Major wedding updates to take us into the weekend!
Some big questions about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding were answered this morning at a press briefing. Here’s the key point though: there will be no Maid of Honour. Meghan will be accompanied by her mother, Doria Ragland, to Windsor Castle by car that morning. Upon arrival at St George’s Chapel, her father, Thomas Markle, will walk her down the aisle.
The palace confirmed that Meghan’s parents will arrive in the UK a few days before the wedding “allowing time for Prince Harry's family, including The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, to spend time with them before the big day”. Remember when, earlier this week, one of Meghan Markle’s rogue relatives claimed that her father wasn’t invited? Is the rogue relative right about anything?
During the Q&A that followed the press briefing, Prince Harry’s representatives were specifically asked about the Maid of Honour. The response was that Meghan did not want to choose between her friends. And it’s also a sweet way to involve her ma on the occasion. In the days to come, the palace will reveal where Meghan will be staying the night before. Media will be allowed to cover her and her ma leaving the accommodation the morning of the wedding. Doria will be dropped off at the castle to head into the chapel and Meghan will then be joined by the bridesmaids and page boys before going inside. The palace will announce who the bridesmaids and page boys are in the week leading up to the wedding.
On Harry’s side, as we already know, Prince William will be his Best Man. The palace said today that they will most likely arrive at St George’s Chapel by foot. Which probably means they’re staying at Windsor Castle overnight? Also, it’s confirmed that “all three siblings of Diana, Princess of Wales will be in attendance and Lady Jane Fellowes will give the reading”. So the Spencers will be represented.
As for the timing, guests will arrive between 930am – 11am local time…by coach! The Royal Family will then get there around 11:20am, some on foot and some by car. (Please double check OfMichael’s credentials.) Meghan and her ma will leave from her accommodation around the same time. The service will begin at noon and it’ll take an hour. After that, Harry and Meghan will take photos with the 200 representatives of Harry’s charities before being sent off in the carriage for the procession which is expected to take about 25 minutes. I covered Will and Kate’s wedding in 2011 and they were practically to the minute on timing. The royals operate by military precision. I’m excited to see this procession. In the press release they mention that Windsor town centre will be decorated with bunting and banners. It’s going to be like a Jane Austen wedding.
After the procession, there’s lunch hosted by the Queen and then Harry and Meghan will be photographed again as they leave Windsor Castle for the party at Frogmore House. That’ll be when we see the second outfit.
That’s the final mystery then: the dress.
