Updated Feb. 1, 2018, noon PT: With only four months to go until the official royal wedding date, plans are coming together and updates are coming in hot. We already have some (limited) intel about the food that will be served and the dressMeghan Markle will wear. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t hungry for more details.
One of the biggest questions that has yet to be answered is who will be in Markle’s bridal party. We already know to expect Prince Harry‘s best man to be his big brother, William. But Markle’s side? So far, we have nothing but speculation. One front-runner seems to be Priyanka Chopra, who has been good friends with the royal-to-be for years, but she’s staying tight-lipped about whatever involvement she may have in the upcoming ceremony.
“If you see me there, you’ll know,” she told Harper’s Bazaar Arabia when asked whether she’ll be a bridesmaid. We probably shouldn’t have expected her to give up royal secrets so easily. And so far, none of the other potential attendees are speaking up, either. None of Markle’s former Suits costars have said a word about wedding invites. Nor have the A-listers Markle and Harry regularly hang out with — like Rihanna, Cara Delevingne, Barack and Michelle Obama and Serena Williams — though honestly, who wouldn’t invite all of them to their wedding if given the chance?
Another potential front-runner for the bridal party? Markle’s future sister-in-law, the Duchess of Cambridge, formerly known as Kate Middleton. Reports say the two have been spending a lot of time together since Markle moved to Kensington Palace late last year and that Markle and Kate have bonded over their normal upbringings and lives before becoming involved in the constant craziness that is being part of the royal family.
“It’s becoming very clear within the family that William, [Kate], Harry and Meghan are the future of the royal family so everything rests on making sure Meghan eases naturally into her role,” a palace insider told E! News recently. “That’s a big priority for everyone. [Kate] did it and so they know it’s possible for an outsider, without any prior interactions with the establishment, to integrate well. [Kate] is very aware that Meghan will need a friend alongside her while she gets used to the way things are done around here.”
It also seems to help that Kate and Harry have been close for a long time, even before Markle came into the picture.
“It’s been said Kate and Harry have the same silly sense of humor, love watching Game of Thrones box sets together, and she would give him dating advice from time to time,” the source added. “Since very early on she made it clear that should Meghan ever need something, or just want to chat, she shouldn’t hesitate to get in touch. Kate knows how difficult it is navigating one’s way through this very different world. [And] it was important to [Harry] that Meghan and Kate got to know each other, as she has experienced many of the challenges Meghan now faces.”
It sounds like they have that friendship locked down already, which will definitely help Markle as she gets closer to becoming an official British royal.
Even though verified information about the bridal party is tough to find as of yet, other details about the ceremony are starting to leak. We’ve been curious since day one about how Harry and Markle will integrate tradition with their modern, fun persona. According to Hello magazine, Markle plans to stick to tradition and have her father, Thomas Markle, walk her down the aisle even though he’s done his best to stay out of the spotlight since her engagement.
One way she reportedly will be breaking from tradition, however, is by giving a speech at the ceremony. Traditionally, the bride wouldn’t give a speech, but reports say Markle plans to use an affectionate toast to thank Harry, Queen Elizabeth and the rest of the royal family for welcoming her so warmly. Public speaking is nothing new for Markle, who gave an impassioned speech about women’s rights to the United Nations in 2015, so we’re sure she’ll knock this one out of the park too.
Updated Dec. 15, 2017, 10 a.m. PT: Ladies and gentlemen, we have a date! According to the official Kensington Palace announcement today, we can all tune in to see Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tie the knot on May 19.
“His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales and Ms. Meghan Markle will marry on 19th May 2018,” the palace announced in a tweet. “Today’s announcement follows earlier confirmation of the month of the wedding and its location at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.“
His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales and Ms. Meghan Markle will marry on 19th May 2018.
Today's announcement follows earlier confirmation of the month of the wedding and its location at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. pic.twitter.com/7pgdRM90Na
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) December 15, 2017
There still hasn’t been an exact time announced, so we Americans don’t know yet what time to set our alarms for. But all in good time, fam.
