Prince Harry and his new bride Meghan Markle leave the church together as newylweds!
USA TODAY
Gallant Prince Harry, left, wearing a dinner jacket, opens the car door for his new bride, Meghan Markle, before heading to an evening reception hosted by Harry’s father, Prince Charles, after the couple’s royal wedding earlier Saturday. Markle, now Duchess of Sussex, had changed into a bespoke, high-neck, lily-white gown in silk crepe from Stella McCartney.(Photo: Steve Parsons, AP)
After a lunch reception for 600 guests at St. George’s Hall of Windsor Castle, newlyweds Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan hopped in a silver-blue 1968 Jaguar E-type (with the license plate “E180519” to commemorate the wedding date) and drove off to a more intimate sitdown dinner for 200.
Meghan wore what designer Stella McCartney described as a high-neck lily-white silk crepe gown, as the couple exited the castle and climbed into the vintage car. They headed to the evening event, hosted by Prince Charles at Frogmore House on the estate.
Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry leave Windsor Castle after their wedding to attend an evening dinner reception. (Photo: STEVE PARSONS/AP)
According to the palace, approximately 7,500 servings of food were prepared for the lunch by a team of 25 led by Royal Chef Mark Flanagan. John performed three songs at the request of Prince Harry. “It was a very, very touching reception,” Prince Harry’s friend Dominic Reid told CNN. “Very private affair. Really nice speech by the Prince of Wales.”
Prince Charles ended his emotional remarks by telling his son, “My darling old Harry, I’m so happy for you,” one guest told People, while another informed the magazine that attendees cheered when Prince Harry referred to the couple as “my wife and I” during a “very off-the-cuff” and “lovely” speech. “He promised that all the Americans wouldn’t steal the swords and said, ‘Please, when you leave, be quiet as you don’t want to wake the neighbors,’ which was quite fun.” (Duchess Meghan will make her speech at the evening function.)
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex depart Windsor Castle for a reception hosted by The Prince of Wales at Frogmore House, in a silver blue Jaguar E-Type Concept Zero. This vehicle was originally manufactured in 1968, and has since been converted to electric power #RoyalWeddingpic.twitter.com/hRrxEUlFlJ
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 19, 2018
The guests at the Queen’s reception had a variety of tasty victuals to nosh on, starting with an abundance of canapes:
- Scottish langoustines wrapped in smoked salmon with citrus crème fraiche
- Grilled English asparagus wrapped in Cumbrian ham
- Garden pea panna cotta with quail eggs and lemon verbena
- Heritage tomato and basil tartare with balsamic pearls
- Poached free-range chicken bound in a lightly spiced yogurt with roasted apricot
- Croquette of confit Windsor lamb, roasted vegetables and shallot jam
- Warm asparagus spears with mozzarella and sun-blush tomatoes
For those who preferred their canapes on the sweeter side:
- Champagne and pistachio macarons
- Orange crème brûlée tartlets
- Miniature rhubarb crumble tartlets
British singer-songwriter Sir Elton John waves as he leaves the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan. He later performed at the couple’s royal lunch reception. (Photo: CHRIS JACKSON, AFP/GETTY IMAGES)
The extensive reception menu featured hors d’oeuvres and appetizers passed by footmen and under butlers and served in small bowls for ease of eating while mingling:
- Fricassee of free-range chicken with morel mushrooms and young leeks
- Pea and mint risotto with pea shoots, truffle oil and Parmesan crisps
- Ten-hour slow-roasted Windsor pork belly with apple compote and crackling
Duchess Meghan is known to be a foodie interested in organic and fresh food, while Prince Harry is more of a beer-and-pizza guy, says former Royal Chef Darren McGrady. “Harry is into the nursery foods, cottage pie, shepherd’s pie, all the real comfort foods,” McGrady says. “(The reception menu) is great opportunity to do both and have sort of a mixture.”
While they do have some tastes in common, Harry “loves ribs and barbecue” and Meghan “is coming with healthy eating (views), so there could be a clash there,” McGrady says. However, he notes Harry lost about 10 pounds before the wedding, thanks to a diet under his bride’s guidance.
Duchess Meghan is quite the foodie compared to her new husband: “Prince Harry is more of a beer-and-pizza guy,” says former Royal Chef Darren McGrady. (Photo: WPA POOL/GETTY IMAGES)
Also on tap was the cutting of the wedding cake, designed by Claire Ptak. The cake features elderflower syrup made at the Queen’s residence in Sandringham, as well as a light sponge cake, Amalfi lemon curd filling and elderflower buttercream.
Drinks served included Pol Roger Brut Réserve Non-Vintage Champagne and a selection of wines and soft drinks. One specialty: an apple and elderflower mocktail, made with the same elderflower syrup that’s used in the cake, plus Sandringham Cox’s apple juice.
Contributing: Maria Puente
More: 5 biggest moments from the royal wedding of Meghan Markle & Prince Harry
Related: Still friends! Prince Harry’s exes Chelsy Davy, Cressida Bonas attend
Also: ‘Beautiful’ or ‘boring’? Meghan Markle’s Givenchy dress divides social media
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