REALITY TV
TV
MOVIES
MUSIC
CELEBRITY
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use Accuracy & Fairness Corrections & Clarifications Ethics Code Your Ad Choices
© MEAWW All rights reserved
MEAWW.COM / NEWS / CELEBRITY NEWS

If you are not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding reception, worry not...here's how it's likely to go down

With just a little more than a month left for the royal wedding, we are detailing for you what actually happens at the mysterious wedding reception
UPDATED JAN 20, 2020
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (Source: Getty Images)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (Source: Getty Images)

If there is one thing we clearly remember about April 2011, it is the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. We were eagerly watching television screens, ogling at the new Duchess of Cambridge and her beautiful Alexander McQueen gown. Just a month away, another similar historical event will be in the making as we witness Meghan Markle walk down the isle while Prince Harry waits at the altar.

Their Royal Highnesses Prince William Duke of Cambridge and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge kiss from the balcony at Buckingham Palace on April 29, 2011 in London, England. The marriage of the second in line to the British throne was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury and was attended by 1900 guests, including foreign Royal family members and heads of state. Thousands of well-wishers from around the world have also flocked to London to witness the spectacle and pageantry of the Royal Wedding. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

However, royal weddings aren't just about the couple, it is for everybody. Some of the most televised events in history has been of royal weddings (and deaths).

It is the time where people stand unified to see the union and experience it upon themselves a conclusion to happy-ever-after at an hour-long ceremony at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

While we see all that happen in the public eye, royal wedding receptions are rather an intimate affair, experienced by only those who get an invitation. The public nuptial is sealed with a kiss and we do not know what happens after, just like fairytale's abrupt but satisfactory endings. 

Well, the inevitable question on every ordinary person's mind is what actually happens at the wedding reception. To be fair to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, we actually do not know what to expect since the couple has already broken more than six royal traditions, from choosing a lemon elderflower cake instead of a fruit cake to choosing peonies over a bouquet.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, Patron of the Invictus Games Foundation attend the UK Team Trials for the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 at the University of Bath Sports Training Village on April 6, 2018 in Bath, England. The Invictus Games Sydney 2018 will take place from 20-27th October and will see over 500 competitors from 18 nations compete in 11 adaptive sports. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

But referring to previous royal weddings, Kate and William's in particular, we are certain Queen Elizabeth will host an afternoon luncheon. Previously, Queen Elizabeth's luncheon for 650 people at Buckingham Palace served canapes and champagne. Prince Charles' speech seemingly stole the show. According to the Daily Mail, he emotionally described Kate Middleton as the daughter he never had and got guests laughing by mentioning Prince William's hairline.

Charles stood up on a platform and remarked, "The thing about growing older is that your children get taller than you so they can see your bald spots. Now in my case, I can see his."

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry visit the tunnel and trenches at Vimy Memorial Park during the commemorations for the centenary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge on April 9, 2017 in Vimy, France. The Battle Of Vimy Ridge was fought during WW1 as part of the initial phase of the Battle of Arras. Although British-led, it was mostly fought by the Canadian Corps. A centenary commemorative service will be held at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France attended by the Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry and representatives of the Canadian Government. (Photo by Tim Rooke - Pool/Getty Images)

After the luncheon, a group of 300 returned to the palace in the evening for a second celebration. An attendee described the scene for the Telegraph: 

"When we had arrived earlier, we were each given a little envelope with our table name on it, and the tables had a personal touch too - they had clearly been named after places that were special to the couple and their friends."

Table names included "Lewa" -- after Lewa Downs, the family home of William's old flame Jecca Craig, at the foot of Mount Kenya, where Prince William spent several months during his gap year and where he returned several times during his courtship of Miss Middleton.

Another table was "Tetbury" after the town in Gloucestershire which is close to Highgrove, Prince Charles's country home, and several Welsh-themed table names in a nod to their current home in Anglesey where the Prince works as a search and rescue helicopter pilot.

There was also, of course, a "St Andrews" table, after the Scottish university where the couple began their romance. We are hoping to see some American place references if this tradition is followed. Botswana, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, will definitely be a mention as the couple first spent quality time there together, camping under the stars.

