Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will now be referred to as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex — a title not handed out for more than 150 years. The two made for a handsome couple with Meghan wearing a Givenchy creation for her walk down the aisle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor castle yesterday. The Queen conferred the titles on her grandson and his wife. The royal groom was given a dukedom to mark his marriage to Meghan, who will now be Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Sussex. Prince Harry’s brother Prince William and sister-in-law Kate Middleton are referred to as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Harry also received Scottish and Northern Irish titles, becoming the Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel, which means Meghan will become the Countess of Dumbarton and Baroness Kilkeel. Kensington Palace announced in a statement, “The Queen has today been pleased to confer a Dukedom on Prince Henry of Wales. His titles will be Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel. Prince Harry thus becomes His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex, and Ms Meghan Markle on marriage will become Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex.”
PUT A RING ON IT
Prince Harry is breaking royal tradition by wearing a wedding band. On Friday, it was confirmed that there will be the exchanging of rings in the ceremony as part of the service order. While her ring has been fashioned from a piece of Welsh gold, gifted by Her Majesty The Queen, Prince Harry has chosen a platinum band with a textured finish. When his older brother Prince William wed Duchess Catherine in 2011, the Palace said at the time that there would only be “one ring in accordance with the couple’s wishes.”
MODERN VOWS
Meghan followed in her sister-in-law Duchess Catherine’s footsteps by choosing to remove the word “obey” from her marriage vows. Harry’s mother Princess Diana had also omitted the word from her vows when marrying Prince Charles in 1981. Harry and Meghan instead pledged themselves to one another “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part’’.
MUSICAL CHOICE
The royal couple’s Order of Service had the classic Stand By Me by Ben E King echo around the 15th century chapel, performed by Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir. The gospel choir performed Etta James’ uplifting version of Amen/This Little Light of Mine as the newlyweds left the chapel. The service also featured English Baroque composer William Boyce’s Symphony no 1 in B flat. In keeping with tradition, the national anthem was played at the end.
ON THE GUEST LIST
Several thousands of royal fans headed to the Berkshire town to catch a glimpse of the bride and groom, with police creating a ring of steel around the castle in a massive security operation. Spotted at the nuptials were Oprah Winfrey, Idris Elba with fiance, Sabrina Dhowre, Priyanka Chopra, Victoria and David Beckham, George and Amal Clooney, as well as cast members of Suits including Patrick J Adams, Sarah Rafferty, Gina Torres, among others.
