MAY 18: THE LATEST BUZZ IS NOW IN LIVE COVERAGE MODE
(most recent content will appear at top of the page, times are EDT)
THE LATEST BUZZ UPDATES ARE NOW PART OF OUR LIVE BLOG HERE
1:00 PM – Harry and William are doing a walkabout.
Prince Harry and the Duke of Cambridge meeting well-wishers outside Windsor Castle #royalwedding @BBCNews pic.twitter.com/ZLba42YG1O
— Noel Phillips (@Noel_Phillips) May 18, 2018
12:10 PM – Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who will officiate at tomorrow’s wedding, and Bishop Michael Curry of Chicago, who will deliver the sermon.
With my brother @PB_Curry in Windsor getting ready for the #RoyalWedding tomorrow! We are praying God’s blessing on the couple and all involved. pic.twitter.com/j48oHn5LmN
— Archbishop of Canterbury (@JustinWelby) May 18, 2018
10:45 AM EDT – Victoria Howard of the Crown Chronicles shared this photo of flowers arriving at Windsor Castle, noting there were roses, peonies and foxglove.
10:00 AM EDT – Meghan and Harry have arrived at Windsor Castle.
9:30 AM EDT – Meghan and Harry are on the way to Windsor for final rehearsals and tea with HM, the Duke of Edinburgh, and Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland.
Waving goodbye to single life! #HarryandMeghan today #RoyalWedding https://t.co/sjPoMKrXkf life! #harryandmeghantoday #royalwedding
— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) May 18, 2018
9:00 AM EDT – Kensington Palace announced this morning that Prince Charles will be walking Meghan down the aisle tomorrow. Here is the official statement from KP.
9:00 AM EDT – The Royal Family released a video showing the carriage route Meghan and Harry will take tomorrow.
MAY 17:
- The Mirror reports Meghan and Harry “have left Windsor Castle after their wedding rehearsal.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have left Windsor Castle after their wedding rehearsal #RoyalWedding2018 https://t.co/C3QBzupcyA pic.twitter.com/E5putAUhg1
— Mirror Royal (@MirrorRoyal) May 17, 2018
- Meghan & Harry, Kate & William, and the Queen are now at Windsor as tweeted by Emily Nash of Hello!
- This afternoon Meghan and Harry left Kensington Palace along with William and Kate, and drove to Windsor. The couple could be seen smiling in the back seat of their Range Rover.
Meghan may have just given a big hint about her wedding day outfit https://t.co/Qw4GEXJInr #royalwedding pic.twitter.com/Nf51QSRyAx
— Mirror Fashion (@MirrorFashion) May 17, 2018
- Official wedding photographer Alexi Lubomirksi has arrived; he tweeted that he landed in the UK.
- There were full-scale military rehearsals in Windsor today.
The #rehearsal just started ??❤?? and we are so lucky to be able to watch it from our office window! ? #PrimeLocation #RoyalWedding pic.twitter.com/5xqmDrmk1k
— Castle Hill House (@inigowindsor) May 17, 2018
- Meghan has released a statement about her father through the Palace press office.
MAY 16:
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- Kensington Palace has released the list of bridesmaids and pageboys for Saturday’s wedding. The Palace also said “Details about the Bridesmaids’ dresses and the Page Boys’ uniforms will be made available on the wedding day.”
- Here are the bridesmaids:
- Princess Charlotte (age 3)
- Florence van Cutsem (age 3); Harry’s goddaughter, daughter of Mrs. Alice van Cutsem and Major Nicholas van Cutsem
- Remi Litt (age 6); Meghan’s goddaughter, daughter of Mrs. Benita Litt and Mr. Darren Litt
- Rylan Litt (age 7); Meghan’s goddaughter, daughter of Mrs. Benita Litt and Mr. Darren Litt
- Ivy Mulroney (age 4): daughter of Jessica and Benedict Mulroney
- Zalie Warren (age 2); Harry’s goddaughter, daughter of Zoe and Jake Warren
- And now the page boys:
- Prince George (age 4)
- Jasper Dyer (age 6) Prince Harry’s godson, son of Amanda Dyer and Mark Dyer M.V.O. Mr. Dyer is a former Welsh Guards officer who was a mentor to Harry after the death of his mother; he continues to play a role in Harry’s life.
- Twins Brian & John Mulroney (age 7); sons of Jessica and Benedict Mulroney, grandsons of Brian Mulroney, Canada’s Prime Minister from 1984 – 1993.
- Here are the bridesmaids:
- Kensington Palace has released the list of bridesmaids and pageboys for Saturday’s wedding. The Palace also said “Details about the Bridesmaids’ dresses and the Page Boys’ uniforms will be made available on the wedding day.”
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We have photos of some of the children; below, Prince George & Charlotte at Pippa Middleton’s wedding.Below left you see Jessica Mulroney with daughter Ivy and sons Brian and John. On the right the Litt family, including bridesmaids Remi and Rylan. (Our thanks to People for posting the Instagram pix.)
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Guests and friends of the bride/groom are arriving ahead of Saturday’s wedding. Below, a Tweet from The Sun shows the Mulroneys at Heathrow airport today.
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PICTURED: Meghan Markle’s best pal and stylist Jessica Mulroney
arrives at Heathrow https://t.co/yqofifjO3k pic.twitter.com/Rm7uuXNmFV
— The Sun (@TheSun) May 16, 2018
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Also arriving at Heathrow today, Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland. There has been quite a bit of chatter about the Burberry garment bag Ms. Ragland is carrying.
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Meghan Markle’s mum gets VIP treatment as she arrives in London https://t.co/gA4juYymAe
— The Sun (@TheSun) May 16, 2018
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- There is a new feature about 16 royal wedding dresses on the Royal Family website.
