Three years ago, many royal fans were glued to their screens watching quite the anticipated royal wedding of 2018. On 19th May 2018, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle said ‘I do’ in front of, well, millions of people!
The magnificent day
The couple tied the knot at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle followed by a reception hosted by Queen Elizabeth. That day, they became the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Meghan Markle wore a stunning gown spectacularly designed by her friend, Claire Waight Keller, artistic director at French fashion house Givenchy, and featured a veil with the flowers of the Commonwealth countries. Her look was completed with the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau tiara from the Queen’s collection. On the day, as Meghan arrived at the altar by Harry’s side, the prince reportedly said “Are you OK? You look amazing.” Excuse us, while we dab away our happy tears.
Two days after their magical day, the royal couple released beautiful photos alongside the royal family amd the many children that were part of the wedding, including their niece and nephew Prince George and Princess Charlotte. A third black-and-white photo of the couple sitting on stairs outdoors was also released.
Just before their first anniversary, the couple welcomed their first child together on 6th May, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.
Royal exit
The couple made headlines at the start of 2020 when they announced they’ll be stepping down as senior members of the royal family. “I can only imagine what you may have heard or perhaps read over the past few weeks. So, I want you to hear the truth from me, as much as I can share, not as a prince, or a duke, but as Harry – the same person that many of you have watched grow up over the last 35 years but now with a clearer perspective,” Prince Harry shared at a charity dinner.
“The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back, is not one I made lightly. It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges. And I know I haven’t always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option. What I want to make clear is we’re not walking away, and we certainly aren’t walking away from you.”
“I will always have the utmost respect for my grandmother, my commander in chief, and I am incredibly grateful to her and the rest of my family, for the support they have shown Meghan and I over the last few months. I will continue to be the same man who holds his country dear and dedicates his life to supporting the causes, charities and military communities that are so important to me. Together, you have given me an education about living. And this role has taught me more about what is right and just than I could have ever imagined. We are taking a leap of faith – thank you for giving me the courage to take this next step.”
Tell-all interview
In March 2021, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sat down with the legendary TV host and friend, Oprah Winfrey for a tell-all interview where they revealed what actually lead to the couple stepping down from royal life and moving to the US.
“I’m just really relieved and happy to be sitting here, talking to you, with my wife by my side,” Prince Harry shared during the emotional interview, during which certain things were revealed about the Firm. “Because I can’t begin to imagine what it must have been like for her going through this process by herself all those years ago because it has been unbelievably tough for the two of us but at least we had each other,” he said, referring to his mother, Lady Di.
Among the things they shared, they also revealed that their big day wasn’t actually their big day! Meghan revealed that they tied the knot three days before their public wedding on 19th May 2018. “Three days before our wedding, we got married. No one knows that but we called the [Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby] and we just said, ‘Look, this thing, this spectacle is for the world, but we want our union between us,” Meghan said. “The vows that we have framed in our room are just the two of us in our backyard with the Archbishop of Canterbury. Just the three of us.”
During the interview, they also revealed that they’re expecting a baby girl in the summertime. They had announced the pregnancy news on Valentine’s Day which was a little nod to Prince Harry’s mother, Lady Di, who had also announced her pregnancy with Harry on Valentine’s Day. “To have a child, any one or two would be amazing. But to have a boy and then a girl, what more could you ask for? We have our family, we got the four of us and our dogs,” Harry said in the interview.