MEGHAN’S TRIBUTE
The Duchess of Sussex has followed the poignant Royal tradition of having her wedding bouquet left at the grave of the Unknown Warrior after she exchanged vows with Prince Harry at the weekend. Convention dictates that the day after Royal weddings the floral tribute is sent to Westminster Abbey.
A TENDER kiss on the steps of St George’s Chapel marked the start of married life and sealed a fairytale wedding for the newly christened Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Watched by their families, celebrity friends, thousands gathered on the streets of Windsor and millions of well-wishers worldwide, Prince Harry married his former actress fiancée Meghan Markle on Saturday.
The Duchess wore a stunning simple white gown designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, with three-quarterlength sleeves and open bateau neckline.
David Emanuel, who designed Princess Diana’s dress for her wedding to the Prince of Wales in 1981, said her dress was “simple, stylish, elegant and understated”.
Echoing the words said by generations of grooms before him, the new Duke told his bride-to-be she looked “amazing”, to which Meghan replied “thank you” as they met at the altar, and the couple tenderly held hands and exchanged smiles during the wedding ceremony.
The pair have been hailed for bringing modernity into the Royal family, and while the service included some more modern elements, including an African-American bishop who invoked the image of Martin Luther King Jr during his energetic speech, much of the ceremony was traditional.
The Archbishop of Canterbury proclaimed Harry and Meghan husband and wife after they said their vows and exchanged rings, watched by the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge, who were among more than 30 members of the Royal Family who gathered in the chapel’s Quire.
Prince George and Princess Charlotte were among six bridesmaids and four pageboys.
The 600-strong congregation including celebrity royalty in the shape of American chat show queen Oprah Winfrey, tennis champion Serena Williams, actor George Clooney and his barrister wife Amal, Sir Elton John and David and Victoria Beckham and actor Idris Elba. Meghan’s delicate veil was five metres long and made from silk tulle, with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers from each of the Commonwealth countries in silk threads and organza, with two of her pageboys carrying the ends as she made her way up the steps. Her hair was styled in an up do and she wore the glittering Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau tiara, loaned to her by the Queen.
The crowds who gathered in Windsor were not disappointed as the pair set off on an open-top carriage ride through the town after the ceremony.
Harry’s mother Diana was remembered in the shape of forget-me-nots, her favourite flowers, included in the bridal bouquet.
Myrtle sprigs from stems planted at the Isle of Wight’s Osborne House by Queen Victoria in 1845 also featured, furthering a longstanding tradition – previously carried by Princess Victoria, the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria, at her 1858 wedding, and the Duchess of Cambridge and Diana at their weddings.
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Friend of the bride US tennis supremo Serena Williams and her 2: entrepreneur husband Alexis Ohanian arrive all smiles. / Idris Elba 3: and Sabrina Dhowre arriving at Windsor Castle. / Kingdom Choir lit up the ceremony with their own brand of energetic spirituality upon 4: which their music is founded. / Ringing the changes: the Duchess of Sussex appeared to have already mastered the dignified Royal wave. / 5:
David and Victoria Beckham were both on the ball, the former with 6: his trademark schoolboy grin and the latter her moody Posh pout. / Sir Elton John and David Furnish were among the guests there to wish the Royal couple well. Sir Elton went on to perform for the new Duke 7: and Duchess. / Amal Clooney provided a striking dash of colour alongside actor husband George.