Lyla Dejesus
On May 19, 2018, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle exchanged vows in a royal wedding that broke with tradition in several ways. The wedding was held on a Saturday, the couple chose to forgo a fruitcake in favour of a lemon elderflower cake, and Markle walked down the aisle unescorted. The wedding took place at St. George's Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle, which is a smaller venue than Westminster Abbey, where Prince William and Kate Middleton were wed. The guest list included celebrity friends of the couple, such as Serena Williams, Oprah Winfrey, and George and Amal Clooney, as well as 2,640 members of the public who were invited to celebrate the occasion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 19 May 2018 |
| Day of the week | Saturday |
| Venue | St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle |
| Cake | Lemon elderflower with buttercream frosting |
| Number of guests | 600 |
| Notable guests | Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Serena Williams, Patrick J. Adams, Oprah Winfrey, George and Amal Clooney, David and Victoria Beckham, Elton John, Princess Eugenie |
| Best man | Prince William |
| Bridesmaids and page boys | 10 children, including Prince George and Princess Charlotte |
| Vows | To "have and to hold" each other from their wedding day forward, "for better, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health" |
| First dance | Pickett's "Land of 1000 Dances" |
| Meghan's ring | Welsh gold |
| Harry's ring | Platinum |
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Meghan Markle's wedding dress
Markle's veil was embroidered with flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth, as well as the California poppy in honour of her home state and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace. A piece of the blue dress from Markle's first date with Prince Harry was also stitched into the veil.
Leading up to the wedding, there was much speculation about who would design Markle's dress. Some commentators suggested that she would not wear a white wedding dress as she had been married previously. Markle herself had expressed a preference for simple styles and had admired the wedding gown of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. Ultimately, she chose Waight Keller because of her "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour", and because she wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent.
Markle's wedding to Prince Harry took place on May 19, 2018, at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. The wedding broke a few royal traditions, including being held on a Saturday and featuring a lemon elderflower-flavoured cake instead of the traditional multi-tiered fruitcake.
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Royal guests
The royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. The ceremony broke a few royal traditions, including the choice of venue, date, and time.
The wedding was attended by several members of the royal family, including Harry's grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Prince Harry's father, Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, were also present.
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, served as his brother's best man, just as Harry had done for him in 2011. William's wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, were also in attendance.
Other royal guests included Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, a friend of Prince Harry and co-founder of the charity Sentebale, who attended with his wife, Princess Mabereng.
The wedding ceremony and celebrations also included a mix of traditions and modern touches, such as the couple's choice to recite a standard set of vows, with Meghan opting not to promise to "obey" her husband, and their selection of a lemon elderflower cake, breaking from the traditional fruitcake choice of previous royal weddings.
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Wedding venue
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding venue was St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, just outside of London. The venue was a departure from the grand Westminster Abbey, where Prince William and Kate Middleton were wed. The choice of a smaller, more intimate venue reflected Prince Harry's position as sixth in line to the throne, which meant there was less pressure for a grand, traditional wedding.
The historic St. George's Chapel, dating back at least 500 years, has been the site of numerous royal weddings, including those of Queen Victoria's children. The chapel has a seating capacity of 800, which is less than half the size of Westminster Abbey, allowing for a more modest guest list of 600 close friends and family.
The wedding ceremony was followed by a lunchtime reception hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at St. George's Hall for the invited guests. The reception venue, like the wedding ceremony, was a more intimate setting compared to other royal weddings, reflecting the couple's unique style and preferences.
The wedding venue of Windsor Castle holds a special significance for the royal family, with its rich history and quaint charm. The choice of venue allowed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to begin their married life together in a setting that was both beautiful and steeped in tradition.
The wedding invitations, designed by Barnard Westwood, featured the Three-Feathered Badge of the Prince of Wales printed in gold ink, adhering to Royal tradition while also reflecting the couple's modern style. The invitations were a prelude to the elegant and memorable celebration that took place at the historic St. George's Chapel.
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Wedding cake
The wedding cake of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a lemon elderflower cake. The couple broke from tradition by choosing a spring-inspired cake covered in buttercream and decorated with fresh flowers, instead of a traditional fruit cake. The cake was created by London-based baker Claire Ptak, who grew up in California and owns Violet Cakes in London.
The recipe for the cake is included in Ptak's cookbook, "Love Is a Pink Cake". The cake is described as light and airy, with a delicate and aromatic flavour. It is made with a vanilla sponge, elderflower cordial, lemon curd, and buttercream frosting. The elderflower cordial for the frosting can be purchased or made at home, and the lemon curd can be substituted with whipped cream or frosting. The cake can be decorated with fresh flowers, crystallized flowers, or store-bought candied lemon slices.
Ptak has shared some insights into the process of creating the royal wedding cake. She revealed that there was a lot of talk about the cake before it was unveiled, which added pressure to the process. However, she found the couple to be very supportive and they signed off on all her suggestions. Ptak also discussed the importance of cake temperature and how it should be transported and served.
In addition to the main wedding cake, Ptak and her team created several other tiers to serve the 750 guests. The cakes that were served to the guests were pre-cut and allowed to come to room temperature before being served. The cakes that were on display were donated to charity the next morning.
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Wedding vows
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding vows during their royal wedding ceremony on 19 May 2018 were mostly traditional and identical, as they were the official wedding vows of the Church of England. The couple's wedding took place in St. George's Chapel, and the royal family are members of the Church of England. Meghan was also baptised and confirmed into the church before the wedding to honour Harry's grandmother, the Queen, who is the "Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England".
Prince Harry's vows:
"I, Harry, take you, Meghan, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy law, in the presence of God, I make this vow."
Meghan Markle's vows:
"I, Meghan, take you, Harry, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy law, in the presence of God, I make this vow."
Like Princess Diana and Kate Middleton before her, Meghan also omitted the word "obey" from her vows. This was confirmed by the Palace before the ceremony, reflecting a modern approach to marriage within the royal family.
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Frequently asked questions
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on Saturday, May 19, 2018.
The wedding took place at St. George's Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle, just outside of London.
The wedding was attended by the couple's celebrity friends, including Serena Williams, Oprah Winfrey, and George and Amal Clooney. Foreign royalty, such as Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, and members of the Middleton and Spencer families were also present.
The wedding broke a few royal traditions. It was held on a Saturday, whereas royal weddings are typically held on weekdays. The cake was also a lemon elderflower-flavoured concoction with buttercream frosting, deviating from the traditional multi-tiered fruitcake.
Prince William served as the best man at his brother's wedding. Prince George and Princess Charlotte were among the ten bridesmaids and page boys, who were all children.
