Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle facts for kids
Prince Harry and Meghan's carriage ride after their wedding
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| Date | 19 May 2018 |
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| Venue | St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle |
| Location | Windsor, Berkshire, England |
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The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on Saturday, May 19, 2018. It was held at St George's Chapel inside Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom. Prince Harry is a member of the British royal family. Meghan Markle is American and used to be an actress, blogger, and worked for charities.
On the morning of their wedding, Prince Harry's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, gave him new titles: Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton, and Baron Kilkeel. When Meghan married Harry, she became a princess of the United Kingdom. She also received the titles Duchess of Sussex, Countess of Dumbarton, and Baroness Kilkeel. Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, led the wedding ceremony. He used the standard Church of England service. The ceremony was special because it included parts of African-American culture.
Contents
Announcing the Engagement
Prince Harry is the second son of King Charles III (who was then called the Prince of Wales) and Diana, Princess of Wales. He and Meghan Markle started their relationship in mid-2016. Meghan was an American actress, famous for her role in the TV show Suits.
The couple said they first connected through Instagram. They also mentioned a mutual friend set them up on a blind date in July 2016. The public found out about their relationship on October 31, 2016. It was officially confirmed on November 8, 2016.
On November 27, 2017, it was announced that Harry and Meghan would marry in the spring of 2018. They got engaged earlier in London. Harry asked Meghan to marry him in Kensington Palace's north garden. Prince Harry gave Meghan a special engagement ring. It was made by the Queen's jewelers. The ring has a large diamond from Botswana. It also has two smaller diamonds from his mother's jewelry collection. After they married, they planned to live at Nottingham Cottage in Kensington Palace.
Harry's grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, were very happy about the news. Many political leaders also sent their congratulations. These included the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, and the leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn. After the announcement, the couple gave an interview to BBC News.
When they publicly announced their engagement, Meghan wore a green dress and a white coat. The coat became so popular that the brand's website crashed!
Meghan Markle is the second American to marry into the British royal family. She is also the first person of mixed race heritage to do so. Her engagement was seen as a very important moment for the royal family and for people of mixed heritage.
Because Harry was fifth in line to the throne at the time, he needed the Queen's permission to marry. The Queen gave her consent on March 14, 2018.
Even though Meghan went to a private Catholic school, she was not raised Roman Catholic. On March 6, 2018, she was baptised and confirmed into the Church of England. This was done by the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. The Anglican Church allows divorced people to marry again, which was important as Meghan had been divorced. After the engagement, Meghan started the process to become a British citizen.
To celebrate the wedding, the Royal Mint made a special UK £5 coin. It showed Harry and Meghan's profiles. In May, Royal Mail also released a set of special postage stamps. These stamps featured the couple's official engagement photos.
The Royal Wedding Day
Planning the Big Day
Unlike the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding day was not a national holiday. The wedding was on the same day as the 2018 FA Cup Final. Prince Harry's brother, William, usually attends this football match. However, it was confirmed that William would not attend the final that day. On February 12, 2018, it was announced that the wedding ceremony would start at 12:00 PM BST.
The Wedding Location
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The wedding took place on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at St George's Chapel in Windsor. This chapel has been used for other royal weddings before. Prince Harry's uncle, the Earl of Wessex, and his cousin, Peter Phillips, were married there. It was also where the marriage of Harry's stepmother, the Duchess of Cornwall, was blessed.
Wedding Costs
The royal family announced they would pay for the wedding. The total cost was expected to be around £32 million. Security costs were estimated to be between £2 million and £4 million. The local council also spent money on cleaning the town and roads. It was thought that the wedding would bring a lot of tourism and boost the economy by up to £500 million. Later, it was estimated that the wedding generated £1 billion for the British economy.
What Everyone Wore
The wedding invitations had a dress code. Men were asked to wear "Dress Uniform, Morning Coat or Lounge Suit". Women were asked to wear a "Day Dress and Hat".
The Bride and Bridesmaids
Meghan's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller for the fashion house Givenchy. It was made of silk and had a boat neckline, long sleeves, and a long train. The silk veil was 16 feet long. It was embroidered with 55 flowers, representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth. It also had flowers from where she and Harry lived and the state flower of California.
Meghan wore a diamond bandeau tiara that was made in 1932 for Queen Mary. Queen Elizabeth II lent it to Meghan. Her shoes were also from Givenchy. She wore white gold and diamond earrings and a bracelet from Cartier. Her hair was styled by Serge Normant, and her makeup was done by Daniel Martin.
Meghan's bouquet was designed by Philippa Craddock. It included forget-me-nots, sweet peas, lily of the valley, and myrtle. Prince Harry chose the forget-me-nots to honor his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. After the wedding, the bouquet was placed on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey. This is a royal tradition.
