Clear the diary, check the calendar and send out save the dates. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have revealed when and where they are getting married. The big day is in May 2018 and the couple will say 'I do' at St. George's Chapel, Windsor.
The marriage of Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle will take place at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle in May 2018. pic.twitter.com/lJdtWnbdpB— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) November 28, 2017
The couple revealed the first details of their marriage just 24 hours after announcing their engagement. The wedding will be a Church of England service but right now keep the party plans low key. Number Ten says it has no plans for anyone getting an extra Bank Holiday to mark the Royal Wedding so there's no chance to nurse the hangover if you get really carried away.
Meghan will be a May royal bride - the last major royal wedding to take place in the UK in this month was back in 1960 when Princess Margaret married Antony Armstrong-Jones. In recent years, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark wed Mary Donaldson in May while Felipe, now King of Spain, said 'I do' to Letizia Ortiz Rocosolano in the same month. Queen Sofia of Spain was another May royal bride.
St. George's Chapel, Windsor is said to be very close to the couple's hearts. It's got plenty of royal pedigree, that's for sure. There has been a castle at Windsor for almost 1,000 years although St George's Chapel wasn't built until the 14th century. It was particularly popular for royal weddings with the children of Queen Victoria. Her eldest son, the future Edward VII, married Alexandra of Denmark there in 1863. It was also the setting for the marriage of two of Victoria's daughters, Princess Helena and Princess Louise, and two more of her sons, Prince Arthur and Prince Leopold.
And it was the setting for a very important royal wedding in Swedish history for in 1905 Princess Margaret of Connaught married Prince Gustaf Adolf at St. George's Chapel. The bride died tragically young but her groom went on to be King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden - their grandson, Carl Gustaf, is the country's current monarch.
Most recently, Harry's father, the Prince of Wales had his second marriage blessed there. Charles and Camilla's blessing took place on April 9th 2005, just hours after their civil wedding at Windsor Guildhall. Harry and Meghan's church wedding is likely to be televised with a carriage procession for the thousands expected in Windsor next May. Save all those dates in May....it's going to be a right royal show.
Photos BBC stills