- The Washington Post takes a look at The Making of Meghan Markle. From the column:
She is both the heroine of a fairy tale come true — American meets prince! — and a spark for a debate about the role of race in society. And it is that topic, those who know Markle say, that is far more central to the story she would tell about her own life.
- The BBC has a nifty piece titled How to Dress Harry? on its Instagram feed. The story offers a look inside the factory where Prince William’s uniform was made for his wedding, as well as insight from the tailors who made the uniform.
MAY 15:
- UPDATE 6:15 pm EDT: The latest news regarding the presence of Meghan’s father at the couple’s wedding comes via TMZ. Apparently Mr. Markle has told TMZ that he is having heart surgery tomorrow and will be unable to go to Windsor for the wedding.
- Updating the situation with Meghan’s father, apparently he does want to be part of Saturday’s events, according to this story published by TMZ.
- Maclean’s has an interesting graphic showing viewership for previous royal weddings with a whopping estimate for Meghan and Harry’s nuptials.
- Canada’s Maclean’s magazine has put to gether an outstanding piece called How to watch the royal wedding of Prince Harry & Meghan Markle
- Claire Ptak, owner of Violet Cakes London, shared a photo on Instagram of some of the lemons that will be used in making the lemon elderflower cake for Saturday’s reception. The photo is captioned “And so it begins.”
MAY 14:
- We have a new post up with the latest information on Meghan’s father, as well as oodles of other updates.
- As many of you may have heard, it appears Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle, will not be coming to the wedding or walking Meghan down the aisle. We’ll have more in today’s post. Until then, from The Telegraph’s coverage:
Thomas Markle, 73, said he would no longer be attending his daughter’s wedding to Prince Harry on Saturday, where he was supposed to be taking a starring role to support her.
Mr Markle told American website TMZ that he had suffered a heart attack six days ago, but had checked himself out of hospital and had been intending to fly to Britain.
- Kensington Palace has announced Meghan and Harry’s first official engagement as a married couple: next Tuesday (the 22nd) they will attend the Prince of Wales’ 70th birthday patronage celebration in the gardens of Buckingham Palace.
- How Meghan Markle Will Use Her Royal Voice is an interesting piece from Max Foster of CNN that I think you will enjoy.
Wherever I am in the world and I speak to a member of the public after they have met a royal, their most common response is: “They’re so normal!” As if they aren’t real until you actually come face-to-face with one.That’s why Markle is such a star. She was normal and now she isn’t. She’s part of the fantasy. If you look into her trolls online many just come across as jealous.
- The Royal Mail has created a commemorative set of stamps featuring two of Meghan and Harry’s engagement photos. The stamps go on sale tomorrow (Tuesday, May 15). They are available in a mix of quantities and presentations; some also come packaged in tandem with the Royal Wedding Uncirculated Coin Cover.
- Kensington Palace has published a new feature on the Royal Wedding site; it gives reader a look inside the kitchens at Windsor Castle. Below you see Head Chef Mark Flanagan. (Note: these photos do not show food being prepared for Saturday’s wedding reception; they are background/atmosphere shots.)
MAY 13:
- Meghan and Harry may be making a trip to The Netherlands in addition to the expected tour of Australia and New Zealand or the Pacific Islands tied to the Sydney Invictus Games in October. That info comes via this story in The Telegraph from Hannah Furness:
Later this year, they are expected to make their first visit to the Netherlands, with as-yet-unconfirmed proposals for a trip to Dublin too.
A trip to the Netherlands, currently under discussion, would likely see the couple meet King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima and their family, as well as visit key sights and charities reflecting causes including conservation, mental health and the Dutch Invictus Games team.
- You can read about the menu for the wedding reception in this Daily Mirror story, as well as this Daily Mail article.
- The NY Times has a strong piece titled What Meghan Markle Means to Black Britons
- Roya Nikkhah of The Times notes that some of Meghan’s Suits costars are arriving in London.
Seems @Suits_USA star & Meghan Markle’s pal @GabrielMacht has already landed, with this sweet picture of his wife @JacindaBarrett and daughter at Buckingham Palace, a dress rehearsal for a Royal knees up on Saturday with #princeharry & #MeganMarkle at the #royalwedding pic.twitter.com/UcG3YoYD0b
— Roya Nikkhah (@RoyaNikkhah) May 13, 2018
- The Telegraph looks at the “No Ring, No Bring” challenge facing the wedding planners and guests, a dilemma many of us have encountered when managing invitations for an event with limited seating. From the story by Hannah Furness:
“When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wed on Saturday, millions will watch on their televisions at home. A lucky few will have an exclusive invite to the chapel, while others may gather to watch an outdoor screen at a public party.A select handful will have a rather different experience: watching from their iPads in a farm shop carpark.
- We have a new post up covering several items, including news about the first female State Trumpeter taking part in the wedding.
MAY 12:
- Buckingham Palace released images of the official Instrument of Consent, “the hand-written document which records Her Majesty The Queen’s consent to the marriage of Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle.” For the full news release (with great details) visit the Majesty Magazine page on FB.
- Kensington Palace announced this morning that the Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry of Chicago will deliver the sermon at next Saturday’s wedding. He will join The Dean of Windsor, The Rt. Revd. David Conner, who will conduct the Service. The Most Revd. and Rt. Hon. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, will officiate as the couple make their marriage vows.
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- Jezebel offers Don’t Even Try to Escape the Media’s Royal Wedding Feeding Frenzy, which is much as the title sounds and a piece I very much enjoyed.
