The news in January 2020 that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were “stepping back” from their royal duties was a bittersweet and confusing piece of news for fans of the couple and of the royal family in general. But though the pair aren’t senior royals anymore, their show-stopping wedding on May 19, 2018, was as royal an affair as any. In addition to being beautiful and star-studded, the wedding also made history in a number of ways.
On her marriage, Markle became Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex, Countess of Dumbarton and Baroness Kilkeel. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, officiated at the wedding using the standard Anglican church service for Holy Matrimony published in Common Worship, a liturgical text of the Church of England. The traditional ceremony was noted for the inclusion of African-American culture.
Details of the royal marriage
During the public announcement of the engagement at Kensington Palace’s Sunken Gardens, Markle wore a bottle knee-length emerald green dress with bow detailing at the cinched waist by Italian label P.A.R.O.S.H and a white trench coat by Canadian brand Line the Label. Hours after the announcement, the website of Line the Label crashed down due to the number of people who were trying to order the coat.
The royal family announced that they would pay for the wedding. The costs for the cake, the florist, and the catering had been estimated to be £50,000, £110,000, and £286,000 respectively, and the overall cost was expected to be around £32 million. The security costs were expected to be lower than those of the 2011 wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. By the end of May, it was estimated that the security costs were “between £2 million and £4 million”.
The wedding dress was designed by the British designer Clare Waight Keller under the aegis of the fashion house Givenchy. It was made of “double-bonded silk cady cushioned by an underskirt in triple silk organza” and had a boat neckline, long sleeves and sweeping train.
Wedding playlist
When Meghan Markle married Prince Harry in May 2018, she made it clear from the beginning that she knew exactly what she wanted. Walking herself partway down the aisle, for instance, and choosing a wedding cake made of lemon and elderflower rather than the traditional fruitcake chosen by other royal brides.
So, when it came time to discuss songs with celebrity DJ Idris Elba, it’s no surprise that the Duchess of Sussex knew exactly what she wanted. And what she wanted was some Dr. Dre and Snoop Dog’s D.R.E. He shared that Houston’s iconic anthem, “I Want to Dance with Somebody,” was played during the couple’s first dance. Many celebrities figured in the wedding guest list, including Serena Williams, Oprah Winfrey, and George Clooney.
