Their wedding was surely the happiest day of Meghan and Harry’s lives, but the absence of the groom’s mother Princess Diana no doubt tinted the proceedings with sadness.
However, the couple chose to pay tribute to the late royal – who was killed in a car crash in Paris 20 years ago – in numerous small ways throughout their big day – from Meghan’s choice of flowers to a reading by Diana’s sister.
The bride even wore one of her late mother-in-law’s rings to the evening party at her Frogmore House to go with her engagement band, which contains one of Diana’s diamonds.
At one point royal fans speculated that a seat had been left empty in the chapel for Harry’s late mother, but it turned out that it was a matter of royal protocol as nobody can sit in front of the Queen in church.
However, there was no shortage of nods to the late princess throughout Harry and Meghan’s special day.
Harry and Meghan ensured their big day was full of subtle but important tributes to his late mother Princess Diana
A BOUQUET OF DIANA’S FAVOURITES
Meghan’s bridal bouquet was created with her late mother-in-law in mind, thanks to the presence of forget-me-nots – the Princess of Wales’ favourite flowers – along with stems hand picked by Harry from their private garden at Kensington Palace.
‘The couple specifically chose them to be included in Ms. Markle’s bouquet to honour the memory of the late Princess on this special day,’ a spokesperson for Kensington Palace said.
Forget-me-not is also the meaning behind Sentebale, the charity set up by Harry in 2005 to help disadvantaged children in the southern African kingdom of Lesotho – in an echo of his mother’s charitable work.
Meghan’s bouquet included forget-me-nots, specifically chosen as they were Diana’s favourite flowers
DIANA’S FAVOURITE HYMN
The hymn Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer which was played at Princess Diana’s funeral was one of the late royal’s favourites.
And her son was visibly emotional when it was played during yesterday’s ceremony, wiping away tears during the final bars.
Prince Harry was seen wiping away tears yesterday during the hymn Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer, which was played at his mother’s funeral
READING BY DIANA’S SISTER
Prince Harry included a tribute to his late mother Diana in his wedding service with a Bible reading about the power of eternal love.
Diana’s sister Lady Jane Fellowes delivered the only reading of the ceremony, from the eighth chapter of the Song of Solomon in the knave of St George’s Chapel after the couple completed the Declaration.
Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave,’ it read.
‘Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.
‘If one offered for love all the wealth of one’s house, it would be utterly scorned.’
Lady Jane also read from the Bible at Diana’s funeral in 1997 after the former wife of Prince Charles was killed in a car crash in Paris.
Diana’s other sister Lady Sarah McCorquodale and her brother Earl Spencer were also in attendance along with Harry’s cousins in the Spencer family.
Diana’s sister Lady Jane Fellowes delivered the only reading of the ceremony, from the eighth chapter of the Song of Solomon
Princess Diana with her sister Lady Jane Fellowes at Wimbledon in 1984
WEARING DIANA’S RING
Meghan Markle paid a touching tribute to Princess Diana by wearing her aquamarine ring at their evening party at Frogmore House.
The new Duchess of Sussex wore the ring on her right hand as the pair travelled in a silver blue Jaguar E-Type Concept Zero to the English country house.
Ms Markle paired the emerald-cut accessory with a white halterneck evening gown by Stella McCartney – the designer who had been tipped to create her wedding dress.
Princess Diana wrote a special ‘letter of wishes’ in which she promised her jewellery to her sons with the intention of them sharing it with their future wives.
The Princess of Wales first wore the stunning ring in 1996 during a trip to Australia.
Meghan Markle paid a touching tribute to Princess Diana by wearing her aquamarine ring at their evening party at Frogmore House
Diana pictured wearing the ring as she chatted with her step-mother Raine, Comtesse De Chambrun during a charity reception
PERFORMANCE BY ELTON JOHN
The 71-year-old was a close friend of Princess Diana and famously sang a rewritten version of ‘Candle in the Wind’ at her funeral in 1997.
Prince Harry included Elton in his own wedding in a happier manner by surprising guests at his lunchtime reception by asking ‘does anyone here know how to play the piano?’ – before Sir Elton John got up and played.
The star serenaded 600 guests with four of his tunes including ‘Your Song’, ‘Tiny Dancer’, ‘Circle of Life’ and ‘I’m Still Standing’.
Elton, who attended the wedding with his husband David Furnish has maintained close links with William and Harry and also attended the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Westminster Abbey in 2011.
Diana’s friend Sir Elton John was not only on the guest list, but also performed a medley of hits for guests at the lunchtime reception
The singer, who was a close friend of the late Princess, famously sang Candle In The Wind at Diana’s funeral in 1997
SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN WITH HIV
Raising awareness of HIV and Aids was one of the most important elements of Princess Diana’s charity work when she was alive.
And Harry and Meghan decided to use their wedding to continue her work by nominating the Children’s HIV Association as one of the charities for guests and wellwishers to donate to.
The couple asked for people to make a contribution to one of seven charities instead of giving them presents, including CHIVA which supports children growing up with HIV and their families, across the UK and Ireland.
The charity aims to enhance the wellbeing of children and young people with HIV and to create a more hopeful and optimistic future for them, ensuring they achieve their greatest potential.
Princess Diana pictured at Mildmay Hospital the first dedicated hospice for people dying of AIDS related illnesses