- This piece is just as described in the title: The Rules of What You Can and Can’t Wear to a Royal Wedding from Us Weekly
- The Royal Family website has a nice story on Royal Family Wedding Traditions. Some of the traditions covered: the wedding rings made of Welsh gold, the sprig of myrtle, and the practice of the bride’s bouquet being left at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
MAY 11:
- It’s Tiara Thursday over at The Royal Order of Splendor; you can guess know what that means: discussion of Meghan, the wedding, and most importantly, some serious tiara talk, oh my! Here is a graphic ROS put together showing the more likely candidates available to Meghan. The post is titled Tiara Thursday: Place Your Meghan Tiara Bets and I think you will enjoy it.
- The Royal Wedding Visitor Guide from the Royal Borough Of Windsor/Maidenhead has been released. It’s a 17-page PDF filled with info and tips for those planning to be in Windsor for the big day, or those just interested in reading about the event.
- Richard Palmer of The Express makes a good point about the way Harry is referenced in the Court Circular.
- The Royal Family Instagram has a quick rundown of previous royal weddings at Windsor.
MAY 10: We have loads of stories to share from the last 24 hours.
- UPDATE MAY 11: Rebecca English of The Daily Mail reports Meghan’s mother is not yet in London. Kensington Palace confirmed this information to The Express.
Omid Scobie reports that Doria Ragland, Meghan’s mother, has arrived in London and is staying with Meghan and Harry at Kensington Palace. Among other things, they will be able to enjoy Mother’s Day together.
- The Fug Girls have penned a piece for W magazine about the challenges of dealing with difficult family members.
- People has a slideshow on the receptions with good photos inside St George’s Hall.
- Meghan’s close friend Jessica Mulroney is expanding her role with Hudson’s Bay and will be the spokesperson for a new brand at the department store called CORE Life.
- The Household Cavalry had a press day yesterday. This is Harry’s former regiment, and they will line the steps fo St. George’s Chapel and also provide an escort for the carriage ride.
- Reporter Tracy Swartz of the Chicago Tribune contacted “140 of Meghan Markle’s sorority sisters” to get their impressions of Meghan; she was “…surprised at the breadth of media silence from her classmates” at Northwestern. Here is her story about Meghan’s college years.
MAY 9:
- Our friends Jessica and Heather, aka The Fug Girls, have done a splendid piece with Getty Images I think you will enjoy, Meghan Markle: Redefining Royalty.
- Jezebel has a fun story looking at possibilities for Meghan’s dress; it also engages in one of our favorite pastimes – a little tiara talk! (You may recognize two of the people interviewed for the story!)
- There is more on the tiara topic in “What tiara will Meghan Markle wear?” fromThe Daily Mirror, including a list of three tiaras Meghan is unlikely to wear.
- This is a nifty video from ITV News with soldiers from Harry’s former regiment talking about how proud they are to have a role in the wedding.
Soldiers from Prince Harry’s former regiment, the Household Cavalry, have spoken of their pride at playing a pivotal role in his wedding to Meghan Markle.
Read more: https://t.co/37AzFp6zkR pic.twitter.com/KLV2uqk7Ww
— ITV News (@itvnews) May 9, 2018
- This article asks Which Meghan Markle TV Special is Right For You? (If you’re looking for a listing of all the wedding-related special programing, you can always check our TV/Online Coverage page here on the site.)
- Madame Tussauds London has released a photo of the new Meghan figure that will be joining the Prince Harry figure at the London Museum.
- And Legoland Windsor has created a Royal Wedding Scene complete with Windsor Castle.
To celebrate HRH Prince Harry & Ms. Meghan Markle’s wedding we proudly announce the creation of our very own LEGO Windsor Castle and #RoyalWedding scene! Made from over 39,960 LEGO bricks this brand new attraction is now on display in MINILAND: https://t.co/p1znbUaPRB pic.twitter.com/Ue1ZPNY2ag
— LEGOLAND Windsor (@LEGOLANDWindsor) May 9, 2018
MAY 8: (Today’s Buzz is written by Susan K.)
- THE DRESS: Wedding dress speculation continues. I think we can safely say that it is escalating. A few stories that may be of interest:
- Us Weekly reports Meghan’s dress is “safely hidden away” in Windsor, and Meghan will be showing it to Her Majesty before the wedding.
- USA Today’s story includes input from a few industry insiders I’d not seen before.
- In this Elle piece there is a photo showing what Meghan wore in her first wedding; it is a better shot than I remember seeing previously.
- People has a fun article by Simon Perry featuring the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who is officiating at the wedding. Among other things, the Archbishop references a song from UK rapper Stormzy when explaining his thoughts about the big day.
- There are several other commoners who have married into the British Royal Family; this Global News article covers some of them.
- Sky News has posted a 1:30 video on Twitter showcasing Meghan’s activist efforts back when she was just twelve years old.
Aged just 12, Meghan Markle helped get a television advert she thought was sexist changed #royalwedding #harryandmeghan pic.twitter.com/qKVewhZ4mm
— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 8, 2018
- The Daily Mail has a lengthy piece on Meghan’s wardrobe, especially her shoe collection, but also covering her British handbags and some of her jewelry.
- Life behind palace walls can be a challenge for those unfamiliar with it, especially those rules about curtsies; this article from the Straits Times quotes a former butler to Prince Charles and Harry.
- INVITES:
- The Hollywood Reporter has a good list of those attending from the entertainment world.
- This TIME story also covers the guest list. A heads-up, you are likely to be aware of most of the people in the article, I didn’t see it breaking any new ground. And it does show the Spice Girls going, I thought invites for them turned out not to be happening….?
