DJ Idris Elba Reveals the Special Song Meghan Markle Asked Him to Play at Her Royal Wedding
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal wedding reception ceremony in 2018 was a star-studded affair.
Actor and DJ Idris Elba, who had the honor of playing tracks at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal wedding, shared fun behind-the-scenes details from their big day. Elba revealed the unexpected song Markle personally asked him to play. Her choice, he claims, set the tone for the night. The DJ shared that the song was an instant hit at the couple's reception, with guests filling the dance floor.
In 2022, the actor was co-hosting the 1Xtra Rap Show when host Tiffany Calver asked him about his experience at the royal wedding. As reported by People magazine, Calver asked, "What is the vibe of a Harry and Meghan wedding? What tune was the one that got everyone going crazy?" Elba shared that the first song that got everyone present at Frogmore Cottage on their feet was Whitney Houston's I Want to Dance With Somebody, as reported by Marie Claire. "They went off on that chain," Elba said.
The actor and DJ added that during the reception ceremony, Markle asked him to play Still D.R.E. by Dr. Dre, featuring Snoop Dogg, which turned out to be a crowd favorite. In response, Calver said, "Really? I knew I liked them." There’s hence no doubt Markle embodies the spirit of a true California girl. Meanwhile, this wasn’t the first time that Elba spoke about Markle’s song selection for her big day. In 2019, he said, “Meghan sent me a playlist with some bare tunes on it.” He spilled, "There was some West Coast on it."
On another occasion, the actor claimed that Harry and Markle's wedding was an unforgettable event in his life. He said, "I try not to talk too much about it, because it was a private day, but it remains one of the highlights of my life, for sure.” During his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel's talk show, Elba also revealed that he did not charge the Sussexes for the royal wedding; rather, it was a gift for his friends, as reported by TODAY. Kimmel humorously asked, "Did you get the Queen out on the dance floor with Ladies Night?" Elba responded, "No, I didn't try either.”
Harry and Markle's reception ceremony was a star-studded affair, with several A-listers like Oprah Winfrey, Serena Williams, and Markle's former Suits co-stars in attendance. The party was so lively that George Clooney, founder of Casamigos tequila, jumped behind the bar himself, mixing drinks for the guests. In their Netflix documentary, which released never-before-seen footage of their special evening, Markle also commented on her music choices. She said, “I just really wanted the music to be fun. Even our first dance."
