Junior Rasmussen
There were no reports of Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle being called off. The wedding took place on May 19, 2018, at Windsor Castle. The wedding was a grand affair with 2,640 members of the public invited to the castle and millions watching the broadcast across the globe. The couple's engagement was announced in November 2017, after a 16-month romance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the wedding | May 19, 2018 |
| Venue | St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle |
| Couple | Prince Harry and Meghan Markle |
| Bride's title after marriage | Princess of the United Kingdom, Duchess of Sussex, Countess of Dumbarton, and Baroness Kilkeel |
| Groom's title after marriage | Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton, and Baron Kilkeel |
| Bride's citizenship | Meghan Markle retained her U.S. citizenship during the process of becoming a British citizen |
| Wedding guests | Royal family members, Meghan Markle's friends and co-stars, members of the Middleton and Spencer families, and 2,640 members of the public |
| Notable non-invitees | Prime Minister Theresa May, Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn, President Donald Trump, and former President Barack Obama |
| Wedding ceremony officiator | Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Wedding party members | Prince George (page boy), Princess Charlotte (flower girl), Prince William (best man) |
| Carriage procession | A carriage procession through Windsor followed the wedding ceremony |
| Wedding memorabilia | A £5 coin, postage stamps, a MINI 3dr Hatch car, gift bags for the public guests |
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What You'll Learn
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding party
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on 19 May 2018 in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. The wedding was not declared a bank holiday, unlike the weddings of Prince Harry's elder brother, Prince William, and other royal family members. The ceremony was officiated by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, using the standard Anglican church service for Holy Matrimony. The traditional ceremony included elements of African-American culture.
Prince Harry's nephew and niece, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, played central roles in the wedding. Prince George served as a page boy, and Princess Charlotte was a flower girl. Their parents, Prince William and Princess Kate, were also expected to be part of the wedding party, although it was not confirmed if Prince William would be the best man. Other members of the royal family in attendance included Queen Elizabeth II, who conferred upon Prince Harry the titles of Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton, and Baron Kilkeel on the morning of the wedding. Prince Harry's father, Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, were also present.
The wedding had an estimated global audience of hundreds of millions, with peak viewing figures of 27.7 million reported in the UK and 29 million in the United States. The ceremony was followed by a luncheon reception and a private evening affair. The couple delayed their honeymoon until a week after the wedding to attend various private engagements and Prince Charles' 70th birthday celebration at Buckingham Palace, their first public appearance as a married couple.
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The wedding's date, time and venue
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding date was set for the 19th of May 2018. The ceremony took place at 12 pm GMT (7 am ET) at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. The wedding was followed by a carriage procession through Windsor at 1 pm (8 am ET).
The wedding ceremony was officiated by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, who used the standard Anglican church service for Holy Matrimony. The traditional ceremony was noted for its inclusion of African-American culture.
The venue, Windsor Castle, hosted 2,640 members of the public who were invited to the wedding and gifted commemorative gift bags. The bag featured the couple's initials, the date, and the venue printed on the exterior. Inside, there was an order of service booklet, a gold chocolate coin, a bottle of water, a fridge magnet, a voucher for the Windsor Castle gift shop, and a tube of hand balm.
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a highly anticipated event, with peak viewing figures of 27.7 million reported in the UK and an estimated global audience in the hundreds of millions. The event was covered by major news networks in the UK and streamed live online on YouTube via the British Monarchy's official channel.
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Royal guests and political leaders who were invited
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018 was a grand affair with 600 guests in attendance at the ceremony and the lunchtime reception hosted by the Queen at St. George's Hall. The guest list included several notable celebrities and members of royalty, but no official list of political leaders.
Royal Guests
The royal guests included Prince Harry's family members, such as his father, Prince Charles, and his brother, Prince William, who served as Harry's best man. Other royal guests included Queen Elizabeth's granddaughter and Prince Harry's cousin, Zara Tindall, with her husband, and Princess Kate's sister, Pippa Matthews, with her husband, James. Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, who co-founded the Sentebale charity with Prince Harry, also attended the wedding with his wife, Princess Mabereng.
