the event still garnered much attention due to the presence of royalty and the couple's luxurious choices. The wedding was held at St. Mark's 12th-century church in Englefield, Berkshire, near where Pippa grew up. The intimate ceremony included a limited guest list with a "no ring, no bring" rule, meaning guests could only bring a spouse or fiancé. However, this rule did not apply to Meghan Markle, who attended as Prince Harry's plus-one despite not being engaged.
The wedding ceremony was followed by a reception at the Middleton family estate, where Markle and Harry joined the celebrations. The reception featured a custom glass marquee erected on the 18-acre property, with luxurious "throne rooms" for guests. The strict seating plan separated couples, with Meghan sitting next to Roger Federer's wife, Mirka, while Harry sat with ITV News presenter Tom Bradby.
Pippa Middleton's wedding gained attention for its luxurious details, intimate setting, and the presence of royalty. The event was a high-society affair, reflecting the couple's wealth and royal connections. The media interest in Pippa's wedding was comparable to her sister's, with both weddings becoming notable social events.
In addition to the royal guests, Pippa's wedding party included her younger brother, James Middleton, and his girlfriend, TV presenter Donna Air. The wedding also sparked speculation about a possible engagement between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, with reports suggesting a ring could be in Markle's future. The couple later married in 2018.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Pippa Middleton did not attend Prince Harry's wedding.
Yes, Prince Harry attended Pippa Middleton's wedding.
Meghan Markle did not attend the wedding ceremony but joined Prince Harry at the reception.
Pippa Middleton and her mother, Carole Middleton, shared concerns that the presence of the royal couple might overshadow the big day.
No, they did not. Pippa Middleton had a strict seating plan that separated every couple in attendance.
