HAPPY INSTA ANNIVERSARY
One year after Meghan and Harry’s big day, the private moments they’d like the world to see . . . on Instagram
tHeRe was never any doubt that theirs was a fairytale wedding, but to mark their first anniversary yesterday, Harry and Meghan shared a behind-the-scenes video montage of their own favourite moments.
The social media post, which consists of 14 mostly never-before-seen black-and-white images, has a musical backdrop in the shape of gospel song This Little Light Of Mine, an anthem of the U.S. civil rights movement. The London-based Kingdom Choir famously performed the recessional number at the ceremony’s close.
In a message to their 8.1 million followers on Instagram, the royal couple said: ‘Thank you for all of the love and support from so many of you around the world. each of you made this day even more meaningful.’
The sentimental style bears the hallmarks of Meghan’s social media posts of old — her now defunct blog The Tig was peppered with inspiring phrases and beautiful images.
The first candid image is of the bride holding her new husband’s hand, their faces wreathed in smiles. It fades to a message in white swirling script on a black screen, reading: ‘One year ago today . . .’
The next shot captures Prince Harry in the frockcoat uniform of his old Household Cavalry regiment the Blues and Royals, hat in his hand, as he walks down a steep set of stairs, looking up at the camera as he is followed by his brother and best man, Prince William.
There’s an ethereal Meghan, being handed her bouquet as she walks into the chapel — an arrangement of Forget-Me-Nots, sweet peas, lily of the valley, astilbe, jasmine, astrantia and sprigs of myrtle (the latter a royal tradition) artfully arranged by florist Philippa Craddock and including a few blooms handpicked by the groom.
The young woman charged with the task of handing Meghan her bouquet had not previously been known, but is, the Mail can reveal, the couple’s royal aide Clara Madden.
The New Zealander had caused a bit of a stir at the Palace in 2016 when she started dating Nick Loughran, who was at the time media adviser to Kate and William, within months of him splitting from Rebecca Deacon, then the Duchess of Cambridge’s right-hand woman. (Clara and Nick wed in 2017.)
Next, a beaming Prince Charles, who, of course, stepped into the father- of-the-bride role at the 11th hour, lends his arm to Meghan as he meets her halfway down the long walk to the altar. There are shots of both Meghan and Harry signing their names — alongside the Archbishop of Canterbury, who married them — and a touching moment when Meghan, now a married woman, holds her mother Doria’s hands.
They are notably close, and Doria has been in the UK to support the couple following the birth of baby Archie.
The montage also captures a moment while the official wedding portraits are being taken in Windsor Castle’s Green Drawing Room — the newlyweds sitting on the floor surrounded by Meghan’s flower girls and pageboys.
Princess Charlotte is the only child looking directly at the camera and Prince George can just be seen peeking out at his Uncle Harry’s shoulder.
Another image taken in the same room suggests that Harry may have used some of the time during the official portrait session prepping his speech for the wedding reception.
The film ends with some betterknown moments — including a public kiss — and the words: ‘ Thank you for making the memory of this day so special.’