The world rejoiced when commoner Meghan Markle walked down the aisle of St. George’s Chapel with Prince Harry waiting at the altar. The context is taken straight out of a fairytale book, a prince marrying a girl not of royal blood. But the Sussex’s wedding speaks more than fairytales — it’s of history and hope.
When Prince Harry and Meghan wed last year, 50 million eyes were glued on their television screens, and the figures were from the United States alone. The numbers surpassed Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding in 2011, with 23 million viewers. Meghan’s career as an actress may have contributed to the popularity of their wedding.
But the Sussex’s wedding went beyond glamor and traditions conventional of a royal setting. Many applauded Prince Harry for defying the established customs of royal weddings. Being sixth in line to the British throne, he has more freedom to make decisions compared to his older brother, Prince William, who is second in line to the throne.
What makes Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding important and buzz worthy? The union of Prince Harry and Meghan opened a new era for the royal family and their customs. Listed below are the reasons why the Sussex’s wedding is different from the rest of the royal weddings.
(Read “10 Ways Prince Harry And Meghan Markle’s Wedding Changed Royal History Part 1” here.)
6. A lot of celebrities attended the wedding
Given Meghan’s line of work and circle of people, plus Prince Harry’s connection to celebrity A-listers like Rihanna, people were no longer surprised at the presence of celebrities on their wedding. The surprise came with how many celebrities attended. Traditionally, royal weddings are filled with international dignitaries, politicians and foreign royal families. Noticeably, though, the celebrities’ presence overshadowed the other VIPs.
Celebrities who were spotted in the wedding included “Suits” lead star Patrick J. Adams and Troian Bellisario, power couple David and Victoria Beckham, “Suits” co-stars Gina Lopez and Abigail Spencer, and Charlotte Riley and Tom Hardy. Meghan’s close friends, Priyanka Chopra and Serena Williams, were also present.
Other celebrity A-listers who were seen were George and Amal Clooney, Oprah Winfrey and Elton John.
7. The royal couple broke the royal tradition on royal wedding cakes
For centuries, the royal family and guests indulged in alcohol-soaked dried fruits and moist texture tiered into different levels. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex boldly disregarded the practice and opted for a non-tiered elderflower and lemon sponge royal cake with butterscotch icing and ornamental fresh peonies and roses.
On top of the non-traditional cake choice, the couple went for a small baker rather than a high-profile baker. Prince Harry and Meghan picked American pastry chef Claire Ptak, an independent owner of Violet Bakery hidden in the city of London.
8. Prince Harry wore a wedding ring
It is a common practice among the men of royal family and the British aristocrats to refrain from wearing a wedding ring after the wedding. Prior to the royal couple’s wedding, Kensington Palace announced that Prince Harry and Meghan will both have their wedding rings. But this is not a big deal as Prince Charles is wearing one for his marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles.
The explanation for this royal custom is a personal reference. Prince William is not wearing one since the Duke is not a fan of jewelry. Some men from the royal family are not keen on wearing rings and therefore skipped wearing the wedding bands. In addition, wedding rings are more of an American tradition than a British one.
9. The wedding day fell on a weekend
When Prince Charles married Princess Diana, the date fell on a weekday, and so Kensington Palace announced a bank holiday. The same goes with Prince William and Kate’s wedding day. But Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding date fell on a weekend, and so announcement of a bank holiday was not needed.
A source, however, revealed that a bank holiday is not always necessary, especially for royals distant from the line of succession of the British throne. It has always been about personal preference. For instance, bank holidays were not announced on the weddings of Prince Andrew in 1986 and Prince Edward in 1999.
10. Both Prince Harry and Meghan’s families are dysfunctional
Months leading up to Meghan’s walk to the aisle, sister Samantha Markle called out Meghan for abandoning his father, Thomas Markle, in difficult times. It was soon followed by Thomas Markle Jr., who wrote a letter to Harry not to marry Meghan. The drama continued even after the wedding with Thomas Markle accusing her daughter of abandoning her.
Contrary to common belief, Meghan’s family turning against her had helped the Duchess cement her relationship with the royal family, as opposed to keeping the royal family away. The family drama helped win over Prince Harry’s family because the royal family could relate to Meghan.
The world knows about the scandals and controversies that the British royal family members were involved in. From the failed marriages to the racism scandal in 2018, the public has acknowledged these human imprecations and embraced them with open arms. The royal family has done the same with Meghan and the family drama surrounding her.
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