Ah, the royal bells are ringing! At noon on May 19, His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales tied the knot with American actress Meghan Markle at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
No matter how little the marriage of the sixth in line to the British throne and the former Suits star affects our lives here in the Philippines, we, or at least many, couldn’t help but be excited about all things royal and wedding.
Now, we know that Meghan’s engagement ring was personally designed by Prince Harry himself using two diamonds from his mother Princess Diana’s personal collection, no less. So here are other pretty interesting things about this year’s most-anticipated wedding.
Their wedding falls on the anniversary of Anne Boleyn’s execution
There are a few curious things about Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding: first it happened on a weekend, Saturday, which was against tradition as royal weddings usually take place on a weekday (The Queen wedded on a Thursday and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on a Friday).
But the more interesting thing about their wedding date is that it was the same day, 482 years ago, when King Henry VIII had his second wife, Anne Boleyn, beheaded.
Okay, while this fact is not fun, and this coincidence couldn’t be more eerie—considering that Prince Harry’s real name is Henry, too and that Meghan, just like Anne Boleyn, is known for being outspoken—historians agree that the royal family most likely did not consider this horrific anniversary in choosing the date.
“It would have just been based on what worked out best with the busy lives of the royal family,” royal historian and Anne Boleyn biographer Claire Ridgway said as reported in The Washington Post.
Besides, we believe, after the wedding, the British royal would have a more fond memory to remember that date by.
In addition, their wedding venue, St. George’s Chapel is where Prince Harry was christened and where King Henry VIII was buried, next to wife number 3, Jane Seymour.
The invitations are a combination of their heritage
The invitations for the royal wedding were made by London-based Barnard and Westwood, which have had been making royal wedding invitations since 1985.
Lottie Small used die stamping to make the invitations using American ink printed in gold and black on English cards.
The invitations read: “His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales KG KT requests the pleasure of the company of… at the marriage of His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales with Ms. Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on Saturday 19th May, 2018 at 12 Noon followed by a reception at Windsor Castle.”
Meghan walks down the aisle with Prince Charles
Despite having his suit fitted for her daughter’s special day, Thomas Markle Sr. told TMZ early last week that he wouldn’t be able to attend the royal wedding as doctors decided he needed to have a heart surgery and that he had to recuperate.
Before the wedding, Meghan released a statement through the Kensington Palace confirming that his father won’t be able to attend. “I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health,” she said.
A day before the wedding, Kensington Palace announced that the bride-to-be will walk down the aisle of the Quire of St. George’s Chapel with Prince Charles after Meghan asked him to.
The announcement said: “The Prince of Wales is pleased to be able to welcome Ms. Markle to the Royal Family this way.”
While this was not a first, this event only happens rarely, such as when Princess Margaret’s was gave away at the altar by Prince Philip.
Meghan gives a speech at her wedding
The Sunday Times first reported that Meghan, an actress, a proud feminist, and an accomplished public speaker, is planning to make a speech after the ceremony.
In British tradition, wedding speeches were given only by the groom, father of the bride, and the best man.