Moments You Missed From The Royal Wedding
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding may be over, but we're still talking about it. And why wouldn't we be? It isn't every day that a member of Britain's royal family is married, and there are plenty of details that we might have missed. With so much going on, it was easy to overlook a few details, and insiders from the after party also let us in on a few secrets afterward! From Oprah's last-minute wardrobe malfunction to Prince William's toast to the newlyweds, here are the details of the royal wedding you probably missed.
Something Borrowed, Something Blue
The newlyweds hopped into a silver-blue Jaguar after their wedding. Meghan changed into a silk Stella McCartney gown for the evening and also added her 'something borrowed, something blue,' did you notice? Meghan stepped out with an aquamarine ring, emerald-cut, on her finger as they headed to the after party.
The ring belonged to Princess Diana, who wore it in October 1996. Prince Harry believed it was important to honor his late mother on his wedding day. He toldBBC that there were thoughtful additions to their special day "to make sure she's with us on this crazy journey together."
Meghan's Veil Held Some Secrets
Meghan Markle's veil also held special meaning on her wedding day. Sources are saying that a blue piece of fabric was secretly sewn into her veil. The fabric was taken from a dress she wore on her first date with Prince Harry.
In order to honor her new role as part of the royal family, Meghan also included 53 embroidered flowers on her viel, representing the Commonwealth countries. Meghan said, " We understand how important this is for us, and the role that we play, and the work that we're going to continue to do in the Commonwealth countries."
Oprah Had To Quickly Change Her Wardrobe
Oprah Winfrey was one of the guests of the royal wedding. You may have seen her pink dress with lace trim and gorgeous hat adorned with flowers. However, that wasn't what the television legend had originally planned on wearing to the wedding. In fact, it was a last-minute rush decision.
Her best friend Gayle King took an interview with CBS This Morning where she revealed that the dress that Oprah had designed for the occasion turned out to be a cream white -- a faux pas when it comes to wedding guests, since it's tradition that only the bride wear white. Fortunately, Stella McCartney quickly sent another dress for her to wear.
Meghan's Dad Was Still On The Program
Leading up to the wedding, there was a lot of debate over whether or not Meghan Markle's father Thomas would walk her down the aisle on her big day. Due to health conditions, he wasn't able to be there in person. Even the couple themselves didn't know who would walk Meghan down the aisle until the last minute.
Because they had originally planned for Meghan's father to be the one to do the honor, he was listed on the royal wedding program. However, Meghan ended up entering St. George's Chapel alone. Prince Charles then met her and walked down the remainder of the aisle.
Prince Harry Said The Sweetest Thing
Meghan walked down the aisle and met Harry at the altar. Harry was seen biting his lip and looking affectionately at his soon-to-be-wife. He adjusted her veil and the couple shared a special moment. While the cameras captured Harry telling Meghan something, it wasn't until later that guests confirmed what he said.
Just moments before their nuptials, Harry told Meghan, "You look amazing. Absolutely gorgeous. I'm so lucky." The 29.2 million people watching the wedding couldn't help but feel the love in this moment.
The Convertible's License Plate Held A Secret
Another detail that many people missed while watching the royal wedding is the license plate on the Jaguar that Meghan and Harry drove off in after they were married. The license plate of the convertible read E190518, the date of their nuptials.
The vanity plate was created especially for their wedding day, and is not a legal plate to drive on public roads. When Prince William and Kate Middleton were married, their license plate read "Just Wed."
The Bouquet Was Special
Of course, every detail of the wedding was thoughtfully planned. The included the bouquet that Meghan carried down the aisle. The flowers included Forget-Me-Nots, which were some of Princess Diana's favorite flowers, so the couple decided to include them.
Other flowers in the bouquet were hand-picked by Prince Harry himself from the Kensington Palace private garden and included sweet peas, lily of the valley, astilbe, jasmine, and astrantia. A sprig of myrtle was also added, representing love.
Jessica Mulroney Was The Unofficial Maid Of Honor
Although Meghan didn't have an official Maid of Honor on her wedding day, there was no argument that her best friend Jessica Mulroney played the role unofficially. Based in Toronto, Jessica works as a wedding stylist and brand consultant. She and Meghan developed a strong friendship while the Duchess filmed Suits in Toronto.
Jessica's son Brian Mulroney played the role of page boy on the big day. The eight year old was missing quite a few teeth, and his gap-toothed reaction to the bride went viral.
Princess Charlotte Pulled A Prince Harry
Even though they're royalty, the kids of the royal family are still kids. And no matter how dressed up they are, they're still going to goof off. Prince William and Kate Middleton's daughter Princess Charlotte was all dressed up, acting as a flower girl at Prince Harry and Meghan's wedding, but that didn't stop her from sticking out her tongue!
Charlotte stuck her tongue out to photographers as the car pulled up to the chapel. Her move was reminiscent of young Prince Harry himself, sticking out his tongue during the Trooping of the Colour ceremony in 1988 while he was held by his mother.
The Archbishop Included Their Given Names
Harry isn't really 'Harry," and Meghan isn't really 'Meghan.' Have we confused you yet? Prince Harry's given name is 'Henry,' while Meghan's is 'Rachel.' During their wedding ceremony, Archbishop of Canterbury first recited the couple's given names.
