Everything we know about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal wedding

<h2>The Best Man</h2> <p>Prince William and Prince Harry have had their share of <a href="https://ca.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/0201409109674/royal-siblings-prince-william-and-prince-harry-s-special-bond">brotherly bonding moments</a>, chief among them the 33-year-old acting as his big brother's best man during his 2011 nuptials to Kate Middleton. Now, Prince Harry is returning the favour ahead of his May 19 wedding to Meghan Markle, selecting 35-year-old William for the role.</p> <p>Along with a number of cute photos of the royal siblings, Kensington Palace tweeted the exciting news on April 26, just a few days after William became a father for the third time. "Prince Harry has asked his brother The Duke of Cambridge to be his best man at his wedding to Ms. Meghan Markle. Prince Harry served as best man to The Duke of Cambridge at his wedding to Miss Catherine Middleton in 2011. The Duke of Cambridge is honoured to have been asked, and is very much looking forward to supporting his brother at St George's Chapel, Windsor on May 19th."</p> <p>The brothers are particularly close having lost their mom, Princess Diana, as children. Prince William was among the first to share his excitement when news of Harry's engagement broke, showing his signature sense of humour: "We're very excited, delighted for them both. We're wishing them all the happiness at this very exciting time. Personally, I hope it means he stays out of my fridge and will stop scrounging all my food, which he's done for the last few years."<p> <p>Photo: &copy; Getty Images
<h2>The Music</h2> <p>No wedding is complete without some killer tunes! The couple’s music will be under the direction of James Vivian, the director of music at St George’s Chapel. The Choir of St George’s Chapel, 19-year-old cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Karen Gibson and the Kingdom Choir, an orchestra made up of musicians from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the English Chamber Orchestra and the Philharmonia, as well as Welsh soprano Elin Manahan Thomas, trumpeter David Blackadder, organ player Luke Bond and State Trumpeters will all contribute on the special day.</p> <p>Kensington Palace stated: “Both Prince Harry and Ms. Markle have taken a great deal of interest and care in choosing the music for their Service, which will include a number of well-known hymns and choral works.”</p> <p>In a statement released by the palace, 19-year-old cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, who performed on <em>Britain's Got Talent</em>, said: “I’m so excited and honored to perform at Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle’s wedding. I was bowled over when Ms. Markle called me to ask if I would play during the ceremony, and of course I immediately said yes! What a privilege to be able to play the cello at such a wonderful event. I can’t wait!”</p> <p>Photo: DAVID PARKER/AFP/Getty Images</p>
<p><strong><a href="/tags/0/prince-harry/">Prince Harry</a> and his love <a href="/tags/0/meghan-markle/">Meghan Markle</a> are set to tie the knot in a <a href="/tags/0/royal-wedding/">royal wedding</a>on May, 19 2018. Since the announcement of their engagement on November 27, 2017, details surrounding the former actress and Prince’s fairy tale day have been revealed. From the venue, date and A-list guest list, here is everything we know about the couple’s big day so far...</strong></p> <h2>The Guest List</h2> <p>Kensington Palace took to Twitter on Apr. 11 to announce four incredible people that will get a lucky spot in the Windsor pews on Meghan and Harry's big day.</p> <p><strong>Reuben Litherd</strong> from Derby, a boy who was born deaf, started lunchtime lessons at his school to teach sign language. <strong>Pamela Anomneze</strong> from Haringey founded the social enterprise Studio 306 Collective, which helps those recovering from mental illness through creative arts. <strong>Philip Gillespie</strong> from Ballymena works to raise awareness for ABF The Soldiers' Charity after losing a leg in an IED incident while serving in Afghanistan. Finally, <strong>Amy Wright</strong> is the chair of board of directors for the Usual Place café, which provides training for people ages 16 to 25 with special needs.</p> <p>They're all making big changes within their respective communities, which is very important to the royal couple-to-be.</p> <p>The palace also announced that seven "incredible young people" who have received Diana Legacy Awards will get to watch Meghan and Harry exchange vows - and one of them is Ontario teen <strong>Faith Dickinson</strong>, who received her award from Princes William and Harry nearly a year ago. The 15-year-old founded the non-profit Cuddles for Cancer, which makes fleece blankets for soldiers with PTSD and cancer patients in the hopes of keeping them "warm, comfortable and loved."</p> <p>Photos: &copy; Twitter/@KensingtonRoyal</p>
