I found a Meghan to wed my Harry
Stacey Kilpatrick, 31, from Kirkcaldy, created the ultimate furry-tail wedding for her dog…
If anyone was a crazy Royal fan, it was my mum, Andrea, 64. She was always up to date on what they were up to, following their activities and fashion trends.
Walking into the salon she and I ran together one afternoon, she waved a letter excitedly in my face, barely able to contain herself.
‘Prince Harry’s secretary says it’s OK!’ she beamed.
It was July 2017, and our eightweek-old Newfoundland pup Harry wasn’t the only one barking in our family – Mum was, too!
Royal-mad, she’d written to Kensington Palace a few weeks before to ask for Prince Harry’s blessing to name our beloved puppy after him.
We’d collected Harry from a breeder just months earlier.
He was only four weeks old, and an adorable bundle of fluff – but he soon turned into a wrecking ball!
‘He’s as boisterous as Prince Harry on a stag night,’ Mum laughed.
As we didn’t live together, Mum and I had decided to share Harry – I’d have him Friday to Tuesday, and she’d have him for the rest of the week.
We took him to work at the salon every day, and our clients loved him. And he loved all the attention, too.
But, a big breed, Harry just wouldn’t stop growing!
I quickly learnt to move everything at tail level before his visits, and to hide all my husband Kevin’s socks – Harry’s favourite food.
In March last year, our friend Elaine, who sometimes looked after Harry for us, popped in.
‘I have a brilliant idea,’ she said. ‘Let’s find a dog called Meghan to marry your Harry!’
It was only weeks until the real Meghan Markle was due to walk down the aisle to marry Prince Harry – the date had been in Mum’s diary since it was announced, and she couldn’t have been more excited about the big day.
But this puppy wedding could be even bigger!
‘That’s a great idea!’ Mum giggled, picturing Harry dressed up as a handsome groom.
So that evening, Elaine put a post on Facebook, looking for a dog called Meghan who’d be willing to walk down the aisle.
And before long, five dogs called Meghan applied to be Harry’s bride.
Scrolling through the applicants’ pictures, I laughed.
‘They’re all gorgeous. How do we choose?’ I laughed.
‘What do you think, Harry?’ I asked, turning to our pooch.
But he was too busy chewing on his toy dinosaur to give an opinion. Typical. One of his potential brides was a pedigree Springer Spaniel who competed in shows.
‘She’s pretty and posh – just the right credentials to be a
We knew this wedding could be even bigger!
princess,’ we decided.
After the bride was chosen, Mum and I got planning.
The wedding ceremony was to be held in Mum’s garden – not quite Windsor Castle, but she had a beautiful arch of roses made – perfect for the puptials!
We set the date for three days before the real Harry and Meghan’s wedding – Mum wasn’t going to miss watching that on the telly!
A few weeks later, Elaine measured Harry up for his tuxedo, and Meghan for her veil. Harry looked very dashing. Then we asked Harry’s mates, Shadow and Isla, from our local Newfoundland Club, to be best dog and bridesmaid.
Their owners were so excited to be a part of the special day.
And before we knew it, the day of the wedding arrived.
‘Are you nervous, Harry?’ I asked him on the morning of the big day. ‘This is a big step for you.’
But our gentle giant didn’t seem bothered at all.
In fact, when he saw Meghan for the first time, he raced up to her to sniff her bum! ‘Harry!’ I scolded. ‘You’ll have to wait for the honeymoon for that!’
Meghan was far more refined and ladylike, the perfect princess bride.
And, like with the real Harry and Meghan, the wedding guest list was very exclusive – just me, Mum, Megan’s owner Helen, Elaine and her husband, John.
We didn’t exactly have space for Elton John’s piano in the garden, but we did manage to find a lifesized cardboard cutout of Harry and Meghan, which took pride of place at the altar. They were the guests of honour! As Puppy Love by Donny Osmond played, we walked Harry and Meghan down the aisle together, Mum beaming happily.
Elaine, who was also dressed up for the occasion, performed a beautiful ceremony.
‘Harry, do you promise to bark, bounce and be a loyal friend to Meghan?’ she asked.
Then she presented him with a biscuit to seal the deal.
The happy couple then tucked into the wedding cake – mashed up kibble with chicken and rice. It was such a special day. Now we’re planning on getting Harry and Meghan together for a play date every anniversary, with Shadow and Isla, too.
As Prince Harry embarks on a life of royal duty as a married man, his canine double is qualifying to become a therapy dog.
He’ll visit people in hospitals, just as the real Harry does. But we know His Royal
Houndness will be the most popular prince in town!
They vowed to bark, bounce, and be loyal