14 Amazing Moments You Probably Missed From Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Royal Wedding
14 Amazing Moments You Probably Missed From Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Royal Wedding
From Meghan Markle's insanely gorgeous wedding dress to the incredible carriage procession through Windsor, Harry and Meghan's wedding day was full of unforgettable moments. Now, ahead of their anniversary, relive all of the action with the best moments you might have missed from their big day.
Princess Charlotte Playfully Channeled Her Uncle
Royal processions don't rank high on most three-year-olds' lists and Princess Charlotte is clearly no exception. As the cars carrying the bridesmaids to the reception rolled along, the young lady took the opportunity to playfully stick her tongue out at some photographers. Though she probably didn't know it, she was carrying on the cheeky family tradition started by none other than her Uncle Harry.
More: All the Photos From Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Wedding
The Special Meaning Behind Meghan's Tiara
There was a lot of speculation going into the royal wedding about which tiara the new Duchess of Sussex would choose for her big day. Ultimately, the actress borrowed a diamond and platinum bandeau setting from the Queen's collection which also has a special connection for Her Majesty—it belonged to Queen Mary, Elizabeth II's grandmother and was officially bequeathed to the Queen upon Mary's death.
Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall's Adorable Baby Bump Love
The Queen's eldest granddaughter Zara Phillips stylishly showed off her baby belly on her way to Windsor Castle and husband Mike Tindall just couldn't resist giving the bump an affectionate rub. The couple, who were expecting their second child, had fans all over the world pulling out the heart-eyes emoji over their easy, honest connection. Baby Lena was born on June 18, 2018.
The Secret Meaning Behind Meghan's Veil
To add a touch of drama to her elegant, modern Givenchy gown, the bride opted for a stunning 16.5 foot long silk tulle veil, but there was a secret hidden inside of the delicate decoration. The veil, by British designer Clare Waight Keller, who also designed the wedding dress, payed homage to the Commonwealth by featuring edges embroidered with flowers from all 53 of the Commonwealth countries.
Prince Harry Picked Part of the Bouquet Himself
Prince Harry was a very hands-on groom—from helping design the engagement ring he gave to Meghan including two of his mother's own diamonds to hand-plucking flowers for his bride's bouquet.
"Prince Harry handpicked several flowers yesterday from their private garden at Kensington Palace to add to the bespoke bridal bouquet designed by florist Philippa Craddock," reads a statement from Kensington Palace. The blooms included Forget-Me-Nots (Princess Diana's favorites), sweet peas, jasmine, and sprigs of myrtle (a royal bouquet tradition).
The Bishop Quoted Martin Luther King Jr.
As a nod to both Meghan's background and the universality of love, the American bishop, Bishop Michael Bruce Curry delivered an impassioned address to those assembled, quoting the Civil Rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. with the statement, "We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we do that, we will be able to make of this old world a new world. Love is the only way.”
Harry's Words of Encouragement at the Altar
The happy couple may not have had a lot of private time on their big morning, but as Meghan reached the altar alongside Prince Charles, the groom took a moment to check in with a few quiet words.
"Are you OK? You look amazing," he said, according to James Freeston, professional lip reader at 121Captions. Meghan reportedly responded with "Thank you," and another question that can't quite be made out. Considering that the couple was all smiles as the ceremony got under way, we assume that, whatever she may have asked, the answer was a definite "I do."
One of the Bridesmaids Started Crying
The royal wedding featured plenty of happy tears as guests celebrated the beautiful ceremony, but there was at least one member of the wedding party who was weeping for another reason. One of the young bridesmaids, possibly the youngest of the group, two-year-old Zalie Warren, found the spectacle a little overwhelming and had to be cared for by the royal nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, during the ceremony.
The Homage to Princess Diana in the Vows
The bride and groom paid tribute to Harry's late mother, Princess Diana, in a variety of ways on their big day, but one of the subtler moments came when the couple exchanged vows. In her 1981 wedding to Prince Charles, Diana made a controversial break from tradition by choosing to omit the promise to "obey" from her vows, a move that quickly set the trend for royal ladies and one which both of her daughters-in-law have now carried on.
Prince Harry's Veil Fumble
Traditionally the purview of the father of the bride, the newly-minted Duke of Sussex took on the role of removing his bride's veil... and fumbled it just a little. The moment served as an endearing reminder that as carefully choreographed as the royal wedding might have been, in the end it was all about the love between one real couple.
When George and Amal Chatted Up Serena
You might expect the marriage between a Prince and an actress to be an A-list event, but the guests really pulled out the stops for the big day. George and Amal Clooney, Serena Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian, and Idris Elba and his fiancee Sabrina Dhowre all turned up in their most gorgeous spring wedding fare (and fascinators, of course).
The Couple's Sneaky Second Kiss
Though the royal family has traditionally been pretty reserved on the PDA front, the happy couple sneaked in a second public smooch during their post-ceremony procession. (Their first public kiss was shared, in traditional fashion, in front of St. George's Chapel immediately following the ceremony.)
Meghan Wore a Drugstore Favorite Nail Polish
Forget about $2,000 manicures, for her big day, Meghan opted for a quintessential bridal favorite nail color that also happens to be a bargain. Keeping good company with the Queen and her new sister-in-law Duchess Kate, Meghan chose the wildly popular shade Ballet Slippers from Essie, a soft, nearly-nude pink that retails for under $8. Royals, they're just like us.
Meghan's Excitement at Seeing Her Drama Teacher in the Crowd
With an event as planned-to-a-T as the royal wedding, you wouldn't think there would be many surprises left for the bride, but Meghan got one big one courtesy of a surprise guest. As the couple rose through London in their carriage after the ceremony, Meghan caught sight of a familiar face in the crowd—her former drama teacher Gigi Perreau who was a guest and contributor to ITV. Meghan locked eyes with her old teacher for a moment, happily exclaiming "Oh my God!" as the carriage drove past.
The day went by so fast!