Meghan Markle marked a momentous milestone (try saying that ten times) in her new royal life today as she and Prince Harry arrived at Buckingham Palace for the Queen's annual Pre-Christmas luncheon.
Ahead of the luncheon, a royal source told reporter Camilla Tominey Meghan would be in attendance as "she's already considered part of the family". Today's luncheon offered the perfect opportunity for Meghan to meet extended members of the family before the wedding and, of course, reacquaint herself with the Queen's corgis. During the engagement interview, Harry revealed they had taken quite a shine to her.
Her Majesty hosts the fifty-strong luncheon every year for the entire extended family, many of whom are spending Christmas with their own children and grandchildren rather than joining the annual gathering at Sandringham. It is one of very few occasions where so many members of the Royal Family are assembled together. The royals usually stay for a couple of hours before departing. It is said The Queen takes attendance at the luncheon very seriously and family members rarely miss the event.
Harry and Meghan left KP almost immediately after William and Kate who brought their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte to the lunch.
This photo of Prince Harry begs a caption contest :)
Another view of Meghan arriving. In every photo I've seen, she looks incredibly relaxed.
Meghan will undoubtedly enjoy seeing Buckingham Palace in all its splendor for the festivities. Although, she has already become well acquainted with the Palace. She has enjoyed tea with Her Majesty there and was spotted arriving with Harry shortly after the engagement. It heralds a new era for Meghan as she begins her royal life. The newly engaged couple will travel to Norfolk in the coming days where they will enjoy a traditional royal Christmas.
A seasonally appropriate welcome awaited guests in the form of a 15ft Nordmann Fir Tree from Windsor Great Park.
The perfect finishing touch to a Royal Christmas tree :)
There's a wonderful video showcasing the process of decorating the Palace shown below.
It is a beautiful time of year at the Palace. Earlier this week, the Coldstream Guards Band played a selection of Christmas carols during Changing of the Guard.
A quick video of Harry and Meghan leaving from royal reporter Richard Palmer.
The pair were seen smiling and chatting as they left. It looks like they had a wonderful time.
A glimpse of Meghan's engagement ring.
Meghan looked elegant as she arrived at the Palace today.
The amazing HeavenQRF identified Meghan's pretty dress as the Self Portrait Nightshade Midi Dress. The £300 dress is crafted from a combination of specially designed guipure lace and solid crepe skirt. The short sleeved bodice is fitted to the waist with a grosgrain waistband in contrast to the full silhouette of the tucked A-line skirt. The neckline is finished with a solid black collar stand. The bodice is lined with a nude bandeau for coverage and the dress is fastened with an exposed zip in the back. It has been sold out for some time.
Ahead of the luncheon, a royal source told reporter Camilla Tominey Meghan would be in attendance as "she's already considered part of the family". Today's luncheon offered the perfect opportunity for Meghan to meet extended members of the family before the wedding and, of course, reacquaint herself with the Queen's corgis. During the engagement interview, Harry revealed they had taken quite a shine to her.
Her Majesty hosts the fifty-strong luncheon every year for the entire extended family, many of whom are spending Christmas with their own children and grandchildren rather than joining the annual gathering at Sandringham. It is one of very few occasions where so many members of the Royal Family are assembled together. The royals usually stay for a couple of hours before departing. It is said The Queen takes attendance at the luncheon very seriously and family members rarely miss the event.
Harry and Meghan left KP almost immediately after William and Kate who brought their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte to the lunch.
This photo of Prince Harry begs a caption contest :)
Another view of Meghan arriving. In every photo I've seen, she looks incredibly relaxed.
Meghan will undoubtedly enjoy seeing Buckingham Palace in all its splendor for the festivities. Although, she has already become well acquainted with the Palace. She has enjoyed tea with Her Majesty there and was spotted arriving with Harry shortly after the engagement. It heralds a new era for Meghan as she begins her royal life. The newly engaged couple will travel to Norfolk in the coming days where they will enjoy a traditional royal Christmas.
A seasonally appropriate welcome awaited guests in the form of a 15ft Nordmann Fir Tree from Windsor Great Park.
