After months of anticipation, Prince Harry finally married American actress, Meghan Markle in a royal wedding, with millions around the world watching
After months of anticipation, Prince Harry finally married American actress, Meghan Markle in a royal wedding, with millions around the world watching and in front of celebrity guests that included Oprah Winfrey, Serena Williams, George Clooney and his barrister wife Amal Clooney, Sir Elton John, David and Victoria Beckham and actor Idris Elba, at the St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle on Saturday, May 19th.
Here are highlights from the wedding
Meghan Markle who is of mixed parentage, father is white while her mother is black, was walked down the aisle by her father in-law, Prince Charles, rather than her father, Thomas Markle jnr. Her 73 year old father had suffered a heart attack and was recuperating and therefore couldn’t make it to her wedding in London from Mexico where he is spending his retirement.
Prince Charles walked Meghan down the aisle
There were two sermons at the holy matrimony but the one that got everyone talking was the sermon by Bishop Michael Bruce Curry, an American preacher who was specially asked by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to be part of the officiating ministers at their wedding. Bishop Curry gave an inspiring sermon about the power of love. For this, Bishop Curry becomes the first black Bishop to address a British Royal wedding, the first Black Bishop to give a sermon at a Biracial British Royal wedding. He is the 27th and current presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal church and the first African American to serve in that capacity.
Bishop Michael Curry
Later in the evening after their exchange of vows, the newlyweds who will hence forth be addressed as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, got a chance to party at a black tie reception organized in their honor by the Duke of Wales, Prince Charles, at Frogmore House, for 200 of the couple’s closest friends and family. James Corden reportedly acted as compere while Sir Elton. They drove to the venue of the reception in ultimate style – riding in a silver blue Jaguar E-Type Concept Zero, which was originally manufactured in 1968 and has since been converted to electric power.
The newly weds on their way to their reception
Other tit bits
Ms Markle is the first mixed race person in modern history to marry a British senior royal. She found fame in the US legal drama ‘Suits’ playing the character, Rachel Zane.
Meghan’s bridal dress was an elegant white gown dress made by the first female creative director of French fashion house, Givenchy, British born Clare Waight Keller.
After the exchange of vows, the newlyweds changed their clothing. While Prince Harry changed into a tuxedo, Meghan wore a white halter neck dress by Stella McCartney.
Meghan’s veil had 52 flowers signifying the 53 Common Wealth nations
The Duke of Cambridge, Prince William was his younger brother’s best man
The groom and his brother, Prince William
Prince Harry gave his new bride his mother’s ring, a sizeable emerald-cut aquamarine cocktail ring which she wore on her right hand for their reception. The ring used to belong to Duke of Sussex’s mother.
The aquamarine cocktail ring
Meghan’s royal wedding bouquet included forget-me-nots, Diana’s favorite flower handpicked by Prince Harry from their private garden at Kensington Palace.
The newlyweds asked wedding guests to donate to one of the charities of their choice in lieu of wedding gifts. Two of their selected charity focus on causes close to Diana’s heart: helping children dealing with HIV and AIDS and fighting to end homelessness.
Prince Harry left an empty seat beside where his brother, Prince William was seated. The empty seat symbolized where the late Princess Diana would have been seated were she alive.
