Ahead of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's upcoming Royal Tour, the couple attended the wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank today.
The wedding undoubtedly brought back fond memories for the couple who exchanged their own vows at the same venue, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle less than five months ago. The Duke and Duchess joined 850 guests at the chapel this morning, including a host of well-known faces such as Demi Moore, Stephen Fry, Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss.
The wedding undoubtedly brought back fond memories for the couple who exchanged their own vows at the same venue, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle less than five months ago. The Duke and Duchess joined 850 guests at the chapel this morning, including a host of well-known faces such as Demi Moore, Stephen Fry, Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss.
An arrival video of the Sussexes and Cambridges.
Prince George and Princess Charlotte were page boy and bridesmaid for the day.
They joined a very royal bridal party, including Savannah and Isla Phillips, Mia Tindall, Maud Windsor (daughter of Freddie and Sophie Windsor who attends Thomas's Battersea with George), Robbie William's daughter Theodora, and Louis de Givenchy. The Earl and Countess of Wessex's children Louise and James were special attendants.
They joined a very royal bridal party, including Savannah and Isla Phillips, Mia Tindall, Maud Windsor (daughter of Freddie and Sophie Windsor who attends Thomas's Battersea with George), Robbie William's daughter Theodora, and Louis de Givenchy. The Earl and Countess of Wessex's children Louise and James were special attendants.
The bridal party arriving.
The floral displays were created by Rob van Helder using foliage and flowering branches, sourced locally from Windsor Great Park, combined with roses, spray roses, hydrangeas, dahlias and berries. The designs reflected the rich and vibrant tones of autumn and also included Liquidambar trees. The floral designer said: "It has been the greatest privilege and honour to create the flowers for Princess Eugenie and Jack, on their Wedding day. Her Royal Highness has been very involved from the start and has been instrumental in the autumnal theme."
Maid of honour Princess Beatrice wearing Ralph and Russo, and mother of the bride Sarah, Duchess of York, who carried the same purse her late mother wore for her wedding to Prince Andrew.
Her Majesty and Prince Philip were in great spirits.
The Royal family enjoyed chatting as they awaited the bride's arrival.
It was great to see Meghan and Anne talking away before the service began.
The bride travelled to St George's Chapel with Prince Andrew in a 1977 Rolls Royce Phantom VI.
The bride travelled to St George's Chapel with Prince Andrew in a 1977 Rolls Royce Phantom VI.
A video of the arrival.
The bride smiled and waved as she turned to face the cameras.
The scene outside St George's Chapel.
Eugenie and Jack have been together for over seven years. The pair announced their engagement in January, choosing Windsor as the venue because it's been a place Eugenie spent much of her childhood. Jack works as a brand ambassador for George's Clooney's tequila company Casamigos, which the actor recently sold to Diageo.
Eugenie and Jack have been together for over seven years. The pair announced their engagement in January, choosing Windsor as the venue because it's been a place Eugenie spent much of her childhood. Jack works as a brand ambassador for George's Clooney's tequila company Casamigos, which the actor recently sold to Diageo.
During a pre-wedding interview aired this morning, the groom described Eugenie as a "bright, shining light". Eugenie, who recalled meeting him on a Swiss skiing trip said it was "love at first sight", adding: "I thought, 'what a silly hat!' and I thought, 'who’s that?' and then you came over and shook my hand and I was all butterflies and nervous. I think I rang my mum that night and said 'I’ve met this guy Jack'...and that was it I think about how it started. Jack’s the kind of guy, you know when you’re lost at a party and you can’t find anyone to talk to, and you start panicking and you need help? He’ll walk in and make everyone feel so special."
The order of service can be viewed here. The Palace said: "The Service is from the 1928 Prayer Book Service. Princess Eugenie and Mr Brooksbank have taken great care and interest in bringing together the content of their service, working closely with the Dean of Windsor and all others involved."
Guests enjoyed performances by Andrea Boccelli.
Princess Beatrice gave a reading from The Great Gatsby.
Eugenie's wedding band was created from gold gifted by the Queen.
A kiss for the newlyweds.
Mr and Mrs Brooksbank!
Afterwards, the newlyweds travelled in the Scottish State Carriage for a short procession.
The Duke and Duchess enjoy a moment with Her Majesty.
The Duke and Duchess with the Earl of Wessex.
The royals were out in force to wave them off.
An overview.
Emily Nash shared a video of Harry and Meghan departing with Prince Charles.
VIDEO: The Prince of Wales and Duke and Duchess of Sussex walk back to the Castle: pic.twitter.com/SoUzKMMn2E— Emily Nash (@emynash) October 12, 2018
Princess Eugenie was a beautiful bride in a bespoke gown designed by Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos, who founded the British-based label Peter Pilotto, in London in 2007. The brand is known for its innovative textile design, paired with a modern feminine silhouette. Eugenie and the designers worked closely together on the creation of the dress. The designers undertook archive research into previous dresses worn by members of the Royal family and identified a perfect silhouette.
During several fittings the dress was developed layer by layer, constructing it from the corset and the complex underskirt to the fitted bodice and full pleated skirt. The dress features a neckline that folds around the shoulders to a low back that drapes into a flowing full-length train.
The low back feature on the dress was at the specific request of Princess Eugenie, who had surgery aged 12 to correct scoliosis. She has been widely praised for choosing to show her scars on her big day.
