A New Kind of Nuptial
The Bride's Side
After it was revealed that Thomas Markle, Meghan's dad, staged photos for paparazzi in exchange for cash, the 73-year-old announced he would not be attending his daughter's wedding (also, because of heart surgery). Samantha Markle, Meghan's half-sister whom she's not close to, says the photos were her idea and they were meant to improve their ailing father's media image before the wedding. It's possible that Meghan's social worker mother, Doria Ragland, will walk her down the aisle instead, but as of now, we'll have to wait and see.
The Venue
Windsor Castle is the oldest continuous residence of monarchs in the world. St. George's Chapel stands on the same grounds, where Prince Harry was baptized in 1984. Although his parents were wed at St. Paul's, Harry and Meghan will walk the checkered floors and under the grand ceiling of St. George's. The sunlight should add a special glow to Meghan when it peers through the beautifully stained windows of this historic venue.
The Ring
For a while we thought that Prince Harry would propose using the Queen Mother's engagement ring, but the smitten royal decided to design a custom ring for his bride-to-be. Though the center of attention in this romantic piece of jewelry is the diamond Harry got from Botswana, where the couple went on a romantic getaway last August before getting engaged, the accompanying side diamonds hold the most significance, coming directly from the late Princess Diana's collection.
Which Tiara?
The tiara Meghan will be wearing on her wedding day is a mystery for now. Everyone has a guess, from the Cambridge Lover's Knot tiara, an eye-catching piece made for Queen Mary in the early 1900s, to the Spencer tiara, which Princess Di wore the day she married Prince Charles. After customizing the engagement ring, we wouldn't be shocked if Harry followed suit and designed something exclusively for his fiancée.
New Titles
The official surname of descendants of Queen Elizabeth II (the male line) is Mountbatten-Windsor. Once Meghan says "I do" to Harry, she'll be able to use the last name of the royal family, but she won't be required to. The newlyweds will also be assigned new titles by the queen (expected to be the Duke and Duchess of Sussex). Royals are often addressed by their specific titles, such as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in lieu of using their full names. You know you're royal when you have a title instead of a last name!
The Kids
Royal weddings usually include a handful of adorably dressed kids trailing behind the bride as she floats down the aisle to meet her prince. Because of this tradition, and the fact that the prince is Uncle Harry to Prince George and Princess Charlotte, we're expecting to see the mini-monarchs as part of the big day. Baby Prince Louis, born on April 23, most likely will be sitting this event out. The soon-to-be newlyweds are both devoted to kids and those in need, which is why they've invited more than 2,500 school children and charity workers to Windsor Castle to congratulate them firsthand on their special day.