The menu was a three-course dinner by Swiss chef, Anton Mossiman. The cuisine had ample varieties, including terrine, dressed crab and tiger prawns, Aberdeen Angus beef fillet, Welsh lamb from the Highgrove estate, spring vegetables, grilled and blanched, and a trio of chocolate puddings.

The catering is being handled by the same company that served at William and Kate’s wedding but Harry and Markle will have “a dinner menu that reflects both their tastes,” source told US Magazine, noting: “It won’t be as British as Kate and William had.”

A more American-based cuisine than in past royal weddings is just one way the Los Angeles native is incorporating her culture. “Meghan is keen to include some American traditions in this wedding,” it is reported.

Royal Demi Chef De Partie, Shaun Mason, lays out trays of hand made sweets prepared in the kitchens, akin to that which is usually served at receptions held at Buckingham Palace on March 25, 2011 in London, England. Prince Prince William will marry his long term girlfriend Kate Middleton on April 29, 2011 at Westminster Abbey and it was reported that the couple had chosen two Wedding cakes for their big day - a 'multi-tiered traditional fruit case with a floral design and a chocolate biscuit cake.' (Photo by Nick Ansell - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Prince Harry's speech took place at the palace reception, and it is likely the best man's speech even in this wedding will be held here, including Meghan's, who is breaking the tradition by writing her own speech for her wedding day. 

Harry is said to have given a humorous speech at the reception. 

One party-goer leaving the Buckingham Palace event told The Mail: "Harry said William was the perfect brother. It was exactly how you would expect a best man's speech to be. He cracked loads of jokes about William. He called him a "dude" several times. He kept coming back to it, saying "What a dude"." 

Harry described his brother's relationship with Kate as "inspirational" and to much applause added: "William didn't have a romantic bone in his body before he met Kate, so I knew it was serious when William suddenly started cooing down the phone at Kate."

Prince Harry also did an impersonation of Kate calling William "Billy" and of his brother calling Kate "baby", to much laughter from the guests. So maybe, Harry can be expected to do impersonation at his own reception if William doesn't. 

 Prince William (centre) and his best man Prince Harry (left) are greeted by Receiver General Stephen Lamport (right) as they arrive inside Westminster Abbey ahead of the Royal Wedding of Prince William to Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 in London, England. The marriage of the second in line to the British throne is to be led by the Archbishop of Canterbury and will be attended by 1900 guests, including foreign Royal family members and heads of state. Thousands of well-wishers from around the world have also flocked to London to witness the spectacle and pageantry of the Royal Wedding. (Photo by Anthony Devlin - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

After all the love and laughter, the guests are ushered into the Throne Room, which serves as a dance floor, stage, bar with strobe lights and sofas. At Kate and William's reception, the entertainment was provided by English singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding and according to the Daily Mail, Prince William and Kate set their first dance as a married couple to a cover of Elton John's "Your Song." However, according to the Telegraph, it was Goulding's hit "Starry-Eyed." Their last dance of the night was to "She Loves You" by The Beatles.

While it is still not confirmed who will be singing at the May 19 royal reception there are a series of guesses. On February 27, Mel B. a.k.a. Scary Spice gave us hints when she all but confirmed that the Spice Girls would be performing at the royal wedding. But then, Mel C. later said her former bandmate was "joking". It's been reported that Ed Sheeran has been asked to perform "a few songs" at the royal wedding and he had previously expressed his interest in performing, well, so had Sam Smith.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge drive from Buckingham Palace to Clarence House in a decorated vintage Aston Martin sports car on April 29, 2011 in London, England. The marriage of the second in line to the British throne was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury and was attended by 1900 guests, including foreign Royal family members and heads of state. Thousands of well-wishers from around the world have also flocked to London to witness the spectacle and pageantry of the Royal Wedding (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

As for Prince William and Kate Middleton, their party ended when they drove away from the palace in an Aston Martin convertible.

We will see on May 19 what Prince Harry and Meghan will do to conclude theirs. But one thing is for sure, there will be fireworks, a lot of it.

RELATED TOPICS KATE MIDDLETON MEGHAN MARKLE ED SHEERAN PRINCE HARRY
POPULAR ON MEAWW
MORE ON MEAWW