- The Royal Family YouTube channel has a number of quick videos about the wedding
- And finally, today, a corgi wedding. Because, well….because they could. We’re talking about Lifetime TV ‘s promotional event in honor of this Sunday’s showing of the movie, Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance. You can see a video of the event on the network’s Facebook page.
MAY 7:
- We have updated our guide on how you can watch the wedding on broadcast tv, via a livestream, or on the big screen at your local theater. We’ve added new info on E!’s plans as well as what HBO is doing.
- It looks like Meghan and Harry could be moving into a newly renovated Apartment 1 at Kensington Palace, according to this report in The Mail. The 21-room space would put them next door to William and Kate in Apartment 1A.
- This is not a new video but it’s one we’ve not linked to here on the page. Watch Bobbi Brown and Meghan as Meghan retouches her makeup in the back seat of cab.
MAY 6:
- The rumors continue about Meghan wearing a Ralph and Russo gown. In addition to Friday’s Daily Mail story by Rebecca English, there was another piece from Rebecca in yesterday’s Mail, this one includes a photo showing Prince Harry leaving the Ralph and Russo studio last month. This part seems a little odd; if hoping to maintain secrecy about the gown we can’t see Harry at the studio…? Hmmmm.
- For a look at Meghan’s style evolution, this Getty Images gallery/slideshow is a great walk down memory lane.
- The wedding means big bucks for American media as explained in this Guardian story.
- The media presence for the wedding is already significant. In this tweet from Wayne Wedgbury you see some of the 140 Royal Borough Ambassadors being interviewed by a Japanese TV crew.
- Meghan was seen out in London going to (or from, I have seen it described both ways) yoga class. We do not have a licensed photo to share, but in all candor, if we did, neither of us would be comfortable running it, the pictures just felt invasive. Here is a look at what Meghan wore:
- J. Crew Quilted Excursion Vest. Now sold out, the piece is available only in Petite sizing.
- The Nike Cortez Classic Sneaker ($70); it is available in almost all sizes at Net-a-Porter; in most sizes at Neiman Marcus, and limited sizes at Foot Locker.
- Adidas Supernova 7/8 Tights; on sale at Adidas for $44.97
- Her Ray-Ban Gold Classic Sunglasses ($153).
- Many thanks to Sarah of The Royals and I for her ID of Meghan’s tights!
MAY 4: (Today’s Buzz is written by Susan K.)
- Today we learned all sorts of details about the wedding, including the schedule/timeline, who is walking Meghan down the aisle, how Princess Diana is being remembered in the ceremony, and more. It’s all covered in this post; you can also get caught up via the quick list on our Wedding Central – The Details page.
- In a story for The Daily Mail Rebecca English is reporting that Meghan’s dress will be by Ralph and Russo. In terms of context, I cannot think of a time when Rebecca has been wrong on a story; that is one reason we’re sharing the info here on the site. It’s always possible this won’t turn out to be the dress; we just won’t know until we see Meghan on the 19th.
There is a thoughtful piece in the Los Angeles Times that I very much enjoyed and can recommend, ”For Meghan Markle, royal fashion carries some risks. Is this L.A. girl up to it?”
- Tiara Watch continues. (Tiara Watch attempts to track and share the better stories on what tiara Meghan might wear, if she elects to wear one.) Today’s story comes courtesy of this article from TIME magazine, “Analyzing Every Tiara Meghan Markle Could Wear at the Royal Wedding“.
- Cosmopolitan has a fun story titled, “I dressed like Meghan Markle for a week and this is how it changed me”
- Have you ever wondered who Harry and Meghan’s neighbors are in Kensington Palace, other than William and Kate? This Telegraph article has you covered, including details on Princess Eugenie’s move to KP just a few weeks ago.
- TIME has a wonderful photo piece on “25 Classic Royal Wedding Dresses That Could Inspire Meghan Markle,” I loved it, there are some gorgeous dresses shown in the piece. -sek.
- Meghan was seen out in London this past week with a Royal Protection Officer. She was wearing a J. Crew Excursion vest in black (currently unavailable), Adidas Supernova Climacool mesh-paneled stretch legging in navy, Ray-ban Avaiator sunglasses, Nike Classic Cortez sneakers in white and red, Babaton Mendieta Slouchy Hat from Aritzia.
MAY 3:
- “Meghan Markle’s wedding dress & it’s place in royal fashion history” from Sky News looks at three royal wedding dresses “that have claimed their place in fashion history.”
- Yesterday we posted about Georgetown Cupcake’s Royal Wedding Dozen. Last night WMW friend Autumn Brewington popped into Georgetown Cupcake and scooped up some of the goodies. How were the cupcakes? Autumn shared her reaction with us: “The flavor started out light and citrusy, because of the lemon, and then came the tang of the elderflower. Ordinarily I am not a big fan of icing, but this buttercream frosting was sweet without being cloying. The combination of flavors made me think about spring. And the overall taste was so light I didn’t feel guilty about eating it in a few quick bites.” Below, Autumn’s photo of her cupcakes (l) and the Georgetown Cupcake Royal Dozen (r).
- So, all those stories about Amal Clooney’s stylist doing Meghan’s hair for the wedding….? It’s not exactly happening. Actually, it’s not happening at all. It turns out the person making the comments is an imposter. Miguel Perez never made the statements attributed to him, and was very clear in saying he is *not* doing Meghan’s hair. Mr. Perez posted on his Instagram that the stories were not true, and he’s not even met Meghan. Thank you the ever-stellar Mad About Meghan blog for the tip.
MAY 2:
- Will Meghan wear a tiara? If so, which one? This IBT story addresses those questions and discusses a theory that both Susans ascribe to: Meghan may well wear a new tiara made especially for the occasion.