<h2>The Wedding Gifts</h2> <p>Their wedding gift request comes as no surprise, given the fact that Meghan and Harry are both caring activists who love to give back to their communities. The couple has asked the public to make donations to one of seven chosen charities instead of sending a wedding gift; a very similar gesture to Prince William and Kate in 2011, who raised a staggering $1.8 million following their big day. Meghan and Harry have selected a range of issues they are passionate about to be represented, including sport for social change, women's empowerment, conservation, the environment, homelessness, HIV and the Armed Forces.</p> <p>Kensington Palace tweeted the announcement on Apr. 9, writing that the pair are "incredibly grateful for the goodwill shown" to them and want "as many people as possible to benefit from this generosity of spirit". The statement continued: "The couple have therefore asked that anyone who might wish to mark the occasion considers making a donation to charity, rather than sending a wedding gift. Prince Harry and Ms. Markle have personally selected seven organizations they would like to support, reflecting their shared values."</p> <p>Photo: &copy; Getty Images</p>
<h2>The Flowers</h2> The couple revealed yet another exciting detail about their upcoming royal wedding on Mar. 31 - the florist! The couple selected Philippa Craddock, who counts Kensington Palace, Alexander McQueen and British <em>Vogue</em> among her clients, to helm their arrangements. <p>Many of the flowers will be sourced from The Crown Estate and Windsor Great Park, and the couple surely appreciates the fact that the self-taught florist prefers to use seasonal blossoms. In addition to May's best blooms, locality and sustainability are key for the future husband and wife, who will be using branches of beech, birch and hornbeam along with white garden roses, foxgloves and peonies - Meghan's favourite flowers! <p>Photo: &copy; PA/Getty Images
<h2>The Dress Code</h2> <p>They've quickly become two of the most stylish royals around, so surely Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle are looking to have a well-heeled group in the pews on their big day. In following with the tradition of wedding invitations, the couple shared their sartorial guidelines on the wedding invitation for their big day on May 19.</p> <p>The prince and the former actress's gorgeous invites, printed on a 1930s machine by Barnard & Westwood using a symbolic mix of American ink on English cards, states the rules of ensemble as follows: "Dress: Uniform, Mourning Coat or Lounge Suit,” and “Day Dress with Hat.” This is one main difference between Prince Harry's invitations and that of older brother Prince William, who didn't specify a code of dress for women. This could be a gesture to help their overseas A-list friends in deciding what to wear.</p> <p>Photo: &copy; Getty Images
<h2>The Receptions</h2> <p>While we've long known the venue where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will say "I do," St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, it was revealed on Mar. 22 that their private reception will take place at Frogmore House. Kensington Palace tweeted the news, revealing that the party hosted by Prince Charles will welcome around 200 guests.</p> <p>The 17th-century English country house, just half a mile south of Windsor Castle, holds sentimental value to Harry and Meghan as it was the place they also picked to take their official engagement photographs. Built in the 1680s, the stunning white house is currently uninhabited, but is often used by the royal family for private and official events. It is also the burial place of Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert and hosted the reception for Peter and Autumn Phillips's big day in 2008.</p> <p>Harry's grandmother will also be toasting the couple at a luncheon following the service. "Guests have been invited to the service at St George's Chapel and to the lunchtime reception at St George's Hall, which is being given by Her Majesty The Queen," said the palace.</p> <p>Photo: &copy; Alex Lubomirski/Getty Images
<h2>The Invitations</h2> <p>On Mar. 22, Kensington Palace took to Instagram to give fans a first look at Prince Harry and Meghan's gorgeous wedding invitations, made by Barnard and Westwood, a printing press in London. The process of printing these elegant designs is steeped in royal history, and the sophisticated cards were made using American ink on English paper, a subtle symbol of the Los Angeles native uniting with her British beau.</p> <p>Along with the tweet, the palace wrote, “Lottie Small, who recently completed her apprenticeship, printed all of the invitations in a process known as die stamping, on a machine from the 1930s that she affectionately named Maude.”</p> <p>The company has been making invitations for the Royal Family since 1985 and, of course, managing director Austen Kopley gushed that he was thrilled to be making them for Meghan and Harry, too.</p> <p>Photo: &copy; Twitter
