If you loved every part of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's royal wedding, you're not alone. But there were some beautiful moments you might have missed. As Prince Harry and Markle stood before the royal family, celebrities, and close friends to officially tie the knot at St. George's Chapel in Windsor, the groom also made sure to honour his late mother, Princess Diana, in many subtle ways.
Here's how Prince Harry and Markle made sure Princess Diana was included in their fairytale wedding.
The selection of flowers in Meghan's bouquet
Ahead of his royal nuptials, Prince Harry picked out flowers for florist Philippa Craddock to use in Markle's bouquet. But Harry didn't choose just any flowers—he made certain to pick forget-me-nots, which were one of Princess Diana's favorites.
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What the flower girls were wearing
In addition to being in Markle's bouquet, forget-me-nots adorned the little bridesmaids' crowns.
The involvement of Diana's siblings
Lady Jane Fellowes, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, and Earl Charles Spencer, Princess Diana's siblings, each received invitations to the royal wedding. Fellowes also delivered a reading from the Song of Solomon during the ceremony.
The hymn they chose
For Princess Diana's funeral in 1997, Elton John honored his close friend by singing the hymn "Guide Me, O Thy Great Redeemer." The newly minted Duke and Duchess of Sussex incorporated a performance of the hymn into the service, and the prince was seen wiping away a tear as the song ended. Elton John was also in attendance at the wedding.
Meghan's wedding ring
Prince Harry had his mother's collection of jewels to chose from when it came time to propose to Meghan and popped the question with a ring that featured two diamonds that belonged to Diana.
Charitable wedding gifts
Meghan and Harry decided to do things a little more differently for their wedding by requesting that their guests donate to charities instead of giving traditional gifts. The couple selected a variety of charitable organisations for guests to choose from, including organisations that Princess Diana supported, like CHIVA, an initiative that supports young people affected by HIV, and Crisis, an organisation that works with the homeless.
Nerisha Penrose is the Beauty Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. Prior to joining the team, she was an Editorial Fellow at ELLE.com. In her current role, she helps lead coverage on makeup, skin care, hair, and fragrances. With over six years of experience in the world of beauty editorial, Nerisha enjoys delving deep into the complexities of fragrance notes, hunting for the best fixes for acne-prone skin, and advocating for daily sunscreen use. She regularly researches and tests the latest products, consults beauty professionals (including our Beauty Advisory Board) to determine the best expert-approved formulas to recommend, and conducts interviews with luminaries across the industry. Nerisha received her bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media Studies from Temple University before joining the editorial teams at Nylon and Billboard. In 2020, she co-launched our popular franchise The State of Black Beauty, an ongoing exploration of—and destination for—beauty at the intersection of Black culture.
