WEDDING BLISS
THE PRINCE’S FRIENDS BELIEVE HE’LL POP THE QUESTION SOON
Harry and Meghan in Jamaica
All eyes are meant to be on the bride at a wedding. But when Lara Hughes-Young married Tom “Skippy” Inskip, it was an elegant guest in a flowing floral gown everyone was looking at.
Meghan Markle was at the British society wedding in Jamaica last week as the “plus one” of her boyfriend Prince Harry. While he was off performing his duties as an usher for Tom, who is one of his best mates, she mingled with other guests and looked completely at ease.
It probably helped that the American actress – who has been staying with Harry at Kensington Palace in London when she’s not in Toronto filming the TV series Suits – has already met quite a few of his friends. She has become particularly close to the bride, software developer Lara, and Holiday Inn heiress Lizzie
Wilson, who is married to
Harry’s other close friend, nightclub owner Guy Pelly.
“Meghan has gotten to know Harry’s inner circle well and
Lizzie was really looking out for her,” says a friend who was at the wedding.
The insider says Tom and his friends have a “unique” and often rude sense of humour.
“It took Meghan a while to get used to them and vice versa, but they have really warmed to her. They do joke about some of her New Age philosophies, though.”
The fact that Harry (32) felt comfortable about taking Meghan (35) to the wedding is an indication of just how serious things are between the couple, says another pal.
His mates joked, “You’ll be next”, and a happy looking Harry didn’t seem to care who was watching as he and Meghan held hands. At one stage, the couple were seen kissing on the balcony of their hotel villa.
“Harry is head over heels about Meghan and some of us really think he’ll have popped the question by the end of the year,” says his friend.
Pastor Conrad Thomas, the minister who officiated at the ceremony, also thinks wedding bells are on the cards for Harry and Meghan. “I have no doubt that they are very much in love,” he says. “They sat next to each other and held hands as they walked out. I will never forget their radiant smiles – they looked so happy together.”
He says as they left the church, he told Harry, “It’s your turn next, Sir.”
Pastor Thomas added that the couple appeared to be trying to make sure that all the attention was on the bride and groom rather than them. “I think they were deliberate in trying not to take the spotlight from the couple. They were being respectful.”
Meghan wore a demure
$2100 maxidress by Canadian designer Erdem, who is a favourite of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. She spent much of the day shading her eyes with a pair of $450 Dior sunglasses.
Meghan and Harry flew in separately to the Caribbean island – Harry on a commercial flight, Meghan in a friend’s private jet – and stayed together in a luxury villa at the Round Hill Resort. Built in the 1950s, the resort has hosted many famous guests, including John and Jackie Kennedy, who spent their honeymoon there.
Meghan and Harry’s $8700-a-night villa came with its own housekeeper, two pools and a games room with a bar.
It was a big step up from the hotel Meghan stayed in during her first trip to the island in 2011. She was there for her own
wedding to film producer Trevor Engleson, now her ex-husband, and stayed in a cheaper resort. Before saying their vows, the couple apparently larked about playing drinking games.
The festivities at Tom and Lara’s wedding were more sedate, although Harry did cause a ruckus at the reception while moon dancing to Michael Jackson’s song Billy Jean and bumped into a waitress, sending a tray full of glasses flying.
The prince was mortified, says an observer. “He gasped, looked shocked and put his hands on the waitress’ shoulders and apologised.”
Many of the guests partied until 3am, but
Meghan and Harry slipped out discreetly at around 1am.