<h2>The cake</h2> A wedding isn’t a wedding without a delicious cake, and it’s a scrumptious tradition that even the royals partake in. From the venue to the hymns, Harry and Meghan have been busy planning their big day, and at just over a month away, the duo has chosen Claire Ptak, owner of Violet Cakes, to make their wedding dessert. <p>The two have gone with the owner of the London-based bakery for many reasons. It’s fitting that the news was revealed on the first official day of spring as the couple has requested a lemon elderflower cake smothered in buttercream frosting and decorated with fresh flowers, a lovely symbol for their blooming relationship and an ode to the flavours of the season. Kensington Palace shared the news on Twitter on Mar. 20. <p>Photo: © Getty Images
<h2>The hymns</h2> Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will have at least two hymns at their church ceremony in May, and if they choose to follow royal tradition, they may opt for <em>Love Divine, All Loves Excelling</em> – a hymn that has featured in several recent, royal weddings. The beautiful hymn is by Charles Wesley, who wrote more than 6,000 hymns in his time including the Christmas favourite, <em>Hark! The Herald Angels Sing</em>. <p>The 18th century song featured at a very poignant moment in Prince William and Kate's 2011 wedding at Westminster Abbey; it was sung just after the bride and groom exchanged vows. Of the Queen's other grandchildren, Zara Phillips also chose the hymn for her wedding to Mike Tindall in 2011. Zara's older brother Peter Phillips, during his marriage ceremony to Autumn Kelly, also went with the hymn, along with Harry's own father, Prince Charles, Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex in 1999 and Princess Alexandra and Angus Ogilvy in 1963. <p>Photo: &copy; Getty Images
<h2>Her Majesty's approval</h2> <p>Queen Elizabeth II has formally given her consent for her grandson Prince Harry to marry Meghan Markle. In a letter dated on March 14 to the Privy Council, the monarch penned, “My Lords, I declare My Consent to a Contract of Matrimony between My Most Dearly Beloved Grandson Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales and Rachel Meghan Markle, which Consent I am causing to be signified under the Great Seal and to be entered in the Books of the Privy Council.”</p> <p>According to the Royal Marriages Act 1772, all descendants of King George II must ask for the monarch’s permission to wed. Queen Elizabeth gave her consent to Prince William before he married Kate Middleton in 2011.</p> <p>Photo: &copy; DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images</p>
<h2>The special guests</h2> <p>The Prince and Meghan have invited 2,640 members of the public to be a part of their special day. A statement released by Kensington Palace read: "Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle have said they want their Wedding Day to be shaped so as to allow members of the public to feel part of the celebrations too. This wedding, like all weddings, will be a moment of fun and joy that will reflect the characters and values of the Bride and Groom."</p> <p>The pair have requested the attendance of 1,200 members of the public from every corner of the United Kingdom — young people who have shown strong leadership and those who have served their communities a range of backgrounds and ages. In addition to 200 people from various charities and organizations close to the pair, as well as 100 students from two local schools, 610 Windsor Castle community members and 530 members of the royal households and crown estates.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>A Spice Girls reunion</h2> <p>The Spice Girls are set to reunite at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. Scary Spice aka Melanie Brown made the bombshell revelation on February 27, during an appearance on <em>The Real</em>. The 42-year-old singer revealed that all five members of the ‘90s girl group — Victoria Beckham, Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell — will attend and perform at the May 19 nuptials.</p> <p>When asked by host Loni Love if the group will be performing at the reception, Mel threw her cards up in the air and sighed, "I swear," as Loni, Jeannie Mai and Adrienne Bailon excitedly reacted. She jokingly added, "I'm going to be fired." Earlier in the show, Melanie confessed that "all five Spice Girls" received invitations to the forthcoming ceremony at Windsor Castle. Discussing Harry and Meghan's royal wedding invite, the singer shared, "It was proper, yes."</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>The time</h2> <p>Set your DVRs! Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding will take place at 12 p.m. GMT (7 a.m. ET) on May 19, 2018. The Dean of Windsor will conduct the service and the Archbishop of Canterbury will officiate as the couple exchange vows at St, George's Chapel. At 1 p.m. the couple will undertake a carriage procession from the royal chapel through Windsor Town returning to Windsor Castle along the Long Walk. Kensington Palace stated, “They hope this short journey will provide an opportunity for more people to come together around Windsor and to enjoy the atmosphere of this special day.”</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>Reception</h2> <p>Following their wedding service, there will be a reception at St. George's Hall for the couple and the guests from the congregation. Later in the day, Prince Charles will give a private evening reception for the couple and their close friends and family.</p> <p>Photo: &copy; Alexi Lubomirski</p>
