Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are married: Here is everything you need to know
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are married! On Saturday, the pair became the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after they exchanged vows at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Who was there?
The 600 guests arrived between 4:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. ET (9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. BST). Celebrity guests included George and Amal Clooney, Serena Williams, Oprah Winfrey, Idris Elba, Elton John, Victoria and David Beckham, and the cast of Suits.
Fergie showed up.
Despite rumors that she hadn’t scored an invitation, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, attended the nuptials. The former wife of the groom’s uncle Prince Andrew was not invited to Kate Middleton and Prince William’s 2011 wedding.
As were Fergie’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
They both made surprising style choices.
And two of Prince Harry’s ex-girlfriends, Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas, were invited as well.
But all eyes were on the royal family.
Prince Harry and his brother and best man, Prince William, were among the first members of the royal family to enter the chapel. They were followed by cousins, including Zara Tindall, and Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip (who walked without assistance after recently having undergone hip surgery).
The Duchess of Cambridge rode to the ceremony with the wedding party.
With Prince George and Princess Charlotte serving as pageboy and bridesmaid, the Duchess of Cambridge went along for the ride to the ceremony. She is wearing what Kensington Palace called “a primrose yellow wool silk tailored coat” by Alexander McQueen with a hat designed by Philip Treacy and shoes by Jimmy Choo.
Meghan Markle walked into the chapel with the pageboys and bridesmaids.
Viewers got a first look at Markle’s gown when she exited the Rolls-Royce she traveled in from the Cliveden House hotel to the chapel with her mother, Doria Ragland.
The dress, designed by Givenchy’s first female artistic director, Clare Waight Keller, ‘epitomizes timeless minimal elegance.’
According to Kensington Palace, “the pure lines of the dress are achieved using six meticulously placed seams. The focus of the dress is the graphic open bateau neckline that gracefully frames the shoulders and emphasises the slender sculpted waist.”
The veil features embroidered flowers from all 53 countries of the British Commonwealth.
On the embroidered trim of the wedding veil, Markle also included wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox), which can be found at Kensington Palace, and the California poppy (Eschscholzia californica), which is the state flower of California, to honor her birthplace.
Meghan Markle wore the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau Tiara.
The piece is on loan from Queen Elizabeth. Markle also accessorized with earrings and a bracelet from Cartier.
Sarah Jessica Parker’s hairstylist did her hair.
Serge Normant styled her hair in a low bun. Daniel Martin did her makeup.
Prince Charles walked Meghan Markle down the aisle.
But only halfway — she made a statement by choosing not to be “given away” but to do it herself.
Prince Harry was beaming when he saw his bride for the first time.
“You look amazing. I’m so lucky,” he said to Markle after he lifted her veil when they first met up at the altar.
American Bishop Michael Curry stole the show.
The Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, the 27th presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church, traveled from Chicago to speak during the ceremony. “We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we do that, we will make of this old world a new world,” the bishop said. “Love is the only way. There’s power in love. Don’t underestimate it. Don’t even oversentimentalize it. There’s power, power in love.”
A gospel choir sang ‘Stand by Me.’
Karen Gibson and the Kingdom Choir, a London-based gospel choir, performed the song as the couple sat holding hands and watching.
The royal couple had their first kiss outside, on the steps of St. George’s Chapel.
They kissed right in front of the floral arch that was decorated with white roses to honor Princess Diana.
Princess Charlotte waved to the crowd.
As the newlyweds made their way to the horse-drawn carriage, members of the royal family stayed at the top of the stairs. All eyes were on Princess Charlotte as she waved to onlookers.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex make their public debut!
Now officially known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the couple traveled in a carriage through Windsor for 25 minutes before heading into the lunchtime reception.
Her Majesty the Queen hosted the lunchtime reception at St. George’s Hall in Windsor Castle.
Guests dined on Scottish langoustines wrapped in smoked salmon with citrus crème fra?che; grilled English asparagus wrapped in Cumbrian ham; garden pea panna cotta with quail eggs and lemon verbena; heritage tomato and basil tartare with balsamic pearls; poached free-range chicken bound in a lightly spiced yogurt with roasted apricot; croquette of confit Windsor lamb, roasted vegetables and shallot jam; and farm asparagus spears with mozzarella and sun-blush tomatoes.
Guests ate cake made with elderflower syrup.
California-born baker Claire Ptak created the cake, which was cut by the newlyweds at the luncheon.
The wedding cake is to be served at the Reception. It was designed by Claire Ptak and features elderflower syrup made at The Queen’s residence in Sandringham from the estate’s own elderflower trees, as well as a light sponge cake uniquely formulated for the couple. #royalwedding pic.twitter.com/kt5lE4tEn9
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 19, 2018
Elton John performed.
“Prince Harry asked Sir Elton to perform at the reception, which was hosted by Her Majesty the Queen at St. George’s Hall, Windsor Castle,” Kensington Palace confirmed in a tweet. “Sir Elton performed for the newly married couple in recognition of the close connection he has with Prince Harry and his family.”
Sir Elton John has performed at the lunchtime reception for the newlyweds, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. #RoyalWedding Find out more here > https://t.co/4hbJn39Jq2
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 19, 2018
The Duchess of Sussex changed into a Stella McCartney gown.
After the lunchtime reception, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had a few hours to rest and change. Markle swapped out her Givenchy ceremony gown for a custom gown designed by Stella McCartney featuring a bespoke lily white high neck gown made of silk crepe, according to Kensington Palace. She has on Aquazurra high heels made in silky satin with the soles painted baby blue. Her hair was done in a low bun with loose waves and tendrils framing her face by George Northwood.
The couple rode in a Jaguar to the reception at Frogmore House hosted by Prince Charles.
For the short ride from Windsor Castle to Frogmore House, the couple rode in a silver blue Jaguar E-Type Concept Zero. Kensington Palace says that while the car was originally manufactured in 1968, it’s been converted to run entirely on electric power.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex depart Windsor Castle for a reception hosted by The Prince of Wales at Frogmore House, in a silver blue Jaguar E-Type Concept Zero. This vehicle was originally manufactured in 1968, and has since been converted to electric power #RoyalWedding pic.twitter.com/hRrxEUlFlJ
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 19, 2018
For all things royal wedding, from details on Meghan Markle’s dress to cute pictures of Prince George and Princess Charlotte, click here. Want to relive every moment? Watch it all here.