Kensington Palace has announced newly engaged Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have set a date for their spring wedding.
In an official statement, the palace revealed the couple will be married at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle in May next year.
It was also announced the wedding will be paid for by the Royal Family.
The statement read:
The marriage of His Royal Highness Prince Harry of Wales and Ms. Meghan Markle will take place at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle in May 2018.
Her Majesty the Queen has granted permission for the wedding to take place at the Chapel.
The Royal Family will pay for the wedding.
Further details about the wedding will be announced in due course.
The first photos of the happy couple surfaced after a photo call at The Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace set up to officially announce their engagement yesterday.
In an interview, Prince Harry was asked when he knew Meghan was the one he was going to marry, to which he replied: ‘The very first time we met.’
Harry reportedly designed the ring, with the centre diamond hailing from Botswana, and the two outside coming from Princess Diana’s ring.
The engagement ring was made by Cleave and Company, Court Jewellers and Medallists to Her Majesty The Queen.
Botswana is a country that holds a ‘special significance’ for Prince Harry as he visited many times in his life – and it is also a place the couple have spent time together in since the start of their relationship.
This isn’t the first time Diana’s jewellery has been used, Prince William famously proposed to Kate Middleton with his mother’s sapphire and diamond ring from her engagement to Prince Charles.
The engagement was first confirmed via Twitter by Clarence House yesterday, confirming the proposal took place earlier this month after Prince Harry received permission from The Queen.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said:
We are very excited for Harry and Meghan. It has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to see how happy she and Harry are together.
The official announcement read:
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince Harry to Ms. Meghan Markle.
The wedding will take place in Spring 2018. Further details about the wedding day will be announced in due course.
His Royal Highness and Ms. Markle became engaged in London earlier this month. Prince Harry has also sought and received the blessing of Ms. Markle’s parents.
The couple will live in Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace.
Meghan’s parents are also extremely happy for her daughter, and wished the couple a ‘lifetime of happiness’, adding:
We are incredibly happy for Meghan and Harry. Our daughter has always been a kind and loving person.
To see her union with Harry, who shares the same qualities, is a source of great joy for us as parents.
Questions were, of course, almost immediately being asked about a potential public holiday as well as which designer will be drafted in to make the wedding dress.
However Parliament confirmed there would be no public holiday.
Thanks, Theresa!
