It has been nearly seven years since the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s big day, and now there’s officially another royal wedding on the horizon: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are engaged!
The prince and the Suits star confirmed the news via Twitter on Monday, revealing that they became engaged earlier this month.
There are many who will hope for the same kind of pomp and pageantry that we saw back in April 2011 when Harry and Meghan tie the knot, but we have a feeling it might not quite pan out that way for the royal and his future bride.
What We Will See
Meghan in a beautiful dress and Harry in his military uniform. When speaking of her Suits alter-ego Rachel’s onscreen wedding dress, Meghan revealed, “I personally prefer wedding dresses that are whimsical or subtly romantic. Delphine Manivet and Christos Costarellos are faves of mine for their uniqueness and beauty. And I will always be a fan of Elie Saab. J. Mendel is spectacular as well, especially for more structural designs. ” Meanwhile, male members of the royal family who have served in the military usually wear uniforms when they get married. Harry was in the forces for 10 years and it is a big part of who he is, so he’s likely to wear one.
The wedding will take place in a grand, old venue with a royal connection. The most likely options open to Harry would be Westminster Abbey (which is where the queen, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and William and Kate all got married), St. Paul’s Cathedral (where his parents were married), and St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle (which was the setting for the weddings of Prince Edward, Charles and Camilla, and Harry’s cousin Peter Phillips). There might also be an outside chance that he could marry in Scotland, like Princess Anne (who chose Crathie Kirk in the grounds of the queen’s Highlands home Balmoral) or Zara Tindall (who went for Canongate Kirk in the grounds of the queen’s Edinburgh property, the Palace of Holyrood House). If Harry marries in London, we’re sure to see a carriage procession and a kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, but if he chooses St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle or elsewhere, then there will be no public smooch.
There will be lots of pictures. Harry is one of the most popular members of the royal family, and there will be a lot of goodwill toward him and his bride. His team at Kensington Palace will be aware of this, and will ensure that we will all get to share in the big day with him. In this way, we’re more likely to see the wedding televised, too. It’s not a given, since Harry is unlikely to ever be king and will probably want to keep the wedding as low-key as possible, but in light of his popularity, it is more likely.
Major involvement from William, Kate, George, and Charlotte. Family is everything to Harry, and as he was best man for William when he married, he will want his big brother to be there for him when he does. George and Charlotte will be guaranteed page boy and bridesmaid, and Kate will be on hand with plenty of advice for Meghan.
Some big names on the guest list. Harry has forged a close relationship with the Obamas, so they would be likely to get an invite, and Meghan has close ties with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie. Meanwhile, Meghan is also besties with Serena Williams, and Harry is tight with David Beckham.
What We Won’t See
A huge occasion with the gravitas and epic scale of William and Kate’s big day. William will be king one day and his wedding needed to reflect that, while Harry will be sixth in line to the throne once his new niece or nephew is born. If Harry can get away with having a less formal, more relaxed wedding day than his brother’s, then that’s what he will have.
An overseas wedding. Harry would probably love to marry overseas like his best friend, Guy Pelly, who tied the knot in Memphis, and Tom Inskip, who walked down the aisle in Jamaica, but since Harry is a key member of the royal family, and will be for many years, he will be expected to marry on British soil.
A national holiday. For William and Kate’s big day, the government declared a day’s holiday, as was fitting for a future king. However, Harry is becoming increasingly less likely to take to the throne with every child born to William and Kate, so the family will be mindful of that and are likely to want Harry to have a wedding day that is as informal as he would like it.