Celebrities
Several celebrities were also invited to the royal wedding, including Oprah Winfrey, George and Amal Clooney, Victoria and David Beckham, Serena Williams, Priyanka Chopra, Patrick J. Adams, Idris Elba, Elton John, and some of the Spice Girls.
Political Leaders
Although there was much speculation about whether political leaders would be invited, Kensington Palace confirmed that an official list of political leaders was not required for the wedding. As a result, prominent political figures such as former US President Barack Obama and UK Prime Minister Theresa May were not in attendance.
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The wedding's TV coverage and viewership
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was televised and streamed online, with several channels and platforms providing coverage. The wedding took place on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at Windsor Castle in England.
In the UK, BBC One's coverage averaged 8.7 million viewers over five hours, with a peak audience of 13.1 million during the middle of the ceremony. ITV's coverage attracted an average audience of 2.5 million viewers, with a peak of 3.6 million. Sky News, Sky One, and BBC News averaged around 500,000 viewers, bringing the total peak UK audience to just under 18 million.
In the US, the wedding was carried live on 15 networks, including ABC, BBC America, CBS, CNN, Fox News Channel, and NBC. CBS's coverage started at 4 am Eastern Time from Windsor, with Tina Brown, Gayle King, and Kevin Frazier anchoring the live broadcast. CBSN, CBS's live-streaming site, also provided coverage from 4 am. E! broadcast "E! Live From the Royal Wedding" starting at 5 am Eastern Time, with hosts Giuliana Rancic, Brad Goreski, Sarah-Jane Crawford, and royal expert Melanie Bromley. Reuters TV's online coverage began at 4:30 am Eastern Time.
While exact viewership figures for each network are not readily available, it is estimated that a total of 29.19 million viewers in 29.7 million households tuned in to watch the wedding in the US. These figures far outdrew the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011, which garnered 23 million viewers in the US and 24 million in the UK.
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Markle's citizenship post-marriage
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on May 19, 2018, at Windsor Castle.
Markle's post-marriage citizenship status has been the subject of much discussion. Markle, a natural-born citizen of the United States, began the process of becoming a British citizen after her engagement to Prince Harry. It was speculated that she would retain her US citizenship, potentially creating tax complications due to dual nationality.
American tax laws require US citizens to fulfil tax obligations, regardless of their residence. This would mean that Markle would have to annually file her taxes with the IRS and potentially disclose her assets, including foreign trusts. This could lead to the secretive finances of the royal family being exposed to outside scrutiny.
There were predictions that Markle would be pressured by the Royal Family to renounce her US citizenship. However, it is important to note that there are no rules requiring British royals to give up dual citizenship. The potential impact on Markle's citizenship status due to her royal title is also unclear, as there is a proposed constitutional amendment that could strip American citizenship from a citizen who accepts a royal title.
While Markle could face challenges in retaining her American citizenship, it is important to emphasise that there are limited circumstances under which her citizenship could be revoked against her will, such as acts of treason or serving in certain foreign armed forces. The decision to retain or renounce her citizenship is primarily influenced by tax implications and the potential exposure of royal finances.
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Frequently asked questions
No, it took place on May 19, 2018, at Windsor Castle.
The wedding was attended by Prince Harry's family, including his grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, his father, Prince Charles, and his brother, Prince William. William's children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, were also in attendance and played central roles in the wedding party.
The guest list included foreign royalty, such as Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, and celebrities like Serena Williams and Oprah Winfrey. 2,640 members of the public were also invited to Windsor Castle and received gift bags to commemorate the event.
No, an "official list" of domestic and international political leaders was not required for the wedding. The only politician invited was former Prime Minister Sir John Major, who had been a special guardian to the princes after their mother's death.
No, unlike the weddings of Prince William and Princess Anne, there was no bank holiday for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding.
