GettyYou may have noticed something odd during the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who have also been bestowed the title of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
To Prince William’s immediate right there was an empty seat at one of the most talked about weddings of the year, and there’s a theory as to why that one guest didn’t show face. Get ready to have some tissues present because this one is a tearjerker.
There is a theory the empty chair belonged to the late Princess Diana, Prince Harry and William’s mother.
PAThe newlywed prince was keen to make sure she was present on his special day and that members of Princess Diana’s family would be involved with their big day too.
A statement from Kensington Palace confirmed:
In addition to having the support of The Queen, his father The Prince of Wales, and his brother Prince William as best man, Prince Harry is also keen to involve his mother’s family in his wedding. All three siblings of Diana, Princess of Wales will be in attendance and Lady Jane Fellowes will give the reading.
Prince Harry and Ms. Markle both feel honoured that Lady Jane will be representing her family and helping to celebrate the memory of the late Princess on the wedding day.
PABtw – I’ve seen some reports about the spare seat by Prince William in the chapel as having being left in memory of Princess Diana. It wasn’t empty for that reason. The seat in front of the Queen is always left empty, I am told by BP #royalwedding
— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) May 19, 2018
However, according to the Daily Mail’s Rebecca English, the seat in front of the Queen is always left empty at royal weddings.
Nods to Harry’s late mother were evident in the St. George’s Chapel floral design, where he and Meghan exchanged vows, which was decorated with elegant floral displays ahead of the big ceremony.
The behind the scenes pictures inside the historic chapel shows foliage, white peonies, white garden roses and other white blooms complimenting the front of the organ loft and overlooking the seats. It’s believed the choice of flowers was a personal favourite of Princess Diana and is a tribute to her from Harry.
Additionally, an arch in the centre served as a frame for the royal couple as a congregation consisting of Harry and Meghan’s family, friends and well-wishers witnessed them take their vows.
PAAccording to The Mirror, floral tributes were carefully crafted by designer Philippa Craddock. She has also added two large floral arrangements which sat on both sides of the High Altar at St. George’s.
The design included foxgloves with branches of beech, birch and hornbeam which will extend to the outside of the chapel, lining up with the West Steps and surrounding the West Door which Meghan Markle entered at the beginning of the ceremony.
Prince Charles, Harry’s father, walked Meghan Markle down the aisle at St. George’s Chapel after her father Thomas Markle was forced to pull out at the last minute due to heart surgery this week. This morning, Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, accompanied her daughter to Windsor Castle with select members of the wedding party.
She released a statement following her father’s decision to pull out in which she professed she has ‘always cared’ for him and hopes he can be given the time and space he needs to focus on his health.
The ceremony was officiated by the Dean of Windsor, David Conner, while the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, performed the newlywed’s vows. During the ceremony, a sermon was given by Reverend Michael Curry of the Episcopal Church in the United States.
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