Everything you need to know about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s royal wedding
IT’S the most anticipated event of 2018 — the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Here’s what to expect from the big day.
IT WILL be a quick engagement for Prince Harry and American actor Meghan Markle.
The couple announced their plan to wed in November and will walk down the aisle in May 2018.
Here’s what we know about the much-anticipated upcoming royal wedding.
WHEN IS THE WEDDING?
Prince Harry — formally known as Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales — will marry Markle on May 19, Kensington Palace announced.
The date is a Saturday — unusual, as most British royal weddings take place on a weekday, according to the Associated Press.
WHERE IS THE WEDDING?
The wedding will take place at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
The venue holds a central place in the history of the royal family. Windsor Castle, west of London, is one of Queen Elizabeth II’s main residences. The 15th century chapel is as historic but more intimate than Westminster Abbey, where Prince William married Kate Middleton in 2011. The queen is also very involved in the College of St George, according to its website.
When the engagement was announced, the palace said the wedding will “reflect [the couple’s] characters and personalities” and be a moment of “fun and joy”.
WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN BEFORE THE WEDDING?
The pair have already taken their engagement photos and shared some with the public.
Markle will be baptised and confirmed in the Church of England before the wedding, said a Kensington Palace spokesman. She’s also undergoing the process of becoming a British citizen, the spokesman said.
WHO IS EXPECTED TO ATTEND THE EVENT?
Harry’s grandmother Queen Elizabeth II and other royals are expected to attend the wedding, along with Markle’s parents, Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT MARKLE’S ENGAGEMENT RING?
Prince Harry designed the custom engagement ring he gave to his fiancee — and it includes some special sentiments.
The centre stone is from Botswana, where the two visited in August. But the two stones that flank the centre jewel honour Prince Harry’s mother as they’re from Princess Diana’s collection.
The ring was made by court jewellers Cleave & Company, according to Town & Country magazine.
IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIAL OR UNUSUAL ABOUT THE WEDDING DATE?
There could be a newborn at the wedding.
Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William are expecting their third child shortly before the wedding. Kensington Palace announced in October that Middleton’s due date is in April.
What’s more, the timing of the wedding could also have to do with Prince Harry’s ageing grandfather, Prince Philip.
Royal expert Kate Nicholl told Entertainment Tonight that the prince’s close bond with his grandfather is behind the timing and venue of the wedding.
“In fact, one of the reasons that Prince Harry has wanted this wedding to happen quite quickly — this is really whirlwind by royal standards — is because his 96-year-old grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, is retired now and Prince Harry really wants him to be at his wedding,” Nicholl said. “He’s incredibly close to his grandfather and, being 96, Harry thought it was it was a great thing to [have] the wedding sooner rather than later, so his grandfather could be there, fit and healthy.”
And another fact about the wedding date that is perhaps a little less romantic: May 19 is also the date that Anne Boleyn, the former queen of England, was executed as ordered by her husband, King Henry VIII in 1536.
May 19 is also the FA Cup final, one of the biggest English sports events of the year, the Associated Press reported. It could be an issue for Prince William, Harry’s older brother, who is president of the Football Association and presented the trophy to the winner in 2017.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This story originally appeared in Fox News and is republished here with permission.
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