Two weeks ahead of the Royal wedding, Kensington Palace has released further details about the nuptials.
In a statement released today, the Palace have given us all a much-needed update on what is to happen, come May 19th, when Prince Harry will wed Meghan Markle.
For weeks now, there has been speculation as to who will walk the American actress down the aisle, to her waiting fiancé.
After numerous reports of a rift with her paternal side of the family, as well as a rather explicitly negative handwritten note from her half-brother, many believed it would be her yoga teaching mother Doria Ragland who would escort her daughter down the aisle.
Most assumed we'd have to wait until the day itself to find out who would get to do the honour, but Kensington Palace has taken pity on the eager public and given us a fresh tidbit of information.
The statement read that, despite some rumours that Markle’s father, Thomas Markle, would not even attend the ceremony, they would both be present:
The first thing I would like to share is that Prince Harry and Ms. Markle are very much looking forward to welcoming Ms. Markle's parents to Windsor for the wedding. Mr. Thomas Markle and Ms. Doria Ragland will be arriving in the UK in the week of the wedding, allowing time for Prince Harry's family, including The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, to spend time with them before the big day.
And that it would be her Dad’s duty to take her down the aisle at Windsor chapel:
Both of the bride's parents will have important roles in the wedding. On the morning of the wedding, Ms. Ragland will travel with Ms. Markle by car to Windsor Castle. Mr. Markle will walk his daughter down the aisle of St George's Chapel. Ms. Markle is delighted to have her parents by her side on this important and happy occasion.
Since their engagement, we've been pointedly aware of the fact that Prince Harry wants his own mother, the late Princess Diana, to play an important role at his wedding. She will be represented through Meghan's choice of jewellery and also in the bouquet. The Prince also famously designed the former blogger’s engagement ring, using a stone he sourced from Botswana (where the couple visited early in their relationship) as the centre piece, and surrounded it with jewels from his mother’s personal collection.
The statement today revealed that he has continued his pledge to keep his mother alive in the proceedings by inviting her family. It read, ‘Prince Harry is also keen to involve his mother's family in his wedding. All three siblings of Diana, Princess of Wales will be in attendance and Lady Jane Fellowes will give the reading. Prince Harry and Ms. Markle both feel honoured that Lady Jane will be representing her family and helping to celebrate the memory of the late Princess on the wedding day.’
The statement also revealed that in the coming weeks we will learn, ‘Details of the Bridesmaids and Page Boys...the work of florist Philippa Craddock...an update from Claire Ptak, the baker who will make the wedding cake, and the chefs who have been working in the Palace kitchens to make the final preparations.’
Read the full statement here, that details the run-down of the big day.
Daisy Murray is the Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, spotlighting emerging designers, sustainable shopping, and celebrity style. Since joining in 2016 as an editorial intern, Daisy has run the gamut of fashion journalism - interviewing Molly Goddard backstage at London Fashion Week, investigating the power of androgynous dressing and celebrating the joys of vintage shopping.