- Harry and Meghan will use an Ascot Landau carriage for their ride through Windsor. You’ll recognize the style, the carriages (there are 5 Landaus) are used frequently for events like Royal Ascot and at other big occasions, including royal weddings. According to KP Meghan and Harry visited the Royal Mews and selected the carriage they wanted to use. Should there be rain on the 19th they will use the Scottish State Coach. Below, Pippa Middleton and some of the flower girls in an Ascot Landau at Kate and William’s wedding. More in this Vanity Fair story, or this Daily Mail piece.
- Australia’s Sunrise show introduces us to the Australian chosen as the lead rider in the carriage procession, with thanks to the Royal Editor for the tip.
An Australian has been chosen as lead horse rider in #HarryAndMeghan’s wedding procession! @TheRoyalEditor pic.twitter.com/sdMEAgFytA
— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) May 2, 2018
- Joe Little of Majesty magazine reports a microbrewery in Northumberland, the Twice Brewed Inn, has finalized plans for a Harry & Meghan bottled beer.
- Georgetown Cupcake, featured in DC Cupcakes on TLC, has put together a special dozen cupcakes in honor of the wedding. Flavors included in the special mix: Lemon Elderflower Rose, Red Velvet, Chocolate & Buttercream, and Vanilla & Buttercream. You can order the Royal Wedding Dozen here ($36), available May 1 – May 21.
MAY 1:
- A story from The NY Times says that “Britain’s Wedding-Mad Tabloids Feel a Cold Royal Shoulder,” with input from longtime royal photographer Arthur Edwards. This one is well worth reading.
- The Sun has a piece on Miguel Perez, the hair stylist who says he is doing Meghan’s hair for the wedding. He is also Amal Clooney’s stylist.
- The Royal Mint has released its Royal Wedding commemorative coins. There are four different pieces ranging in price from £13 to £1980.
The Thames Valley Police shared a look at their special uniforms for the Royal Wedding.
APRIL 30:
- We continue to update our Wedding Central TV/Online Coverage page here on the site. Today we added info from BritBox about their plans to stream ITV’s coverage live.
- The Mirror reports the Queen may be giving Harry and Meghan their own home on the Sandringham estate; the article says it would most likely be York Cottage. From the story: “Following their wedding in 1893, York Cottage was the home of King George V and Queen Mary, and lies in close proximity to Anmer Hall.” Here you see the house in a 2007 photograph by Len Williams.
- According to The Daily Mail, replicas of Meghan and Eugenie’s engagement rings are selling extremely well because of interest in the two weddings.
- On Sunday night’s Call the Midwife episode the Kingdom Choir was featured. The group is singing at the wedding. Many thanks to Micki Maynard for the tip on this one! See the photos on the CTMW Facebook page.
APRIL 29:
- Jessica Mulroney was in London this weekend for a dress fitting, a stop at St George’s Chapel and other activities; Emily Andrews has the story in The Sun
- The Evening Standard shows how to “Recreate Meghan’s Messy Bun at Home“
- CTV covers the way Canadian designers are getting a “boost from Meghan’s style”.
- Suhani Jalota, founder of the Myna Mahila Foundation, will be a guest at the wedding. The charity is one of seven organizations suggested as recipients for anyone wishing to make a donation as a wedding gift. This is the charity Meghan visited in India that empowers women and works to eliminate the taboos associated with menstruation. After visiting the charity last year Meghan wrote a TIME guest editorial about the issue. Below, Meghan visiting the visiting.
APRIL 28:
- The Sun has a wonderful piece sharing some of the behind the scenes info on royal wedding preps, explaining things like the way Harry also destroyed William’s cake made of McVitie’s biscuits and chocolate.
- In this Harpers Bazaar story Vera Wang confirms she is *not* doing the dress (no surprise there) and shares ideas on what she thinks would work in a dress for Meghan in
- ABC has a fun story on ways to get a Taste of the Royal Wedding
- In an article in The Express Caroline Castigliano, a luxury and bespoke bridal designer, talks about what she thinks we’ll see Meghan wearing and also shares a sketch
APRIL 27:
- UPDATE MAY 2: Miguel Perez says all of the statements made about him doing Meghan’s hair are false, that thy were made by an impostor.
TheDaily Mailreportsthat Miguel Perez will do Meghan’s hair on the big day; he apparently does Meghan’s hair in London and is also Amal Clooney’s stylist. (You will need to scroll way down the page for the story.) You can read more about Miguel Perez in this piece from Hello! as well as in this Us Weekly story.- Vogue Paris has a slide show looking at ten of Meghan’s different hairstyles
- Another overview of the three different venues for the wedding and two receptions comes via Harper’s Bazaar; there are some outstanding photos of St George’s Chapel and St George’s Hall.
- In this Telegraph piece Bethan Holt makes a case why Stella McCartney would be an ideal ‘go to’ brand for Meghan, much as Jenny Packham and Catherine Walker are for Kate.
- A Cosmopolitan feature says Meghan is “obsessed” with the color green. We’re not convinced.
- In honor of the upcoming nuptials Town and Country takes a look at the 30 Best Hats & Fascinators, a mix of styles ranging from pieces by royal milliner Rachel Trevor-Morgan to a fascinator at ASOS.
- Vanity Fair’s May issue is out and guess who is on the cover? It’s a special issue focused on “Love and Royals”!
APRIL 26:
- As expected, Kensington Palace has announced that Prince William will be Prince Harry’s best man
- It sounds like Serena Williams may not be able to come to the wedding because of the French Open. Priyanka Chopra confirms she is attending but is not a bridesmaid; read more in this Evening Standard article.
