With Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding coming ever closer, let’s take a look at everything we know about the wedding so far:
The Basics
On 27 November, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their engagement and appeared for a photocall at the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace. They also sat down for an interview to discuss their courtship.
The next day, Kensington Palace announced that the couple would be married in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. “The Royal Family will pay for the core aspects of the wedding, such as the church service, the associated music, flowers, decorations, and the reception afterwards.”
It was announced in mid-December that they would wed on 19 May.
The Service
Kensington Palace announced on 11 February that the Dean of Windsor, The Rt. Revd David Conner would conduct the Service while the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Rt. Hon. Justin Welby would officiate as the couple make their vows.
After the Service, as they leave the Chapel, they will meet 200 representatives from Prince Harry’s charities who will be gathered in the cloisters.
Alexi Lubomirski
The Carriage Procession
Immediately following the wedding, Kensington Palace announced that Prince Harry and Meghan would take part in a carriage procession through the town, riding in the Ascot Landau. Starting at St George’s Chapel, the procession – consisting only of the bride and groom – would travel down Windsor Castle, to Castle Hill, to High Street, to Sheet Street, to Kings Road, to Albert Road, to the Long Walk, and back to Windsor Castle.
Should it rain on their wedding day, the couple has selected the Scottish State Coach instead.
Receptions
A reception will follow the carriage procession at St George’s Hall, and in the evening Prince Charles will host another reception for close friends and family at Frogmore House.
Public Guests
Prince Harry and Meghan announced on 2 March that they wished to open up their wedding to the public as much as possible. Kensington Palace reported that the couple wished to invite 2,640 people onto the grounds at Windsor Castle to see them.
Of that:
- 1,200 were to be nominated by nine regional Lord Lieutenants offices.
- 200 were to be invited from charities and organisations that Prince Harry and Meghan are involved with
- 100 were to be invited from local schools The Royal School and St George’s School.
- 610 were to be invited from the Windsor Castle community – residents and members of St George’s Chapel
- 530 were to be invited from the Royal Households and the Crown Estates
Charitable Donations
On 9 April, Kensington Palace announced that in lieu of gifts, Prince Harry and Meghan requested that people donate to nine designated charitable organisations.
These include CHIVA, the Children’s HIV Association; Crisis, a charity for homeless people; the Myna Mahila Foundation, a women’s charity in Mumbai; Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a charity for grieving young people who’ve lost parents serving in the military; StreetGames, a sports charity; Surfers Against Sewage, a marine conservation charity; and The Wilderness Foundation UK.
Flowers
On 31 March, Kensington Palace announced that floral designer Phillipa Craddock would create the church flowers for their ceremony.
The flowers, Kensington Palace, noted, “will be created using locally sourced foliage, much of which will be taken from the gardens and parklands of The Crown Estate and Windsor Great Park.”
Phillipa will use seasonal flowers that bloom naturally in May, including “branches of beech, birch and hornbeam, as well as white garden roses, peonies and foxgloves.”
After the wedding, the flowers will be donated to charitable organisations.
Cake
Chef Clare Ptak, the owner of Violet Bakery in London, was commissioned to make the wedding cake. It will be a lemon elderflower cake covered in buttercream and flowers.
Photographer
Alexi Lubomirski, the photographer who’d also taken the couple’s engagement shots, was announced to be the wedding photographer on 13 April.
“I could not be more thrilled or honoured to photograph this historic occasion,” Lubormirski said in a statement through Kensington Palace. “Having taken Prince Harry and Ms Markle’s engagement photos, it brings me such joy to be able to witness again, the next chapter in this wonderful love story.”
In this handout photo provided by Kensington Palace, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose for one of two official engagement photos at Frogmore House in December 2017 in Windsor, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alexi Lubomirski via Getty Images)
Broadcast
It was revealed on 13 April that Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding would be televised around the world.
Music
Prince Harry and Meghan revealed their musical selections and announced that the music would be directed by James Vivian, Director of Music at St George’s Chapel.
The Choir of St George’s Chapel, cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, gospel choir director Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir, an orchestra conducted by Christopher Warren-Green, Elin Manahan Thomas, David Blackadder, Luke Bond and State Trumpeters will provide music for the wedding.
The Best Man
Prince Harry asked his older brother, Prince William, to be his best man. Prince William previously asked Harry to be his best man when he married in 2011.
Meghan’s Family
Despite intense press speculation, last week Kensington Palace announced that Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle Senior, will walk his daughter down the aisle. Her mother, Doria Ragland, will accompany Meghan to the Chapel by car.
Doria and Thomas will arrive in the UK the week of the wedding to meet The Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Camilla, and William and Kate, and to spend quality time with their daughter.
Bridal Party
Kensington Palace also revealed that Meghan would not have a maid of honour, as she didn’t want to choose amongst her friends, all of whom have been helping her plan the wedding. All of the bridesmaids and pageboys will be children, and their identities will be revealed in the week before the wedding.
Windsor Happenings
Per Kensington Palace:
“The Royal Borough has confirmed that preparations include:
- A 6,000 space pre-booked car parking area at the Review Ground, just off the
- Long Walk;
- Food stalls and facilities, including big screens showing live footage of the
- wedding and Procession, on the Long Walk and in Alexandra Gardens;
- Viewing areas along the whole Procession Route (Castle Hill, High Street, Sheet
- Street, Kings Road, Albert Road and the Long Walk);
- A team of 140 Royal Borough Ambassadors have volunteered to help steward the
- event and assist visitors throughout the day;
- The town centre will be decorated with bunting and ceremonial banners along
- parts of the Procession Route and;
- Live entertainment from local groups throughout the town centre.”
Honeymoon
Kensington Palace announced that the couple will not leave for their honeymoon straight away and will spend their wedding night at Windsor Castle. In the days following the wedding, they will conduct their first engagement as a married couple.