The perfect finishing touch to a Royal Christmas tree :)
There's a wonderful video showcasing the process of decorating the Palace shown below.
It is a beautiful time of year at the Palace. Earlier this week, the Coldstream Guards Band played a selection of Christmas carols during Changing of the Guard.
Thank you to the @ColdstreamBand, who today played a selection of Christmas Carols during Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace. 🎄 💂— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) December 15, 2017
Watch the full clip on our facebook: https://t.co/AipgEZhjW9 pic.twitter.com/8D3DhQtE7R
A quick video of Harry and Meghan leaving from royal reporter Richard Palmer.
And Harry and Meghan leaving pic.twitter.com/ezaEFoGk9U— Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) December 20, 2017
A glimpse of Meghan's engagement ring.
Meghan looked elegant as she arrived at the Palace today.
The amazing HeavenQRF identified Meghan's pretty dress as the Self Portrait Nightshade Midi Dress. The £300 dress is crafted from a combination of specially designed guipure lace and solid crepe skirt. The short sleeved bodice is fitted to the waist with a grosgrain waistband in contrast to the full silhouette of the tucked A-line skirt. The neckline is finished with a solid black collar stand. The bodice is lined with a nude bandeau for coverage and the dress is fastened with an exposed zip in the back. It has been sold out for some time.
We can see the detail of the dress slightly in this photo.
A reader kindly shared a photo of Suki Waterhouse wearing the same piece. Emma notes Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands. also wore the dress for a wedding earlier this year. You can view photos here.
Meghan has been a fan of the hugely popular brand for years. Below, we see her wearing their Teardrop Lace Dress at the Glamour and L'Oreal Paris Celebrate 2016 College Women Of The Year event last year.
The Meghan's Mirror team believe Meghan's new earrings are the $6,000 Maison Birks Snowflake Large Round Jacket Earrings - a very seasonal choice by one of Canada's leading jewellers.
If searching for an alternative to Meghan's earrings, the talented Meghan's Fashion found the $21 Over Ear Jackets and the $36 Front and Back Discs at Bling Jewellery.
How did the luncheon go? The Mail Online reports it was a charming afternoon with Meghan pulling a cracker with Prince Charles.
A reader kindly shared a photo of Suki Waterhouse wearing the same piece. Emma notes Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands. also wore the dress for a wedding earlier this year. You can view photos here.
Meghan has been a fan of the hugely popular brand for years. Below, we see her wearing their Teardrop Lace Dress at the Glamour and L'Oreal Paris Celebrate 2016 College Women Of The Year event last year.
The Meghan's Mirror team believe Meghan's new earrings are the $6,000 Maison Birks Snowflake Large Round Jacket Earrings - a very seasonal choice by one of Canada's leading jewellers.
If searching for an alternative to Meghan's earrings, the talented Meghan's Fashion found the $21 Over Ear Jackets and the $36 Front and Back Discs at Bling Jewellery.
How did the luncheon go? The Mail Online reports it was a charming afternoon with Meghan pulling a cracker with Prince Charles.
Meghan Markle passed her first major test as a member of the Royal Family yesterday – by pulling a cracker with future father-in-law, Prince Charles, donning a paper hat and reading out a corny joke.
Prince Harry’s fiancé was a guest at the Queen’s annual Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace, where she was introduced to almost every member of the monarch’s extended family. According to an insider, she appeared slightly nervous initially but soon began to dazzle, with relatives queuing up to meet the prince’s glamorous bride-to-be for the first time.
Fortunately for the US-born actress – who will no doubt attend her inaugural state banquet next year - these lunches are designed to be fun, not formal. ‘Everyone wanted to meet Meghan and welcome her to the family and she didn’t disappoint,’ they told the Mail. She was obviously a bit nervous at first but she soon relaxed with Prince Harry’s help as he introduced her to everyone and then she really enjoyed it.
‘Harry was clearly very happy and very proud of her and everyone thought she was delightful. It was your typical Christmas lunch in spite of who was there – turkey, crackers…the lot. ’
It was lovely to see Meghan at the luncheon. We'll see the couple on Christmas morning at Sandringham next :)