- CNN has an interesting piece titled Harry, Meghan and the finely tuned royal wedding PR machine
- Ireland’s Independent looks at Meghan’s close circle of friends in this story
- Wednesday night was Meghan’s final episode of Suits, the broadcast in which she is married. There is a photo gallery here with scenes from last night’s 2-hour finale.
APRIL 25:
Kensington Palace released information today on the music we’ll hear during the service. Among the details:
- James Vivian, the Director of Music at St. George’s Chapel is in charge of the music for the service
- The choir of St. George’s Chapel will perform
- Among the musicians playing at the service is 19-year-old cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason. Prince Harry saw Sheku play at an event supporting the Halo Foundation. Sheku said ” was bowled over when Ms Markle called me to ask if I would play during the ceremony, and of course I immediately said yes!!! What a privilege. I can’t wait!”
- Karen Gibson and the Kingdom Choir, a traditional gospel choir, be singing at the wedding. You can follow the group on Facebook here.
- Musicians in the orchestra will be from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the English Chamber Orchestra and the Philharmonia. The orchestra will be conducted by British violins and current conductor of the Charlotte Symphony, Christopher Warren-Green.
- Trumpeters from the Band of the Household Cavalry
- More details about the music may be seen by clicking here.
You will be able to buy/stream some/all of the music from the wedding! Billboard reports “Decca Records is to record the May 19 wedding ceremony live and release it direct to streaming services worldwide the same day….”.
APRIL 20:
- PopSugar looks at the 31 Dreamiest Photos of Meghan and Harry
- Here is a new piece from Maclean’s on the likelihood of Meghan wearing a tiara for her wedding, and if so, which one?
- The widely-anticipated Emma Bridgewater mug is now available
- People has a rundown here showing some of the other women who have worn Black Halo’s Jackie O dress.
- There is a lot of chatter about Meghan wearing two dresses on the big day. This is something both Susan C and Susan K have long thought would be the case; in fact, we both think she will wear pieces from two different designers.
- Hello! has put together a video showcasing “Meghan’s Toronto,” covering some of her favorite places, an interview with her trainer and other details.
- Here is a look from Racked at not just the latest odds from British bookmakers on who is making Meghan’s wedding dress, but an explainer on how they even arrive at such info
- Will Meghan wear a tiara for the wedding? Canoe looks into that question and offers some interesting background on tiaras
APRIL 18:
- A number of engagements have been added to Meghan’s calendar, be sure to check our Meg Events page. There is now an engagement tomorrow (Thursday), two on Saturday the 21st, one on Monday the 23rd, and two on Wednesday the 25th (those both are for Anzac Day).
- PopSugar has a list of 25 Reasons Why We’re Excited for Prince Harry & Meghan Markle’s Wedding
- Fashionista says the “Meghan Markle Effect is already all over the spring bridal runways.’
- Hello Giggles takes a look at 12 odd jobs Meghan has held over the years
- Paula Patton reminisces in this Us Weekly story about Meghan doing calligraphy for her wedding
- The Telegraph says second weddings are becoming bigger than the first, calling it the Markle Effect
- Here’s an interesting story about Windsor Castle, “a look at Meghan & Harry’s (relatively) low-key wedding site.”
APRIL 17:
- There is a lengthy piece in Harper’s Bazaar Australia looking at 6 Ways Meghan’s Style Has Changed Since Her Engagement
- Travel & Leisure say they have confirmed that Meghan and Harry will honeymoon in Namibia. Their story explains why the magazine thinks “the unique honeymoon destination is a perfect choice.”
- The Daily Mirror asks if Meghan will wear white, or perhaps another color, as the Queen did?
- My friends at Daily Break have a solid list featuring some of the memorabilia and products for sale tied to the wedding.
- Prince Harry gave Meghan a shout-out in his first speech as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador today, as the weeklong Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings got underway in London. According to The Telegraph, Harry “said he was “incredibly grateful” that the “woman I am about to marry” will be joining him in his new job.”
- CNN has some surprising names in its piece pondering who is still in the running to make Meghan’s wedding dress
- The Telegraph also offers this story: “The Meghan Markle Effect: how second weddings are becoming bigger than the first”
- The Chicago Tribune takes a look at Windsor, “Harry and Meghan’s (relatively) low key wedding site”
- In this Town & Country story, Lady Julie Montagu offers her tips for Meghan; she is an American who married into the British aristocracy.
- There is an interesting feature in the Daily Mail about a plus size couple matching Meghan and Harry’s style, what some might call “repli-Meghaning.”
- Our final item, the darling collection Cath Kidston is offering in honor of the wedding. There are some fun, cute pieces.
APRIL 15: We have oodles of tidbits to share today, with apologies for missing yesterday’s updates. (Susan K’s desktop died, taking all data with it until Apple and the Spousal Unit performed a brief and miraculous resuscitation.)
- The Guardian has an interesting piece looking at ‘Team Meghan,’ those at the palace and elsewhere working with Meghan to help plan and implement the many decisions facing the royal-to-be in her new life.
- The conventional wisdom on Meghan and Harry’s future titles has been titled toward the Queen making them the Duke & Duchess of Sussex. The Independent suggests another possibility, the Duke and Duchess of Connaught.
- This Architectural Digest story takes a look inside Frogmore House, where the early wedding reception will be held.
- The Express offers a story on Meghan’s Ghurka Kilburn suitcase/holdall.
- Marie Claire covers some of the hairstyles people have actually had at royal weddings.
- A nut company hired a US artist to carve nuts into the Royal Wedding party, from the Queen to the corgis. More in this story.