For the tradition of "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue", Meghan had a piece of fabric from Diana's wedding dress sewn into her dress (the "old"). Her bracelet and earrings were "new". The Queen's tiara was "borrowed". A piece of fabric from the dress she wore on their first date was stitched into the veil (the "blue"). The young bridesmaids wore silk dresses also designed by Clare Waight Keller.
The Groom, Best Man, and Page Boys
Prince Harry and his brother, the Duke of Cambridge, wore the frock coat uniform of the Blues and Royals. This is the regiment Prince Harry served in for 10 years. The uniforms were made by Dege & Skinner. Prince Harry received permission from the Queen to keep his beard, which is usually not allowed in the British Army.
Prince Harry wore his rank of major. He also wore several medals and badges from his military service. Prince William, also a major, wore his own medals and badges, including those showing his role as an aide-de-camp to the Queen. The pageboys wore uniforms that looked like the Blues and Royals uniform, with their initials on the shoulders.
The Wedding Party
On April 26, 2018, it was announced that Prince Harry had chosen his older brother, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, as his best man.
It was confirmed that there would be no maid or matron of honor. Instead, all the bridesmaids and page boys would be children. Ten children were chosen in total. Meghan chose her two godchildren and the three children of her friend Jessica Mulroney. Prince Harry chose his nephew and niece, Prince George and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, and three of his godchildren.
On May 18, 2018, it was announced that Prince Charles would walk Meghan down the aisle. This was because Meghan's father, Thomas Markle Sr., could not attend due to heart surgery. Meghan spent the night before the wedding at Cliveden House with her mother. Harry stayed at Coworth Park Hotel with his brother. Meghan arrived at the church with her mother.
About 250 members of the British Armed Forces were part of the wedding. Most came from units connected to Prince Harry. Members of the Household Cavalry formed a party at the chapel and rode as an escort. Other soldiers from various regiments lined the streets.
The Wedding Service
The wedding service followed the Christian liturgy for Holy Matrimony from the Church of England.
The public began arriving at Windsor Castle grounds at 8:00 AM. Guests started arriving at the chapel at 9:30 AM, followed by members of the Royal Family. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh arrived last, as is tradition, at 11:52 AM. Shortly after, Meghan arrived with the junior attendants. She walked down the aisle, and the Prince of Wales met her to escort her through the chapel. He walked her to the altar, where Prince Harry was waiting.
Prince Harry's aunt, Baroness Fellowes, read a scripture lesson from the Song of Solomon. The Dean of Windsor, David Conner, led the service. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, performed the marriage ceremony. The sermon was given by Michael Curry, an American bishop. His speech, which quoted Martin Luther King Jr., focused on the power of love.
The marriage vows were from Common Worship. They included the promise "to love and to cherish" each other. Harry and Meghan exchanged rings. Meghan's ring was made of Welsh gold, and Harry's ring was made of platinum. After signing the registers, the couple and guests sang the national anthem. The couple then bowed and curtsied to the Queen before walking down the aisle. They shared a kiss on the steps outside the chapel.
Wedding Music
Hymns sung at the wedding included "Lord of All Hopefulness" and "Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer". Prince Harry was seen wiping away a tear during "Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer". This hymn was a favorite of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, and was sung at her funeral.
Two choirs, an orchestra, the chapel organ, and fanfare trumpeters provided music. The orchestra included musicians from famous groups like the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. The Kingdom Choir, a gospel group, sang "Stand By Me". This was described as a powerful moment. The State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry played a fanfare. The music was directed by James Vivian.
Meghan walked down the aisle to "Eternal source of light divine" by Handel. Other music included "If Ye Love Me" by Thomas Tallis and "The Lord bless you and keep you" by John Rutter. During the signing of the register, 19-year-old cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason played with the orchestra. For the procession, musicians performed "This Little Light of Mine".
Family Celebrations
After the ceremony, there was a carriage procession through Windsor. Two receptions were held. The first was hosted by the Queen at St George's Hall. Singer Elton John performed for the guests. Prince Harry and the Prince of Wales gave speeches.
A second reception was held later at Frogmore House. This was for family and close friends and was hosted by the Prince of Wales. Harry drove his new wife to this reception in a special silver-blue Jaguar E-Type Concept Zero.
For the evening reception, Meghan wore a different dress by Stella McCartney. She also wore an aquamarine ring that used to belong to Diana, Princess of Wales. In a break from tradition, the bride gave a speech at this event. The Duke of Cambridge also gave a best man's speech. DJ Idris Elba and The Atlantic Soul Orchestra performed. The event ended with fireworks over Frogmore House.
The wedding cake was a lemon and elderflower cake. It was decorated with peonies. The cake designer was Claire Ptak.
Three official wedding photos were released. They were taken by photographer Alexi Lubomirski at Windsor Castle after the ceremony.
