Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Wedding Date And Venue Confirmed
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal wedding is expected to take place at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle sometime in May.
The confirmation came from the palace a day after the couple's engagement was announced. A spokesperson also confirmed that the wedding expenses will be paid for by the royal family.
Prior to their big day, Markle will be baptized into the Church of England and confirmed thereafter. The 36-year-old actress is a Protestant.
Markle, who just exited from her USA Network television show, Suits, will also become a British citizen. However, the actress won't renounce her American citizenship.
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Wedding Details
Other details about the wedding are still being kept under wraps at the moment. However, royal aide Jason Knauf confirmed that the ceremony and reception will be reflective of who Markle and Prince Harry are as a couple. He added that the couple will be leading all preparations for their nuptials.
"This wedding, like all weddings, will be a moment of fun and joy that will reflect the characters of the bride and groom," said Knauf.
Meanwhile, royal expert Kate Nicholl also explained why Prince Harry and Markle chose to get married at St. George's Chapel and not at Westminster Abbey where Prince William tied the knot with Kate Middleton in 2011.
According to Nicholl, Prince Harry and Markle don't want to have such a big royal wedding. They don't think it's necessary to invite as many people as his older brother did.
"Harry really wanted to have something a little bit more intimate. The second reason is that he wanted something close to home for the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen," Nicholl told ET Online.
Why Royal Couple Will Wed In May
Nicholl also dished on why Prince Harry and Markle have decided to tie the knot in May. Even though the actual date hasn't been confirmed yet, the couple decided to hold it next spring so that Prince Harry's grandfather, Prince Philip, could attend.
The royal expert revealed that Prince Harry has a very close relationship with his grandfather. Since Prince Philip is already 96, he and Markle want to make sure that the Duke of Edinburgh will be fit and healthy when he witnesses their union.
"Harry thought it was a great thing to have the wedding sooner rather than later," said the royal expert.
Meanwhile, in the months leading up to Prince Harry and Markle's wedding, the couple is expected to attend various official engagements.Their first event as an engaged couple will take place on Friday, Dec. 1. The pair will visit the Nottingham Contemporary, which will be hosting a charity fair on the same day.
After their visit to the Nottingham Contemporary, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be meeting with head teachers at the Nottingham Academy.