APRIL 13:
- The list of “likely dress designers” is getting shorter. Victoria Beckham told James Corden that she is *not* doing the dress. Our thanks to ABC’s Carolyn Durand for the info!
- Meghan and Harry are clearly delighted with their engagement photographs. Kensington Palace announced this morning the photographer who took those shots, Alexi Lubomirski, has been retained to take the wedding pictures as well.
APRIL 12:
- Meghan is in Chicago for the weekend, according to the Chicago Tribune. The paper reports “Markle landed at the airport at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, according to a second source, who also said that she will be leaving town early Sunday evening. Chicago police provided physical security for her but not an actual escort, the source said.”
- Be sure to check the Meg Events page on the site, it has details on the three occasions next week when we expect toes Meghan.
- The Associated Press has a new story by Danica Kirk looking at Meghan’s impact on the economy, you can read it here at the New York Times. (Susan K is included in the story and feeling very giddy about being in the piece!)
APRIL 11:
- French Vogue takes a look at the “8 designers in the running” to make Meghan’s wedding dress
- The Daily Mirror offers a list of likely celebrity guests in this story.
- Tatler takes a look at the Meghan Effect and its impact on business in this piece, saying Meghan “is a goldmine”.
APRIL 10:
- There will not be any political guests at the wedding according to a statement released today by Kensington Palace. Michelle and Barack Obama will not be attending, nor the Trumps; even PM Theresa May will not be in attendance. As explained by Richard Palmer of The Express, “Essentially, it’s been decided that there’s no need for official guests, as Prince Harry is not likely to be a future King. Everyone inside the chapel will know Harry and Meghan personally.” More details can be seen in this Daily Mirror story.
- We do know that Alex Lubomirski, who shot Meghan and Harry’s engagement photos, will be at the wedding. The photographer told E! News that he and his wife, Giada Lubomirski, have been invited to the wedding. Read the photographer’s description of what the engagement photo shoot was like in the E! News story.
- Apparently Meghan’s decision to wear the Ralph & Russo gown seen in the engagement photos was not set in stone, nor even as planned out as many of us thought. That’s according to an interview Alex Lubomirski did with Entertainment Tonight.
- Kensington Palace has released the names and background stories of some of the 1200 members of the public who are attending the wedding. They include 12-year-old Amelia Thompson, a survivor of the terrorist attack at the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester; Reuben Litherland of Derby, who was born deaf and started teaching lunchtime sign language lessons at his school; Pamela Anomneze, manager of Studio 306 Collective, a program using creative arts to help people recover from mental health issues; and Philip Gillespie, who lost his right leg in an IED incident in Afghanistan and works raising awareness and funds for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.
- If you’ve wondered just who Meghan’s closest friends are, this Us Weekly piece has the answers.
- Here is a piece of memorabilia you probably won’t see everywhere: a commemorative Royal Wedding Plate showing Meghan and….Ed Sheeran. The company making the place says that was not a mistake, they did it on purpose. It is being sold for $36.50 at etsy; from the amount of publicity the plate has received, I think it may well have been a deliberate decision by the seller. More in this Evening Standard story.
- CHIVA (Children’s HIV Association): “supports children and young people living with HIV across the UK and Ireland. We address critical needs for those growing up with HIV.” The charity’s Facebook page is here and its Twitter feed is here. To make a donation click here.
- Crisis is “a national charity for homeless people.” The charity’s Facebook page is here and its Twitter feed is here. To donate, click here.
- The Myna Mahila Foundation is based in Mumbai, helping empower women in the city’s urban slums. The Foundation offers “stable employment close to their homes, and breaks taboos around menstrual hygiene by offering women access to low cost sanitary pads and accurate information at their doorstep.” Some of you may be familiar with the organization; Meghan visited the charity last year, and wrote about it in a widely-respected Time magazine essay. The Myna Mahila Facebook page is here; its Twitter feed is here and you can donate by clicking here.
- Scotty’s Little Soldiers “offers support for bereaved Armed Forces children who have lost a parent while serving in the British Armed Forces.” It may sound familiar to WhatKate Wore readers; children from the organization were invited to last May’s Party at the Palace hosted by Harry, Kate and William. The charity’s Facebook page is here; its Twitter feed is here & Instagram page here. Click here to donate.
- Street Games may also sound familiar; Meghan and Harry visited the charity in February when in Wales. The organization “uses sport to empower young people to kick-start a cycle of positive change in their own lives that resonates across their communities.” The Street Games Facebook page is here; its Twitter feed is here and you can donate by clicking here.
- Surfers Against Sewage is “a national marine conservation and campaigning charity, which inspires, unites and empowers communities to take action to protect oceans, beaches, waves and wildlife.” Visit the organization’s Facebook page here; you can follow their Twitter feed here. Click here to donate.
- Wilderness Foundation UK “promotes the benefits and enjoyment of wild nature.” The charity’s Facebook page is here, its Twitter feed here and Instagram page here. To donate, click here.
APRIL 8:
- If you’re like us and wondering what an Elderflower wedding cake would taste like, Delish has the answer in this story.
- Hello! Canada reports that Canada is a ‘top choice’ for Harry and Meghan’s first royal tour
APRIL 7: As speculation continues that Ralph & Russo are designing Meghan’s gown, London’s Financial Times asks Tamara Ralph and Michael Russo point blank: “So, Tamara and Michael, are you designing Meghan Markle’s wedding dress?” Seated across from me on a silvery satin chaise longue, the pair “politely decline” to comment, and I’m forced to draw my conclusions from their body language. Russo crosses his arms defensively and grits his teeth, while Ralph gives a nervous laugh and awkwardly swishes her long, treacle-coloured ponytail. I have no industry intelligence about it, but based on their reactions, if Ladbrokes hadn’t closed bets then mine would be on this duo.”
