Truth behind Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s ‘secret wedding’ before their ceremony
The Duchess of Susses dropped the bombshell during her Oprah interviewWhen Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sat down with Oprah, the world did not expect the bombshells the royals would drop about The Firm and their lives inside palace walls – nor their ‘secret wedding’.
From allegations a royal made a comment about Prince Archie’s skin colour to Kate making Meghan Markle cry – it was a rollercoaster ride.
However, one remark we didn’t see coming, was Prince Harry and Meghan claiming they had a secret wedding days before their televised ceremony. What really happened, and was the wedding where millions watched Meghan Markle say ‘I do’ live even real?
Harry and Meghan’s ‘secret wedding’
The Duchess of Sussex sparked a media frenzy when she asserted she and the Duke had their real nuptials three days before their royal wedding.
800 guests were invited to the big day, including cast members from her Suits TV show and a host of celebrities. The late queen hosted a wedding reception and Harry’s dad Charles organised a private party afterwards.
But during her 2021 interview, Meghan said that the Archbishop Justin Welby married them in a private backyard ceremony with no guests – on May 16, 2018. She said it took place in the garden of Kensington Palace ahead of the official date.
Her words were: “Three days before our wedding, we got married.
“We called the Archbishop and we just said, ‘Look, this spectacle is for the world but we want our union between us’.”
She added: “The vows that we have framed is just the two of us in our backyard with the Archbishop of Canterbury.”
Prince Harry backed his wife up too, adding it was an intimate affair, with “just the three of us.”
However, it caused uproar with royal fans who felt cheated over their big day.
Read more: Queen told Prince Harry ‘Meghan can’t have whatever she wants’ after ‘tantrum’
When did Meghan and Harry really get married?
Mr Welby has confirmed the “legal wedding” was on May 19, 2018, but said he did meet with the couple before the ceremony.
Speaking to Italian newspaper la Repubblica, he said: “If any of you ever talk to a priest, you expect them to keep that talk confidential.
“I had a number of private and pastoral meetings with the duke and duchess before the wedding.”
Mr Welby added: “The legal wedding was on the Saturday (May 19, 2018). I signed the wedding certificate, which is a legal document, and I would have committed a serious criminal offence if I signed it knowing it was false.”
Sussex spokesperson clarifies their comments
After that, a spokesperson for the couple clarified the couple’s comments. They clarified that the two “exchanged personal vows a few days before their official/legal wedding on May 19”.
Meanwhile, Stephen Borton – the former chief clerk at the Faculty Office – also addressed the misunderstanding.
Their spokesperson later clarified that the pair “exchanged personal vows a few days” before their legal wedding.
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He told The Sun: “The Special Licence I helped draw up enabled them to marry at St George’s Chapel in Windsor…
“…and what happened there on 19 May 2018 was the official wedding as recognised by the Church of England and the law.”
In addition, he said: “What I suspect they did was exchange some simple vows they had perhaps written themselves…
“…and which is fashionable, and said that in front of the Archbishop or, and more likely, it was a simple rehearsal.”
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