THE NEW DUKE AND DUCHESS OF SUSSEX HAD NOT ONE, BUT TWO WEDDING RECEPTIONS
The first celebration took place immediately after the ceremony at St. George’s Hall in Windsor Castle. A more public-facing event, the lunchtime gathering was hosted by the Queen for 600 guests from the wedding service congregation.
Sir Elton, who sang at the funeral service for Harry’s mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, performed at the lunchtime reception.
Guests were served Pol Roger Champagne along with canapés and bowl food before speeches from Prince Charles and Prince Harry. Best man William served as compère.
The cutting of the cake, a lemon and elderflower sponge by Claire Ptak, also took place at the lunchtime reception.
At 180 feet (55.5 meters) long and 29.5 feet (9 meters) wide, St. George’s Hall is the largest room in Windsor Castle. The Queen often uses the space to host formal state dinners with world leaders visiting from abroad. Though it was badly damaged by the fire at Windsor in 1992, it was later renovated in a modern Gothic style, according to the Royal Collection Trust.
The celebrations culminated in a black-tie wedding dinner staged at Frogmore House and hosted by Charles for 200 of the couple’s closest friends and family. James Corden reportedly acted as compere.
The married couple arrived at the evening reception in ultimate style – riding in a silver blue Jaguar E-Type Concept Zero, which was originally manufactured in 1968 and has since been converted to electric power to Frogmore House in Windsor.
The car’s number plate bore the date of the wedding – E190518 – and Prince Harry proved he was the perfect gentleman as he opened the door of a vintage car to let his bride step in, as he drove her to their private evening reception in a scene akin to a James Bond film.
Few details were released by Kensington Palace about the evening reception, but rumors include a speech from the bride, and a rather naughty Best Man speech from William. Prince Harry’s close friends, Tom “Skippy” Inskip and Tom Van Straubenzee, also gave a cheeky joint speech, according to the Daily Mail.
Dinner, prepared by royal chef Mark Flanagan, was expected to be far more formal than the lunchtime reception. Likely at least three courses, Flanagan created a menu with Meghan and Harry that included seasonal ingredients sourced from the the Queen’s estates. “There’s no experimentation on Saturday whatsoever, tried and tested and predominantly classics,” Flanagan told reporters last week.
