The People's PrincessAll about Diana Spencer, the beloved Princess of Wales, who married and divorced a future king and tragically died in 1997 at age 36.
On May 19, 2018, Prince Harry married Meghan Markle in a ceremony watched by people around the world, with 29 million viewers tuning in from the United States alone. While there was much to discuss – the dress, the guests, the tiara – the Princess Diana tributes at the royal wedding were perhaps the most heartwarming and meaningful elements of the day.
Diana Spencer married into the royal family in 1981, and she and Prince Charles welcomed their sons Prince William in 1982 and Prince Harry in 1984. In 1996, Diana and Charles divorced, and Diana tragically died in a car accident the following year. Though it’s been decades since she passed, Princess Diana is still remembered for her humanitarian work, her patronage to the arts, and her strength in the face of difficulties. And Princess Diana is especially remembered by the two sons she left behind. So, it's not surprising that Harry made several sentimental tributes to his late mother on his wedding day.
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Meghan's Bouquet Featured Diana's Favorite Flowers
Meghan’s royal bouquet featured forget-me-nots, which were Diana’s favorite flower. But it gets even more sentimental than that. Harry reportedly handpicked the tiny blooms from the private garden at Kensington Palace on the night before the wedding. He then had the florist, Philippa Craddock, incorporate the flowers into Meghan's bouquet as a tribute to his late mother. The bouquet also included sweet peas, lily of the valley, and jasmine, among other flowers.
Harry Gave Meghan Diana's Aquamarine Cocktail Ring
On their wedding day, Harry gave Meghan not one, but two rings. First, she received her wedding band, made from Welsh gold, as is tradition for the royal family. The second ring was an aquamarine cocktail ring from Diana's collection. The ring brilliantly matched the blue, vintage Jaguar the couple drove to their reception.
The aquamarine ring is part of a set. The matching bracelet reportedly includes the same stone set among pearls. There’s no word on if Meghan received the whole set or just the ring, but either way the sentiment is heartwarming.
Meghan’s style is lauded for being simple, chic, and timeless, which was evident in her wedding dress design. The yards-long veil, though, was definitely eye-catching, and possibly another tribute to Diana. The train on Diana's wedding gown stretched 25 feet in length, with her veil extending past to make for a total of 459 feet of extra fabric. Meghan’s veil clocked in at 16.5 feet.
Besides the length, Meghan's veil reminded sharp-eyed viewers of Diana with its embroidery, too. It was decorated with the signature flowers of the 53 countries in the British Commonwealth, in addition to blades of wheat, which symbolize love and charity. Some think the wheat is a subtle nod to Diana.
Meghan's Engagement Ring Features Two Of Diana's Diamonds
Meghan’s engagement ring is definitely fit for royalty. Designed by Harry himself, the ring features a center stone from Botswana, where the couple enjoyed a camping trip early into their relationship. The center stone is flanked by two smaller diamonds from Diana’s collection. The 6.5 total karat ring features a band made of yellow gold, Meghan's favorite.
The Ceremony Included A Hymn That Was Played During Diana’s Funeral
Prince Harry appeared to get choked up during the singing of "Guide Me, O Thy Great Redeemer," a hymn that was also sung at Princess Diana's funeral https://t.co/OvLScRZ1pspic.twitter.com/4gVRhlQW0h
Harry and Meghan included the hymn “Guide Me, O Thy Great Redeemer” in their wedding ceremony because it was played at Diana’s funeral (William and Kate Middleton chose it for their 2011 wedding, too). Some eagle-eyed viewers even noticed Harry get choked up and wipe a tear from his eye when it was performed.
Harry was 12 years old when Diana passed away. During the funeral, he marched behind the casket alongside William, his father Charles, his grandfather Philip, and his maternal uncle Charles Spencer. Of the experience, Harry said:
My mother had just died, and I had to walk a long way behind her coffin, surrounded by thousands of people watching me while millions more did on television... I don’t think any child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances.
After they met at a party in 1981, Diana and Elton John became fast friends. At the time of her death in 1997, John rewrote “Candle In The Wind” (originally about the death of Marilyn Monroe) as a tribute to Diana. He sang it at Diana's funeral, but he has turned down requests to perform the song again, saying he'll only do so at the request of William or Harry.
Harry and Meghan invited John to their wedding. At the reception, John reportedly performed “Your Song,” “Tiny Dancer,” "I'm Still Standing," and “Circle of Life,” which really brought the royal family’s relationship with John full circle.
