Meghan Markle Broke a Royal Wedding Rule on Her Big Day — and Prince Harry Thought It Was a Great Idea
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry had a dreamy wedding in 2018 where the bride chose to break a royal protocol to express her love to her new husband.
Meghan Markle could be described as a breath of fresh air or a controversial rebel, based on who you ask. But if there was one thing that her supporters and critics could agree on, it's that she does things differently, on her own terms. One of the first examples of this was Markle breaking royal protocol to give a speech during her wedding reception with Prince Harry in 2018.
Markle and Harry undoubtedly have a love story that looks straight out of a Hollywood movie. Their love blossomed in London and Botswana before finally culminating at the altar in a dreamy wedding. It's quite natural that the Duchess would have wanted to acknowledge their happy ending with some sweet words. According to a source, even Prince Harry thought it was a “great idea”. The details of the bride’s speech had been under wraps for years, until Markle revealed what they were during their 2022 Netflix docu-series. The speech was certainly one that could melt hearts.
Markle said that she wanted to narrate “a story about the man that I love and the way that we met.” She called their sweeping romance a “modern fairytale” in her wedding reception speech before telling InStyle, “Once upon a time, there was a girl from L.A. Some people called her an actress. And there was a guy from London. Some people called him a prince. All of those people didn’t fully get it. Because this is the love story of a boy and a girl who were meant to be together.”
Markle and Harry came face-to-face for the first time in Soho House, London in 2016. Despite being technically strangers at the time, they went on to "giggle endlessly" throughout the night, solidifying a connection for life. The Duchess also spoke about how Harry had brought her 4th of July cupcakes on their second date, which coincidentally fell on America's Independence Day. “Ironic, really. Her country’s independence from his country. Yet, in this moment, they know they don’t want to be independent from each other,” Markle said.
She then moved on to their infamous third date, when they went camping in Botswana. “When the tides were rough, they squeezed each other tighter. ‘Nothing can break us,’ they’d say. For this love, she was a fighter,” she said, before addressing her groom, “I appreciate, respect, and honor you, my treasure, for the family we will create. And our love story that will last forever.” She asked the guests to raise a glass to the “astounding assurance that now life begins” before ending the speech by saying, “Love wins.” The final statement rings true about the journey of the Sussexes after leaving the royal family. Despite doubt, criticism and public vitriol, the couple stood the test of time.
Markle and Harry have two kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, whom they are now raising in their sprawling mansion in Montecito, California.