<h2>What's on their wedding registry...</h2> <p>Harry and Meghan are making their wedding day about others. The Prince and the former actress are reportedly setting up a wedding fund, instead of requesting expensive wedding gifts. According to Mail Online, a source said that the 33-year-old royal “doesn’t want guests spending lots of time buying him extravagant presents, but he does want them to support his charity work.”</p> <p>Harry is likely to follow in his brother's footsteps; Prince William and his then-fiancée Kate Middleton set up a “Royal Wedding Charitable Gift Fund" for their wedding in 2011, which raised over $1 million for 26 charities.</p> <p>Harry and Meghan will undoubtedly do the same, choosing a number of great causes close to their hearts. The foundation carries out extensive work with other organizations, campaigning for mental health awareness and wildlife protection amongst other causes. Meghan will join the foundation as its fourth patron when she officially becomes a member of the royal family in May, and will likely choose her own causes to champion.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>An unexpected speech</h2> <p>Meghan Markle is expected to break from royal tradition at her upcoming wedding to Prince Harry, by giving a speech at their reception. The Sunday Times reports that the former actress will deliver an "affectionate" toast to thank her new husband, the Queen and her friends and family. Meghan may even dare to make a couple of jokes, the report adds.</p> <p>The American actress has never shied away from using her voice in public. Meghan starred in the legal drama <em>Suits</em> for seven seasons and has experience in giving speeches to large groups of people. In 2015, she gave a speech at the U.N. Women's conference in her role as an advocate for the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>Caterers</h2> <p>It is thought that the loved-up couple have decided to employ the popular company Table Talk to cater their wedding reception. Although Kensington Palace has yet to confirm the news, the catering firm is a royal favorite and was previously used by Prince William and Kate Middleton for their wedding in 2011, and by Kate's sister Pippa Middleton in May 2017.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>The date</h2> <p>The Prince and American actress will tie the knot on Saturday, May 19, 2018. Kensington Palace announced the news with a statement that read: "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."</p> <p>A year after celebrating Pippa Middleton and James Matthews' stunning wedding on May 20, 2017, the pair are set to celebrate their big day on the same weekend as Kate's younger sister, the weekend before the Spring Bank Holiday.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>The flowers</h2> <p>One small detail about Meghan and Harry’s wedding décor has been released. In keeping up with tradition, Meghan’s bridal bouquet will contain at least one sprig of myrtle — a tradition that dates back to 1840, when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert</p> <p>Myrtle, the emblem of matrimony, symbolizes love and hope and has been used in royal brides' bouquets since the 19th century; the Duchess of Cambridge carried a sprig of myrtle in her bouquet when she married Prince William in 2011.</p> <p>It's almost certain that Meghan, 36, will honor the royal tradition when she says "I do" to Harry in May at St. George's Chapel, Windsor. While Meghan will be mindful of the royal family's traditions, she may also want to include some of her own favourite flowers in the bouquet. Meghan is a big fan of peonies, which will be in season in May, just in time for her wedding.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>The venue</h2> <p>Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will tie the knot at a special venue. The newly engaged pair are set to wed at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in May 2018. In a statement released by Kensington Palace, Windsor was noted as a “very special place” for the British Prince and is a place that the newly engaged couple has spent time together during their romance.