Updated Nov. 30, 2017, 7:30 a.m. PT: Obviously the entire royal family is pretty excited for Prince Harry right now. He and Meghan Markle finally announced their long-anticipated engagement, and so far, every member of the family that’s spoken out has had nothing but words of excitement and encouragement for the prince and his bride-to-be.
But no one has hopes for the future quite as high as Prince William‘s.
While William was in Finland touring a child welfare charity, reporters couldn’t resist asking him what he thinks about his little brother’s engagement. And boy, does the eldest prince have some thoughts.
“For me, personally, I hope it means he stays out of my fridge and stops him from scrounging for food as he’s done over the last few years,” he said.
Dream big, Will.
Updated Nov. 28, 2017, 9:14 a.m. PT: We can’t imagine any woman (or man) is allowed to join the royal family without getting the nod of approval from the queen. The former Kate Middleton’s permission, on the other hand, likely isn’t necessary, but considering her close relationship with Prince Harry, we’re sure her opinions hold a lot of weight. So what does the Duchess of Cambridge think of her brother-in-law’s engagement? “William and I are absolutely thrilled,” she said according to People. “It’s such exciting news. It’s a really happy time for any couple and we wish them all the best and hope they enjoy this happy moment.”
So bride-to-be Meghan Markle — who will most likely be granted the title of Duchess of Sussex — is being welcomed into the family with open arms before she says I do to Prince Harry in spring 2018.
Original story published Nov. 27, 2017: It happened, fam. It. Finally. Happened. On Monday, Nov. 27, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle confirmed they are actually engaged. This is a big moment for fans across the world because we’ve been waiting for this day to arrive. So, if you’re like us, you need all of the details and fast. Fear not. We’ve got them all right here for you, so keep reading.
More:The Queen & Prince Philip Have Big Plans for Their 70th Anniversary
These two and their love story have had us swooning since it was revealed they had started dating last year. And that’s not about to stop now, because one of the first details we learned about their engagement is that Harry asked Markle’s parents for her hand before he popped the big question. How sweet is he?!
Prince Charles, Harry’s father, revealed that little detail in his statement announcing the engagement, which said that he “sought and received the blessing of Ms. Markle’s parents.”
The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince Harry to Ms. Meghan Markle. pic.twitter.com/zdaHR4mcY6
— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) November 27, 2017
Markle’s parents, not to be left out of this joyous day, released a statement of their own.
“We are incredibly happy for Meghan and Harry,” they said via a statement released by Kensington Palace shortly following the news. “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. We wish them a lifetime of happiness and are very excited for their future together.”
More: Meghan Markle & Prince Harry Are Kinda, Sorta Related
Of course, we have to know what the queen had to say about this news. Obviously, she approves since the engagement would have to go through her before becoming official. For her public statement, released along with her husband, Prince Philip, the queen kept things short and sweet. She and Philip “are delighted for the couple and wish them every happiness.”
The statement continued with this warm sentiment: “We’re both thrilled. We hope they’ll be very happy indeed.”
Following the engagement announcement, Harry and Markle attended a photo-call in London, where they posed for reporters and offered a few brief answers to questions. They also confirmed their wedding is set for spring 2018. Today was on the scene and captured a video of the couple looking positively giddy over the big step they’ve taken in their relationship.
That’s also where we got our first glimpse of the ring, which we’ve obviously been dying to see. A source told E! News that Harry designed it himself before having it made by Cleave & Company, court jewelers and medalists to Queen Elizabeth II. The center stone is reportedly from Botswana, where Harry and Markle celebrated her 36th birthday together, and the side stones come from Princess Diana’s personal collection according to reports. The three stones are set on a classic gold band. Oh, and did we mention that the ring is massive?
We expected nothing less than a ring that stunning for future royalty.
More:A Definitive Timeline of Meghan Markle & Prince Harry’s Relationship in 2017
Congratulations are in order for Harry and Markle! We can’t wait for more details to emerge about our new obsession: the next royal wedding.
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