LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED
After the pomp and ceremony of the service it was time for the couple and their glamorous guests to let their hair down and hit the dance floor
THE party to end all parties. That’s what the evening reception is being called – and by all accounts that’s no exaggeration. It certainly got off to a fabulous start with an entrance by the newlyweds worthy of a James Bond movie. The groom was dapper in a tux, the bride was breathtaking in a bespoke Stella McCartney dress and the car was something 007 himself would’ve sacrificed the olive in his martini for.
And when the sleek E-Type Jaguar, the numberplate bearing the date of the couple’s wedding, glided away from Windsor Castle towards Frogmore House you just knew: fun was going to be had.
Insiders say there were two “halves” to the night – the more sedate early part and the raucous later part.
“The party was hosted by Prince Charles so guests waited until the older royals left at around 10.30pm before they really let their hair down,” a source says.
There were plenty of touching moments in the early half of the night. Charles made a sweet speech, talking about how he’d changed his son’s nappies and ending by telling his youngest, “My darling old Harry, I’m so happy for you.”
Meghan broke with tradition and made a speech too – highly unusual for a royal bride – and thanked the royal family for making her feel so welcome.
When it was Harry’s turn he praised his new wife for “navigating everything with such grace” – a reference to the
family turmoil Meghan had endured in the weeks leading up to the wedding – and saying they made a “great team”.
“I just can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you,” he added.
Then it was William’s turn, a best man speech described as hilarious and solemn. He welcomed Meghan into the fold, calling her “the best thing that’s ever happened to Haz”, and paid tribute to Princess Diana when he turned to his brother and said, “Mom would’ve been so proud of you.”
Then he ripped his brother off about growing bald “like me” – but Wills and close friend Charlie van Straubenzee, who performed a “double act” with the prince, spared the groom the embarrassment of referring to his wild days.
“Everyone knows he played nude snooker and all that stuff – it wasn’t necessary to bring it up again,” one guest said.
THE COMPERE
Comedian James Corden introduced speakers and had guests in stitches by teasing Harry for “punching above his weight”.
THE FIRST DANCE
The newlyweds took to the floor to Whitney Houston’s 1987 pop hit I Wanna Dance with Somebody – a song Meghan describes as “my happy song”.
THE PARTY-GOERS
All the cool people were there – including actor George Clooney, who’s said to have danced with both Meghan and her new sister-in-law, the Duchess of Cambridge. Tennis ace Serena Williams and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie were there too. But Harry’s ex Chelsy Davy and Kate’s sis, Pippa Middleton didn’t make it.
Meghan’s beloved beagle, Guy, also got stuck into the festivities – he ran around freely, getting stuck into spilled canapés.
THE ENTERTAINMENT
DJ Sam Totolee, a celeb favourite who performed at the weddings of Pippa Middleton and American actress Uma Thurman, spun the decks. But as things got more festive others elbowed him out of the way – including actor Idris Elba, who’s DJed in many of London’s top clubs.
Guests frolicked in a huge glass marquee in the grounds of Frogmore House and, as things got livelier, games of beer pong – where players bounce table tennis balls into cups of beer and their opponents have to down the drink in which the ball lands – were played. The star of the beer pong show? Serena Williams (who teamed her floor-length Valentino gown with sneakers). “She played the game like it was tennis,” one insider says. “It was so much fun.”
THE TREATS
Meghan provided slippers for the female guests, something that was gratefully received when feet started aching from dancing in heels. “How amazing is this?” actress Troian Bellisario was heard saying. “They have slippers for us! Slippers!”
The bride is also said to have given each of her closest friends a bracelet worth £450 (R7 650).
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
Fireworks lit up the Windsor sky shortly before the reception wound to a close in the early hours. Final coaches left Frogmore House at about 3.30am – and George Clooney was apparently one of the last to leave. He had a great time on the dance floor, sources say, showing off his moves to fellow actor Tom Hardy.
Plenty of food was on offer throughout the night to help guests soak up the alcohol – pizzas were seen arriving early on, burgers were served at midnight and sausage-and-bacon sandwiches were offered to guests as they left the reception in the wee hours.
But this wasn’t the end for some, who headed to a nightclub in London for more revelry – and then on to a house in Chelsea to watch the sun rise.
It isn’t known if Harry and Meghan were among them. But what is known is that not many guests made it to breakfast at the five-star Coworth Park Hotel where they were staying. In fact, new mom Serena Williams, looking “bright and breezy”, was one of the few seen at the meal.
A FINAL ‘GIFT’ FROM WILLS
Before Harry and Meghan sped off from Frogmore House around midnight, William is said to have tied a ladder to their wedding car instead of the traditional clattering cans. The prince was apparently making fun of his brother, who recently fell from a ladder while trying to change a light bulb. “Guests were floored,” an insider says.