The Australian Women's Weekly June 2018

We’ve been waiting for this wedding for a long time, but it was certainly worth it. To see Prince Harry, the most popular of the young royals, bursting with happiness on what must surely be the best day of his life to date was totally mesmerising. Protocols were pushed aside as each and every part of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding said something new and special about this very modern multicultural couple. The royal town of Windsor went into lockdown and meltdown with 120,000 descending; arriving by train, car, boat and plane. Many chose to sleep out overnight in a chilly six degrees to nail prime positions along the carriage route. As the sun came up and shone brightly throughout, the crowds swelled and every corner of the town…

“She chooses me and I choose her ... whatever we have to tackle will be us together as a team.” – Prince Harry…

In their engagement interview, Prince Harry said he really missed having his mother around to share in his happiness. But Meghan Markle reassured her fiancé, “she’s with us”. And so it was that the first thing to greet Prince Harry as he walked up the West Steps to enter St George’s Chapel was a beautiful white floral tribute arch to his mother Diana, Princess of Wales. The floral theme of lush green foliage and white peonies (Meghan’s favourite flower), coupled with white garden roses (Diana’s favourite) and a medley of additional white blooms all gathered from Savill Garden in nearby Windsor Great Park by florist Philippa Craddock was continued inside the chapel. Prince Harry and Prince William arrived first, Harry looking nervous and incredibly dashing; William, calm and smiling, supporting…

The theme of love conquering all prevailed and the whole ceremony was sealed with a kiss. There were sunshine and smiles on the steps of St George’s Chapel as four of the bride and groom’s dearest friends – the Duchess of Cambridge, Jessica Mulroney, Alice van Cutsem and Benita Litt – led six tiny bridesmaids and two pageboys towards the great floral arch that formed the threshold to the chapel, where they waited for the bride and two more pageboys to arrive. The 10-member bridal party was composed entirely of the children of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s dearest friends. Many were the couple’s godchildren. Princess Charlotte was all smiles and waves as she climbed the stairs and later even treated the crowd to a little dance move. Prince…

Prince George (four); Princess Charlotte (three); Brian and John Mulroney (seven), twin sons of Jessica Mulroney, who has been a confidante of the couple and is Meghan’s stylist; Ivy Mulroney (four), Brian and John’s little sister, who calls the Duchess “Aunty Meg”; Jasper Dyer (six), whose father Mark mentored Harry after his mother’s death and accompanied him on his first trip to Australia. Remi Litt (six) and Rylan Litt (seven), Meghan’s godchildren and the daughters of her good friends Benita and Darren Litt. Florence van Cutsem (three), Prince Harry’s goddaughter and the daughter of his friends Nicholas and Alice van Cutsem; Zalie Warren (two), the daughter of Harry’s good friends Jake and Zoe Warren.…

Talk-show queen Oprah Winfrey was among the first to arrive at St George’s Chapel for the wedding, later gushing it was an “extraordinary day”. She was followed by the Hollywood contingent: George Clooney and his wife, Amal, who glowed in a canary-yellow Stella McCartney dress, and British actor Idris Elba with fiancée Sabrina Dhowre on his arm. Victoria Beckham was restrained in demure navy. “So proud to be British,” she said, and thanked the couple for including her and husband David. Actress Carey Mulligan and Serena Williams also enjoyed the occasion. The most coveted invitation Guests wore bright colours in the spirit of celebration. Royals in their finery Shades of blue and teal were popular choices among the royal relatives.…