50+ pictures and videos inside Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s stunning royal wedding

The date? May 19, 2018. The venue? The thousand-year-old St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The time? 12pm across the pond. The California-born actor and humanitarian Meghan Markle stepped out of Queen Elizabeth’s own vintage Rolls-Royce Phantom IV making her way down the aisle to wed her now-husband, Prince Harry. And the world witnessed what would become the most-talked-about, most-watched royal wedding that nudged Britain’s monarchy into a new era. After all, the nuptials brought us Markle’s still-sought-after bridal gown, Prince Harry’s teary vows, a non-traditional wedding cake, first-ever gospel choir and many more historic moments.

So, exactly two years since that fateful date, we are throwing it back to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s special day as we relive our favourite moments from their ‘I dos’.

How Meghan Markle and Prince Harry met

The Suits actor was first rumoured to be dating Prince Harry in October 2016. But the pair had, in fact, started courting earlier in July that year after they were reportedly set up on a blind date by a mutual friend, Violet von Westenholz. The couple hit it off immediately. "We met for a drink," said Markle in an interview, "and then I think very quickly into that we said, 'Well what are we doing tomorrow? We should meet again.'" 

Things progressed swiftly since the first date. The two went on a second date and Prince Harry then invited Markle to accompany him on a trip to Africa just three or four weeks later. "I managed to persuade her to come and join me in Botswana and we camped out with each other under the stars," he said, describing the whirlwind romance. "Then we were really by ourselves, which was crucial to me to make sure that we had a chance to get to know each other."

Prince Harry confirmed his relationship with her in a formal statement November 8, 2016 when he requested the press and trolls on social media to stop the “wave of abuse and harassment” that had been directed at his girlfriend. September 2017 was a milestone moment when Markle— dressed in ripped Mother Denim jeans and an oversized shirt by stylist friend Misha Nonoo—sat in the front row with Harry at the Invictus Games, marking their first public appearance as a couple.

The engagement

On November 27, 2017, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their engagement. At the photocall in the Kensington Palace gardens following their announcement, Prince Harry confirms it was love at first sight for him. When asked when he knew Markle was the one, he quickly replied, "the very first time we met." In the months leading up to the wedding, Meghan was introduced to the British public, and to life as a working royal, as she attended official events alongside her fiancé Harry.

The royal wedding

Unlike Prince William and Kate Middleton's nuptials, which was a stately affair at Westminster Abbey, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding ceremony was an intimate one at Windsor Castle. It was an extraordinary mélange of tradition and modernity, of centuries of history and of-the moment flourishes. Markle, who has long identified herself as a feminist, entered St George’s Chapel alone, signalling a departure from norms. Halfway through her walk down the aisle, she was escorted by Prince Charles. Princess Charlotte, Prince Harry's niece, along with his and Markle's goddaughters, Zalie Warren, Florence van Cutsem, Remi and Rylan Litt and Ivy Mulroney were part of the bridal retinue of six bridesmaids. Prince George and Jasper Dyer (Harry's godson) and Brian and John Mulroney (Markle's Canadian stylist Jessica Mulroney's kids) played four pageboys at the ceremony. Prince Harry teared up upon seeing his bride, as did the bride’s mother, Doria Ragland.

Chosen to give the address to the congregation of 600 guests, Bishop Michael B Curry of the Episcopical Church, who is African-American, quoted Dr Martin Luther King Jr. His voice echoed with emotions as he made a generous, impassioned case for love as the most important thing in religion and in life. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury oversaw the couple’s vows, after a reading by Lady Jane Fellowes, Prince Harry’s aunt (her sister was Diana, Princess of Wales). It was a passage from the Song of Solomon: “Arise my love, my fair one, and come away; for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.” After the ceremony, the couple stepped out of the church to a cheering crowd, and had their first kiss as husband and wife.

The bridal gown

Meghan Markle’s wedding outfit was not one you'd see in fairytales. Instead, she picked a simple yet stately white gown that underscored the bride’s own independence. The 38-year-old opted for a custom creation by designer Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The sculptural outfit was brought to life using double bonded silk cady that was sourced after extensive research across mills in Europe. The pure white gown featured three quarter-length sleeves and a bateau neckline, which was “the focus of the dress that gracefully framed the shoulders and emphasised the slender sculpted waist.” The lines of the dress extended towards the train at the back which was crafted with an underskirt of triple silk organza.

The gown was paired with a 16.5-foot silk tulle veil, which was embroidered with flowers representing all 53 countries of the Commonwealth. Fun fact: the veil also held a sweet hidden significance for Markle. “The piece of blue fabric that’s stitched inside was my something blue. It’s fabric from the dress that I wore on my first date with Harry,” she revealed in the documentary Queen of the World. She topped off her bridal gown with Queen Mary’s diamond bandeau tiara, which became her “something borrowed” from Queen Elizabeth. The bride rounded off the look with earrings and a bracelet by Cartier. 

The celebrity guests

Alongside the entire royal family, in attendance were several English aristocrats and important personages. One of the most exciting names on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s guest list was Priyanka Chopra, who chose a custom Vivienne Westwood lavender outfit. But she wasn’t the only star to be spotted at the wedding. There were Hollywood and humanitarian celebrities with the likes of George and Amal Clooney, and the tennis star Serena Williams. Joining them were Oprah Winfrey, Victoria and David Beckham, Elton John, James Blunt, Paul Burrell, Joss Stone and Markle’s Suits co-stars Gina Torres and Patrick J Adams. Pippa Middleton and Lady Kitty Spencer were also spotted at the royal affair.

The reception

After the wedding ceremony, guests headed to a lunch reception. There, Prince Harry reportedly gave an emotional speech, professing his love for his new wife. According to the Sun, Prince Harry told Meghan (and the room) that they make “great team.” He added that she “navigated everything with such grace,” and then said, “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.” The wedding cake also deserves a mention. Baked by Claire Ptak, it marked a sharp departure from conventional ones served at royal weddings. Unlike towering cakes, these tiers sat on different platforms, and they're "rough iced" and topped with fresh flowers. "The cake is made up of lemon sponge, it has an elderflower syrup drizzle on the sponge," the baker explained. "It has an Amalfi lemon curd, and then it has a Swiss meringue buttercream with elderflower," she added.

The newly minted Duke and Duchess of Sussex then departed for their evening reception at Frogmore House. The duchess wore a halter-neck white dress by designer Stella McCartney for the occasion. The post-wedding celebration saw about 200 close friends and family in attendance, and was hosted by Prince Charles.

Scroll through to take a look at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding album

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