Wedding Guests
In April 2018, it was announced that political leaders would not be invited to the wedding. This was different from Prince Harry's elder brother's wedding. The decision was made because of the chapel's size and Harry's position in line to the throne. The only politician invited was former Prime Minister Sir John Major.
About 600 people were invited to the ceremony and reception at St George's Hall. Most had a direct connection to the couple. Another 200 close friends were invited to the evening reception at Frogmore House. About 1,200 members of the public were invited to greet the couple outside the chapel. These included people from charities, the Windsor Castle community, royal households, and local schoolchildren.
Sarah, Duchess of York, Prince Andrew's former wife, was invited to the wedding. She had not been invited to other royal weddings in recent years. However, she was not invited to the evening reception.
Many famous guests attended. These included Harry's friends George and Amal Clooney, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, James Corden, Sir Elton John, Joss Stone, David and Victoria Beckham, and James Blunt. Meghan's Suits co-stars were also there, including Patrick J. Adams and Gina Torres. Her friends Serena Williams and Oprah Winfrey also attended. Two of Harry's ex-girlfriends, Cressida Bonas and Chelsy Davy, were invited. Members of the Middleton and Spencer families were also present.
Foreign royal guests included Prince Seeiso of Lesotho. He is Harry's friend and co-founded the charity Sentebale to help children with HIV in Lesotho.
Gifts for Guests
The 2,640 members of the public invited to Windsor Castle received gift bags. The bag had the couple's initials, the date, and the location. Inside were an order of service booklet, a chocolate coin, water, a fridge magnet, a discount voucher for the Windsor Castle gift shop, and shortbread.
Charitable Donations
In April 2018, the couple asked people to donate to charities instead of sending wedding gifts. They chose seven charities they did not have a formal connection with. These charities supported causes like:
- Helping young people with HIV (CHIVA)
- Supporting homeless people (Crisis)
- Empowering women in Mumbai (Myna Mahila Foundation)
- Supporting children who lost a parent serving in the British Armed Forces (Scotty's Little Soldiers)
- Using sport to help young people (StreetGames)
- Protecting oceans and beaches (Surfers Against Sewage)
- Teaching vulnerable teenagers about nature and jobs (Wilderness Foundation UK)
A special MINI car was also made and sold at auction. Its proceeds went to HIV charities at the couple's request.
Wedding Coverage
The wedding was watched by many people around the world. In the UK, peak viewing figures reached 27.7 million. In the United States, about 29 million people watched. The global audience was estimated to be in the hundreds of millions.
The royal wedding was shown on many TV channels in the UK, including BBC One, ITV, and Sky News. It was also streamed live online on YouTube. Many news anchors and presenters hosted the coverage.
The wedding was also broadcast in Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. In the United States, major networks like ABC, NBC, and CBS aired the ceremony. Some channels even had special parody hosts.
In April 2020, it was announced that $112,000 in profits from the BBC broadcast of the wedding would be donated to Feeding Britain. This charity helps people during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
Royal Titles
Royal princes traditionally receive new titles before they marry. This happened with Prince Harry's uncles and his elder brother. Hours before the wedding, Prince Harry was given the titles Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton, and Baron Kilkeel. Meghan Markle became "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex" when they married.
Impact of the Wedding
The wedding was seen as very important because it moved away from some royal traditions. It also included African-American culture in the service. It was described as a "landmark" moment for African Americans, Black British people, and mixed-race women. Some reports noted that Meghan being biracial helped people connect with her.
The wedding, especially Meghan's dress, the cake, and the flowers, were thought to influence choices for other British brides.
The wedding also inspired a 2019 TV film called Harry & Meghan: Becoming Royal.
Honeymoon Plans
The couple waited a week after their wedding to go on their honeymoon. They first attended some private events and Prince Charles' 70th Birthday celebration. This was their first public appearance as a married couple. Their honeymoon location was kept private. However, the press thought they might travel to East Africa, where they had gone for an earlier date.
Personal Vows
In March 2021, Meghan said in an interview that she and Harry exchanged "personal vows" three days before their public wedding. This was with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby in their backyard. She explained that the big public wedding was for the world, but they wanted a private moment for their union. The Archbishop later clarified that the legal wedding was on May 19, when he signed the marriage certificate. He said he had private meetings with the couple before the wedding.
Images for kids
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Harry and Meghan attending church on Christmas Day, 2017
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St George's Chapel, Windsor
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Combined coat of arms of Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex
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Mounted soldiers of the Blues and Royals, Prince Harry's old regiment, rode as an escort in the procession.
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St George's Hall, Windsor Castle: where the Queen hosted the first reception
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Frogmore House: where the Prince of Wales hosted the second reception
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People watching the wedding at the UK Ambassador's residence in Rome