Later on in the nuptials, however, he switched to 'Harry' and 'Meghan.' Names and titles are very important to the royal family, and this was done to acknowledge both the wishes and expectations of the royal family, as well as the couple's own preference.
They Snuck In A Carriage Kiss
The royal family keeps PDA to a minimum (even on their wedding day!) but the newlyweds couldn't help but sneak in another kiss once they sat in the carriage leaving Windsor Castle. Other than this kiss the couple snuck in, they kissed at the altar and then once after giving their nuptials, outside of Windsor Castle.
The happy couple has pushed the limits a few times regarding PDA. Of course hand-holding doesn't seem very racy to the rest of us, but consider that Prince William and Kate Middleton have only been photographed holding hands about 10 times in the last 10 years!
What Happened At The After Party?
While millions tuned in to watch the royal wedding, sadly for us, the public was kept out of the couple's after-party celebration. Following the wedding, the couple and 200 lucky guests attended the after party, hosted by Prince Charles at the Frogmore House. There, guests had dinner and their custom cocktail, a rum and ginger drink they named "When Harry Met Meghan."
The couple also had their first dance at the party. They chose "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" by Whitney Houston. Guests joined them on the dance floor, including actor George Clooney who was spotted dancing with Meghan and Kate Middleton.
The Ex Factor
While many say it's bad luck (not to mention risky!) to invite your ex's to your wedding, Prince Harry did. The younger brother was known as the rebellious royal in his bachelor days, and had a few relationships that were well-publicized.
His ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy was invited to the wedding, as well as Cressida Bonas. They were two of the 600 people invited to the official wedding ceremony, however, neither of the two ladies were invited to the 200-person after party. TV cameras couldn't help but pan to Chelsy as she watched the wedding and pursed her lips.
The Family's Sense Of Humor Was Present
Once the wedding was over and the cameras turned off, the couple and royal family were able to let loose. Comedian and TV Host James Corden was on the mic at the after party, and kept guests laughing. To kick off the party, he coordinated a dance-off competition between Prince Harry, Prince Charles, and Prince William.
Prince William reportedly gave a very funny toast to the new couple, which included some playful, naughty jokes. Prince Harry jokingly told the guests as they were leaving, "Please, when you leave, be quiet as you don't want to wake the neighbours."
Sir Elton John Sang At The After Party
During her life, Princess Diana and Elton John were good friends. Since her passing, Elton John has remained a close friend of the royal family, has been knighted, and often attends official events. He attended the royal wedding as a guest and also performed at their more intimate after party.
At Frogmore House, Elton John sang "The Circle of Life," "Tiny Dancer," "I'm Still Standing," and "Your Song." He showed his support for Prince Harry in a way that would make Princess Diana proud, also posting to Twitter, "Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination, full of hope."
Guests Made An Outfit Change To Glam Up
After the wedding reception, 200 selected guests headed to Frogmore House for the after party. Unlike other weddings, however, they didn't just hop over to the party. Many stopped by their resorts to slip into a more glamorous outfit to end out the night.
After party guests included Serena Williams, Dana Supnick, and Meghan's cast members from Suits. While the ceremony itself was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, there's no doubt that the 400 guests who weren't invited to the after party felt like they were missing out!
Prince William And Kate Middleton Could Relax
The majority of the time, it's Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their little ones in the spotlight. The couple married in 2011 and have since had three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. All of these life events have spurred great attention from the media, with all eyes on them. But for once, it wasn't about them.
Reports say that Prince Harry and Meghan's wedding was timed so that the Duchess of Cambridge could give birth to her third child and have some time to recover before the big day. But once the day came, it was Prince Harry and Meghan in the spotlight. A wedding guest said, "William was in a jokey, wonderful mood at the party. He must have been relieved that it wasn't all about him."
Harry Loved Meghan's Makeup On The Big Day
We've already revealed what Prince Harry told Meghan when he first saw her on his wedding day. So what else was he thinking? After the wedding, Harry approached Meghan's makeup artist. Daniel Martin, a longtime friend of Meghan and Dior Beauty brand ambassador, flew in to do her look on the big day.
Daniel told People, "After the ceremony Harry kept saying thank you. He was thanking me for making her look like herself. At the end of the day, you want to look like your best self."
Meghan's Mother Doria Ragland Sat Alone
As the guests took their seats and the ceremony began, people couldn't help but notice that Doria Ragland, Meghan Markle's mother, sat alone at the pew. Wearing a pastel green Oscar de la Renta dress and coat, the mother of the bride attended the wedding alone, as she and Meghan's father have been divorced since 1987.
Twitter user Vina St. Fran posted, "Beautifully dressed Doria sitting alone in such a beautiful historical moment shows strength, and grace that must be an inspiration to Meghan."
People Were Paying Attention To Pippa
Since her big sister married Prince William, Pippa Middleton has received some fame herself. The English socialite and author married her husband James Matthews in 2017 and the media has been scrutinizing her outfits ever since, looking for a baby bump.
Pippa appeared at the royal wedding in May 2018 wearing a light blue dress with a floral print. People were either busy speculating that she was expecting a baby, or comparing her dress to the Arizona iced tea can. The following month, Pippa and James announced they were expecting their first child.