</p> <p>“They are grateful to The Queen for granting them permission for the use of the Chapel.” The statement continued: “Prince Harry and Ms. Markle are delighted that the beautiful grounds of Windsor Castle will be where they begin their lives together as a married couple.”</p> <p>St. George’s has been a historical landmark for royal weddings and events. In 2005, Harry’s father married his wife Camila, Duchess of Cornwall and in 2008, the Prince’s cousin Peter Phillips and wife Autumn said “I do” there. The Prince, who announced his engagement on November 27, was baptized at the venue in 1984.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>Who is paying?</h2> <p>It was confirmed that the royal family will pay for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s 2018 wedding. The royals will be footing the bill for the church service, the music, the flowers, decorations and the reception following the ceremony.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>Prince William won’t be the “Best Man”</h2> <p>Prince William will be by his brother’s side during his May nuptials, but he won’t be called the “best man.” The reason, because there is no such title in a royal wedding. According to royal expert Marlene Koenig Harry will use the appropriate term of “supporters.”</p> <p>“The best man or best men are officially called supporters,” Marlene told Town and Country. “William will probably be Harry’s supporter.” During his 2011 wedding to Kate Middleton, William broke protocol and gave his brother and right-hand man the title of his best man. However, their father Prince Charles asked his two older brothers to be his “supporters” during his 1981 nuptials to Princess Diana. Perhaps Harry will follow in his older brother's footsteps for his own big day!</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>The wedding will be televised</h2> <p>Just like past royal weddings, Harry and Meghan’s big day will be shared with the fans. During an official statement from Kensington Palace, it was revealed that the pair are working to make sure all feel a part of their special day.</p> <p>“The couple of course want the day to be a special, celebratory moment for their friends and family," the statement read. "They also want the day to be shaped so as to allow members of the public to feel part of the celebrations too and are currently working through ideas for how this might be achieved.”</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>A-list guest list</h2> <p>Although only the Queen has so far been the only confirmed guest, we can assume that all other senior members of the royal family will be invited, including Harry's brother the Duke of Cambridge, his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge and their children Prince George and Prince Charlotte, along with the couple's new baby, who is due in April. It is also expected that Meghan's friends, including Serena Williams and Jessica Mulroney will attend — possibly even as bridesmaids.</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>Meghan’s changes</h2> <p>The <em>Suits</em> alum is Protestant like her mother, despite having attended a Catholic high school in the United States. Ahead of her royal wedding, Meghan will be baptized and confirmed in the Church of England. Queen Elizabeth is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England.</p> <p>The baptism and confirmation are not unusual steps for royal brides-to-be. Kate Middleton was also confirmed before saying “I do” to Prince William in April 2011.</p> <p>Aside from changing her religion, Meghan also intends to become a UK citizen after she marries Queen Elizabeth's grandson. Prince Harry's communication's secretary, Jason Knauf, said the American would be "compliant with immigration requirements at all times."</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
<h2>The woman who made Harry and Meghan’s wedding possible</h2> <p>Fans can thank Harry and Meghan’s mutual friend, Misha Nonoo for their fairy tale. A source confirmed to <strong>HOLA!'</strong>s sister publication <strong>HELLO! magazine </strong>that the fashion designer, who recently separated from William and Harry’s friend Alexander Gilkes, is their secret matchmaker.</p> <p>During their first joint-interview, the engaged pair kept their friend’s identity mum, after revealing that they were set up on a blind date. Speaking about their first introduction, Meghan admitted she "didn't know much" about the Prince before meeting him.</p> <p>"The only thing I had asked her when she said she wanted to set us up, was 'Well is he nice' If he wasn't kind, it didn't seem like it would make sense," she shared. Harry, meanwhile, said he had not been aware of Meghan before their first meeting in London as he had never watched her TV show, but said they fell in love "so incredibly quickly" after that first meeting and it seemed proof that the "stars were aligned."</p> <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
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