Prince Harry And Meghan Markle’s Royal Wedding: Everything You Need To Know
The countdown to May 19 starts now
Now that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have officially announced their engagement, another royal wedding will be upon us in a matter of months. Here’s everything we know about the couple’s upcoming nuptials so far.
The Date
Harry and Meghan will tie the knot on May 19, 2018, according to Kensington Palace’s official statement.
His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales and Ms. Meghan Markle will marry on 19th May 2018.
Today's announcement follows earlier confirmation of the month of the wedding and its location at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. pic.twitter.com/7pgdRM90Na
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) December 15, 2017
This also leaves an ample amount of time after the birth of Prince William and Kate Middleton‘s third child, who is expected to arrive in April 2018.
The Location
The couple will wed a St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Though their chosen wedding venue isn’t Westminster Abbey, where Prince William and Kate Middleton wed in 2011, they’ll still follow a number of royal couples who said “I do” at the same location. The most recent include Peter Phillips (Harry’s cousin) and Autumn Kelly in 2008 and Prince Edward (Harry’s uncle) and Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999. Harry’s father, Prince Charles, and stepmother, Camilla Parker Bowles, also had a special blessing ceremony here after getting married in a civil service in 2005.
“Windsor is a very special place for Prince Harry, and he and Ms. Markle have regularly spent time there during the last year,” a rep from Kensington Palace told People. “They are delighted that the beautiful grounds of Windsor Castle will be where they begin their lives as a married couple.”
Prince Harry was also baptized here in 1984.
The Chapel during the Order of the Garter service
Getty
The nave at St. George’s Chapel
Getty
The Proposal
Though the couple’s engagement was announced on Monday, November 27, Harry actually proposed to Meghan in London earlier in the month. The couple was having a regular, “cozy night” together at Kensington Palace (they were even in the middle of trying to roast chicken) when Harry “got on one knee,” they revealed in their first joint interview.
Markle was so excited she said yes before Harry could even finish proposing. “I was like, ‘Can I say yes now?'” she recalled.
“It was a really nice moment, it was just the two of us and I think I managed to catch her by surprise as well,” Prince Harry said.
Meghan Markle​ describes Prince Harry's proposal: “I could barely let you finish proposing. I was like, 'Can I say yes now?'” https://t.co/kYQf1UNUSt pic.twitter.com/kIExNnXCIP
— ABC News (@ABC) November 27, 2017
The Engagement Ring
Prince Harry proposed with all-diamond ring he designed for Meghan. It features a cushion-cut stone in the center, sourced from Botswana, in honor of his and Markle’s special getaway trip together. The diamond is flanked by two smaller round-cut stones from Princess Diana’s jewelry collection “to make sure she’s with us on this crazy journey together,” Harry said. The stones are set on a yellow gold band—Markle’s favorite.
The ring is from London jeweler Cleave and Company, and Fortune estimates it’s worth $1 million due to its precious royal connections.
Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s Roles
When asked if the the royal tots would be included in the ceremony, a Kensington Palace rep said, “The wedding will be a family event. You can expect the family to be involved.” The four- and two-year-old have already met Markle “several times,” The Sunday Times reports, and they’ve already had plenty of wedding practice at Pippa Middleton’s nuptials in May 2017.
The Engagement Portraits
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle released their official engagement photos nearly a month after announcing their betrothal. They were taken by Alexi Lubomirski, who shot Bazaar’s December cover story, at Frogmore House, Windsor in mid-December.
Watch this space for updates.