Time to party!
Like their wedding, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s departure for their intimate evening reception at Frogmore House was a seamless blend of tradition with a refreshing, modern spin. Even their car pointed to changing times. Where Prince William and Kate had travelled to their reception in an Aston Martin that had been converted to bioethanol fuel, Prince Harry and Meghan chose a 1968 silver blue Jaguar E-Type Concept Zero that had been converted to electric power.
The bride’s halter-neck, white silk crepe evening dress, designed by Stella McCartney, was a timeless choice, with a graceful, floor-length skirt that must surely have looked breathtaking on the dance floor later that night.
Her nude mesh shoes from Florentine footwear boutique, Aquazzura, had soles that were painted in baby blue. And on her right hand, she wore a simple emerald-cut aquamarine ring, which had belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales – a gift from Prince Harry, who wore a simple, black tuxedo.
The reception was hosted by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales in Frogmore House, which has been a royal residence since 1680, and was the setting for Harry and Meghan’s official engagement photo shoot in November last year.
British actor/talkshow host, James Corden, was the MC for the evening’s entertainment, which included a speech by the bride. Neither cameras nor phones were permitted inside the very private function for 200 of the couple’s closest family and friends. These included George and Amal Clooney (who stopped to chat with guards at the gate), Serena Williams (who turned heads in a bold, sophisticated Valentino floral-print gown and hair in thigh-length braids) and Indian actor and philanthropist, Priyanka Chopra (who shimmered in gossamer by Dior). The bridal dance was one of Meghan’s favourites – Whitney Houston’s I Want to Dance with Somebody.
Sir Elton John, who was close friends with Diana, wished the newlyweds a life of love and hope with this quote by American author, Maya Angelou: “Love recognises no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination, full of hope.” As fireworks lit up the night over Frogmore House, a global audience of millions wished the newlyweds, who had all through the day hinted at the gentle dawn of a new era, the same.