APRIL 6:
- Everything to know about Meghan Markle’s stylist, close friend and wedding planner Jessica Mulroney is an ABC piece you might find interesting. Of course, you can also look at our post here on WMW, it’s titled Meet Meghan’s Friend & Stylist
- Hello! Canada has a piece and the latest trailer from the Lifetime movie Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance
- The NY Times has put together “The Royal Wedding FAQs” and it’s kind of fun, in addition to being helpful. Many thanks to my friend Joyce for the tip on this one!
- And today’s wedding whimsey: the Royal Wedding Tea Towel from the BBC ($15.98) that we learned about from Jessica of the always fabulous Fug Girls.
- Town & Country’s etiquette expert explains why some wedding invitations only include half a couple; it turns out there is a reason plus-ones have not been included.
- Erdem continues to be touted as the likely designer of Meghan’s wedding dress. Many think a move the company announced this week is just another sign pointing to the likelihood he is “the one.” Elle has more in this story.
- However…Ralph and Russo made a similar move this week. People has more on this development. (If needing to do a speed read, scroll down to the 5th paragraph for the salient section.)
- Metro has a piece looking at dress designers, with “all of the potentials from Ralph & Russo to Sarah Burton.”
- An old Tostitos commercial featuring Meghan has surfaced; click here to watch the spot, shot in 2009.
- If planning to have a proper tea while you watch the wedding, you might want to consider today’s wedding whimsy, the Royal Wedding Biscuit Tin from England’s Biscuiteers. The cookies are handmade and decorated, they retail for £45, that’s about $63.
- Omid Scobie, who has accurately broken a number of stories about Meghan and the wedding, tweeted that Meghan appears to have been in Los Angeles for the weekend. Click here for the Twitter thread.
- Metro has an article on one of the first members of the public who has received an invitation
- Unrelated to Meghan and Harry, but a fun read: the Daily Mirror’s piece looking at possible wedding gown designers for Princess Beatrice.
- It’s another People cover for Meghan! The accompanying story is titled How Love Changed Harry
APRIL 3:
- ET has a piece featuring royal photographer Tim Rooke’s take on how Meghan is doing as she adapts to life with the Royal Family.
- You can read about the “bittersweet time” at Suits as filming wrapped up with Meghan and co-star Patrick Adams; Altar-Bound Meghan Markle to Leave TV Show With a Wedding is on the NY Times website.
- In this People story, we hear predictions on how Meghan will style her hair for the wedding from Nicky Clarke, one of Diana’s hairdressers, and Daniel Galvin Junior, whose royal clients include Prince Harry’s cousins Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
APRIL 2: Meghan and Harry have selected a florist and chosen the kind of flowers they will use for their wedding. Here are some links: florist Philippa Craddock’s website is here (where you can see her work at weddings she has done); the Kensington Palace news release is here; a Vogue story is here; SkyNews story is here; a BBC piece is here; the Daily Mail’s article is here.
APRIL 1: Meghan is getting her own figure at Madame Tussaud’s; this Hello! story has more.
MARCH 30:
- The Sunday Times Magazine’s cover story this weekend is an exclusive by author Andrew Morton titled “Meghan: her true story“. Meghan is also featured on the cover of Tatler’s May issue. Susan C notes both magazines use previously seen photos; Meghan did not pose for either cover.
MARCH 29:
- Suits season 7 premiered and Susan C posted info on what Meghan wore on Facebook.
- The Thames Valley Police have released some details about the massive security operation for the wedding. There is a video on the TVP Facebook page and a news release on the TVP website. If you are planning to go to Windsor for the wedding this is well worth your time.
MARCH 28:
- In Tiara Talk there is some chatter about the Spencer family tiara, worn by Diana, Princess of Wales, on her wedding day. According to a Daily Mirror story quoting an OK! story, “”A Spencer Family member has made it known that the tiara is available to Ms. Markle for her wedding day should she choose to wear it.” This one goes in the “take it with again of salt” category.
- Inside Prince Harry & Meghan Markle’s £32 million Wedding comes from The Telegraph
- Also from The Telegraph: a good piece with Jenny Packham in which she talks about “…why Meghan Markle’s wedding dress will set bridal trends for years to come”.
- Many readers will recall the Middleotns received a coat of arms before Kate and William’s wedding. T&C asks Will Meghan Markle’s Family Receive a Coat of Arms Before Her Wedding?
MARCH 27:
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- Town and Country breaks down what the invitation dress code instructions really mean, also answering the question “What exactly is a “lounge suit,” anyway?”
- AOL has a fun piece looking at the tradition of royal wedding cakes
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- Danielle Stacey of The Mirror looks at some of the other royals who have worn designs by Amanda Wakeley.
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MARCH 15:
- Click here for People’s story titled “Meghan Markle’s Royal Wardrobe: Here’s Who Pays for It, and Why She Can’t Accept Free Clothes”
- A HuffPo UK story on Meghan’s new assistant, Amy Pickerill, may be read here
- Lyst’s annual Wedding Report with The Meghan Effect at #3 may be seen here
MAR 14:
- From Ellie Krupnick at Racked we offer “Meghan Markle Is Really Good at Pants, Truly the Pants Princess“
- Click here for People’s “How Meghan Markle Has Mastered Palace Protocol—at Record Speed!”
- Newsweek’s piece is here “Meghan Markle Kidnapped by Special Forces in Royal Terror Training”
- The Telegraph looks at the “No Ring, No Bring” challenge facing the wedding planners and guests, a dilemma many of us have encountered when managing invitations for an event with limited seating. From the story by Hannah Furness: