2018 May 20
Unless you’re living under a rock, you most definitely know about the Royal Wedding which took place yesterday between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. First things first, due credit to Meghan Markle and the comparative simplicity and realness of the wedding! As far as royal weddings (and royal couples) go, this one was a winner. One major factor was the unexpected fusing of both American and British customs, not forgetting Bishop Curry, whose speech about love will certainly go down in history!
Whether you love royal weddings or have a fierce hatred towards the entire monarchy, one thing’s for certain: your news feed has been filled with details upon details of the fabulous ceremony. So why not indulge in it a little bit?
Here are 7 things you might not have known about the royal wedding below!
1. Prince Harry chose to wear a ring
To the untrained viewer, this may not seem out of the ordinary in any way. However, male royals have a history of not wearing wedding bands at all. Prince Harry broke tradition, when he decided to wear a ring, unlike his brother and father both, neither of whom wear a wedding ring. The couple’s rings were crafted by Cleave and Company. Markle’s ring was fashioned from a piece of Welsh Gold, gifted to her by the Queen, while Harry’s ring was a mere platinum band with a textured finish.
2. This License plate
Here’s a small yet thoughtful detail you may have missed! The license plate of the car in which the newlywed couple drove off in for their reception carries the date of their wedding! Thereby, referring to May 19, 2018.
3. They broke tradition even with the cake!
Traditionally, royal wedding cakes are both tiered and fruit cakes. The rebellious couple decided to do something different this time, and even the cake was a huge reveal! The centerpiece was split into three pieces and each rested upon a gold throne. The cake was designed by Claire Ptak, and featured Amalfi lemon curd, elderflower buttercream, and elderflower syrup, made at The Queen’s residence in Sandringham from the estate’s own elderflower trees, as well as a light sponge cake uniquely formulated for the couple.
4. Both of Meghan’s dresses were by female designers
Although crowds had mixed opinions on her first dress, it is undeniable that both dresses were gorgeous and Markle was absolutely stunning! What you may not know is that both gowns were designed by renowned female designers! The first gown was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the first female artistic director at Givenchy, and the second was made by Stella McCartney. Whether her choice of female designers was intentional or not, it’s certainly feminist as ever.
5. Gifts
The Kensington Palace tweeted that the couple specifically didn’t want gifts, and had instead chosen a list of 7 charities for their guests and well-wishers to donate to. These included StreetGames, The Myna Mahila Foundation in India, Surfers Against Sewage, The Wilderness Foundation UK, Crisis, The Children’s HIV Association, and Scotty’s Little Soldiers.
6. Meghan’s something blue was from Diana
If you take a close look, the emerald-cut aqua blue super-gem that Markle is sporting is the exact same ring that Princess Diana was photographed wearing several times in the ’90s. A lovely and fitting tribute indeed.
7. Meghan’s veil was layered with symbolism
Other than her sparkling tiara, it’s undeniable that what stood out from her show-stopping outfit to the ceremony was her long and delicate veil. While it was highly entertaining to watch the little page boys carrying it and continuously adjusting it, this veil was also layered in symbolism. The 16-foot-long headpiece designed by Givenchy’s Claire Waight had embroidered flowers — “the distinctive flora of each Commonwealth country united in one spectacular floral composition,” according to Kensington Palace, from each of the 53 countries in the Commonwealth, which she wanted to accompany her throughout the ceremony.
So there you have it, you now know everything there is to know about the wedding of the year! From simple things, such as the cake, to the incorporation of Black American customs right in Windsor Castle, the happy couple has definitely brought the royal family headfirst into the 21st century!
