Firstly, I would like to extend a huge congratulations to the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex! The whole world sat in front of their TVs this past Saturday, May 19th, as if we were personally invited by her majesty herself, Queen Elizabeth II, to the the union of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. This was an important event: not only was it a union between the bride and groom; but also the union of two countries.
Meghan Markle made history by being the first black womxn to be a member of the British royal family. Meghan Markle made headlines in the lead up to the big day. Not only was she a talented Hollywood actress, but she’s also been a prominent feminist figure since she was a young girl and even works with the United Nations for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women as an Advocate. I mean, who could forget her letter to that sexist dishwashing liquid company?
As Meghan Markle became Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Sussex and wild, party boy Prince Harry became His Royal Highness, The Duke of Sussex, it’s time we reflect back at this weekend’s festivities and royal delights in a highlight reel of all the Disney-movie-type-events that unfolded on this special day.
The Guests
A perk of not being the second in line to the throne like big bro Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, is that you get to invite more family and friends and fewer dignitaries and foreign ambassadors. Friends such as Amal and George Clooney were seen making their way into St. George’s Chapel. Apparently, Amal and Meghan have become incredibly close since she moved to London, even sharing the same hairdresser! Other important and recognisable faces were Oprah, Elton John, David and Victoria Beckham, Idris Elba, James Corden, Serena Williams, and co-stars from Suits, Gabriel Macht and Patrick J. Adams. Of course, her bad-ass bestie, Priyanka Chopra, had to be there; who, similarly to Meghan, also made TIME’s Top 100 Influential List!
The Venue
Just as the guest list, the venue was incredibly more personal than the traditional Westminster Abbey. St. George’s Chapel is located at Windsor Castle and holds a special place in Harry’s heart as he was baptised as a wee babe of three months old there. St. George’s Chapel can only accommodate 800 guests (vs. Westminster’s whopping 2000 seater venue). The chapel was embellished with a beautiful flower archway by Floral designer, Philippa Craddock, who provides flowers such as white garden roses, foxgloves, and peonies.
Flowers adorn the walls of St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle #RoyalWedding pic.twitter.com/mkDWSVSBLH
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 19, 2018
The Dress
We all had to pick our jaws off the floor and wipe some tears away when our beautiful Meghan stepped out of the Queen’s maroon Roll’s Royce as an excited wife-to-be. Meghan wore Givenchy’s British designer, Clare Waight Keller’s simple and elegant silk, white, off-the-shoulder dress with a rounded neck. The dress was streamlined and minimal, accompanied by a long veil with lace embellishments. @KensingtonRoyal tweeted, “ Ms Markle expressed the wish of having all 53 countries of the Commonwealth with her on her journey through the ceremony. Ms Waight Keller designed a veil representing the distinctive flora of each Commonwealth country united in one spectacular floral composition” – so best believe there was a protea there somewhere representing South Africa.
The Look
Meghan’s makeup was understated yet bold with a smokey eye and rosy pink lip. So understated that you could definitely still see her iconic freckles! Her nails followed the Queen’s guidelines as Meghan wore a pale pink. Her hair was softly done with a classic middle path and tied up and back. The Duchess’s shoes were Givenchy as well; a classic, pointed, silk duchess satin stiletto.
What’s even more special was that the bride’s bouquet featured Forget-Me-Nots: the late Princess Diana’s favourite flower, hand picked the night before by Prince Harry from Diana’s garden.
The Tiara
A big mystery of the day was which tiara Meghan was going to borrow for the big day. Wearing a tiara in the British royal family is a privilege only married women receive, and only on very special occasions. I guess her own wedding would count as one of those times. Meghan wore the Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau Tiara, made in 1932, with a diamond as the centre stone. @KensingtonRoyal tweeted that it was especially “lent to Ms Markle by The Queen”.
The Accessories
To compliment her minimalist and elegant look, Meghan kept her jewellery simple. She wore a pair of diamond stud earrings and a bracelet. Less is certainly more.
The Bride and Groom
As Meghan entered St. George’s Chapel, we honestly didn’t know who looked happier: Meghan or Harry (but to be honest it was me…it was definitely me). Prince Harry kept his rugged beard and wore a black military uniform; a special honour for serving with the armed forces of the Blues and Royals.
Meghan and Harry were certainly excited and full of joy. You could see it as Meghan finally cracked her bright, glowing smile as she saw Harry for the first time and definitely when Harry said those iconic words: “You look amazing. I’m so lucky”. Meghan’s mom, Doria, had tears in her eyes as her daughter walked down the aisle and I can honestly say, “same girl, same”. There were a couple of laughs and giggles and a couple of cute stolen looks at one another from the bride and groom respectively; this was definitely a relaxed royal wedding! This certainly proved to us that if we don’t look at our future partner’s the way that Meghan longingly looked at her prince as he lifted off her veil; they ain’t the one. With millions watching them, the new Duke and Duchess definitely looked at each other like they were the only two in the room.
This moment was straight out of a movie. #RoyalWedding pic.twitter.com/wEtr51DX2O
— Hannah Sampson (@hannahbsampson) May 19, 2018
Another nod to Diana was the open seat left next to Prince William as he sat alongside his dad, Prince Charles. I’m not crying, you are…
Source: Getty Images on Bustle
The Ceremony
This unforgettable, ground breaking ceremony was one for the history books. The African American bishop, Michael Curry, stole the show with his eccentric talk at the wedding. He spoke of love, which was fitting for the wedding of course, but also made statements referencing civil right’s activist Martin Luther King Jr. and spoke about justice, slavery, and poverty. Take that, old problematic British royals!
The African American gospel choir had us covered with goose bumps and pride, and the 19-year-old cellist, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, had us finger-snapping with black boy magic!
Karen Gibson and @TheKingdomChoir sing “Stand by me” from the West End of the Chapel #RoyalWedding pic.twitter.com/4V1avJlY3K
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 19, 2018
The Kiss
The iconic kiss was worth the wait. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shared their first kiss as husband and wife on the steps of St. George’s Chapel, in front of the floral archway while the public cheered on in absolute joy! They were carried away in a horse-drawn carriage, now as the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex.