With the royal wedding of Prince Harry, 33, and Meghan Markle, 36, just two weeks away, Kensington Palace has confirmed key information surrounding the May 19 ceremony during a briefing on Friday.
Despite much speculation suggesting Markle’s father, Thomas, would not be walking her down the aisle, the Palace has now confirmed that he will in fact be doing the honours. It’s also been announced that the bride will travel with her mother, Doria Ragland, in the car to the chapel. However, Thomas will meet them there.
The Palace added in the briefing that the in-laws will meet for the first time the week of the wedding.
Markle, 36, will not have a maid of honour due to her having a small group of friends and not wanting to choose between them, and the Palace also announced that there won’t be any information on the bridesmaids until the day, aside from that they will all be children.
A spokesperson told Entertainment Tonight: “She has a very close-knit circle of friends and she didn’t want to choose one over another.
“All have been actively involved in helping her prepare for the day and will be there in the days beforehand. She’s very happy to have their support.”
The wedding is set to start at noon (7 a.m. ET) and will last an hour, with the proceeding carriage procession lasting 25 minutes.
It’s reported that the lunch reception will last until around 3:30 p.m. (10:30 a.m. ET); Harry will host a more intimate, private reception at Frogmore House later that evening.
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Harry and Markle are set to spend the night before the wedding apart, but will take up residence at Kensington Palace once married.
The latest news comes after Prince William finally confirmed that he’d be best man last month, with Harry joking that he’d “got down on one knee” to ask his brother to do the honours.
Despite Markle’s friend Priyanka Chopra and others confirming they will be attending the ceremony, the Palace insisted that no official guest list will be released ahead of the couple’s special day.
They did confirm, however, that all three siblings of Diana, Princess of Wales will be in attendance and Lady Jane Fellowes will give the reading.
The Palace added that, “Prince Harry and Ms. Markle both feel honoured that Lady Jane will be representing her family and helping to celebrate the memory of the late Princess on the wedding day.”
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