More from the Palace:
'The fabric was designed by Mr Pilotto and Mr De Vos at their studio in East London and includes a number of symbols that are meaningful to Princess Eugenie as motifs. The symbols are a Thistle for Scotland acknowledging the couple's fondness for Balmoral, a Shamrock for Ireland as a nod to the Bride's Ferguson family, the York Rose and ivy representing the couple's home.
Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos have reinterpreted these symbols in a garland of rope like motifs, woven into a jacquard of silk, cotton and viscose blend. Once the artwork was completed, it was translated into a jacquard weave in the Como region of Italy. The result is a very modern looking fabric using a highly intricate weaving technique.'
The Queen loaned her granddaughter a beautiful tiara for the day - the Queen Mother's Greville Kokoshnik Tiara. The tiara was made by Boucheron for Mrs Greville in 1919 in the fashionable ‘kokoshnik’ style popularised in the Russian Imperial Court. The tiara is made of brilliant and rose cut diamonds pavé set in platinum, with six emeralds on either side. The tiara was bequeathed by Mrs Greville to Queen Elizabeth in 1942. Eugenie's emerald and diamond earrings were a gift from the groom.
The Wedding bouquet, created by floral designer Rob van Helden's sister, Patrice van Helden Oakes, consists of Lily of the Valley, Stephanotis pips, hints of baby blue thistles, white spray roses and trailing ivy. Sprigs of myrtle from Osbourne House are also included in the bouquet. The tradition of carrying myrtle began after Queen Victoria was given a nosegay containing myrtle by Prince Albert’s grandmother during a visit to Gotha in Germany. In the same year, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought Osborne House as a family retreat, and a sprig from the posy was planted against the terrace walls, where it continues to thrive today. The myrtle was first carried by Queen Victoria's eldest daughter, Princess Victoria, when she married in 1858.
The bridesmaids' dresses and pageboys' uniforms by Amaia Arrieta of Amaia Kids.
The design incorporates artwork by American abstract artist Mark Bradford and was included in the order of service.
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s Wedding Cake, a red velvet and chocolate cake designed by London-based baker Sophie Cabot, was inspired by the rich colours of autumn.
Congratulations Eugenie and Jack! Wishing them a lifetime filled with happy memories. Guests will now enjoy a reception at the Yorks' home, the Royal Lodge. Celebrations are expected to continue tomorrow. We can expect to see official photos released over the next several days.
The Duchess wore a bespoke navy coat and dress by Givenchy. Meghan wore a gown by the fashion houses' Claire Waight Keller for her own Windsor wedding.
Meghan's matching hat is a custom piece by London-based milliner Noel Stewart.
The Duchess carried Prada Leather Gloves (with thanks to Meghan's Fashion for her ID work today).
Meghan carried the Givenchy GV3 small suede and leather cross-body bag. It's described: "Clare Waight Keller's debut GV3 cross-body bag in burgundy leather and blue suede takes inspiration from Givenchy's archived vintage styles. Meticulously crafted in Italy, it is suspended from a detachable leather shoulder strap and accompanying silver-tone metal chain strap, comprising of four slip pockets that fasten with the label's iconic double-G plaque for an elegant finishing touch."
Meghan wore her navy Manolo Blahnik BB pumps.
And completed the look with jewellery by Canadian-born designer Pippa Small. Each piece is designed in London and crafted in Rajasthan, India, by a team of highly skilled goldsmiths and stonecutters.
Meghan wore the £495 18-karat gold Herkimer diamond earrings.
'The Duchess added a glittering touch to her navy Givenchy dress coat and feathered hat with stacks of gold Pippa Small jewellery. She wore stud earrings, a bracelet and, on her right hand, multiple yellow-gold rings, all featuring so-called ‘Herkimer diamonds’.
Herkimer diamonds are actually clear quartz crystals that naturally appear faceted, hence their name. As well as being significantly cheaper than real diamonds, they have a more pared-back, less brilliant sparkle. The stones are set in 18ct yellow gold by Pippa Small, a British anthropologist turned jeweller who is renowned for working with indigenous tribes to create pieces using natural, uncut stones.'
And with the end of the wedding, royal watchers will be firmly turning to their focus to Harry and Meghan's tour. They arrive on the 15th and it all kicks off early on Tuesday 16th in the morning Sydney time (late Monday night for those in the UK) when the couple have a packed day scheduled. You can view the full schedule on our Meghan's Calendar page. Ahead of the Invictus Games, the Palace released a new photo of Harry and Meghan taken in the grounds of Kensington Palace. Meghan's jumper appears to be a Ralph Lauren style (with thanks to inominate93).
Schedule for Tuesday, 16 October
- The first day of the tour will begin in Sydney at Admiralty House, the official Sydney residence of the Governor-General of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove. Representatives from each of the eighteen countries who are participating in the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 will be present.
- The Duke and Duchess will then travel to Taronga Zoo to officially open the new Taronga Institute of Science and Learning. The Duke and Duchess will meet two koalas and their joeys that are part of the Zoo’s breeding programme, and visit the laboratory to meet female conservation scientists who are working on efforts to reduce illegal wildlife trafficking.
- The Duke and Duchess will travel by vessel across Sydney Harbour to the Sydney Opera House. Once inside, Their Royal Highnesses will view a rehearsal of Spirit 2018 by the Bangarra Dance Theatre, an internationally acclaimed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander modern dance company. Upon departure, walking along the Opera House forecourt, the Duke and Duchess will have an opportunity to meet members of the public.
- The first day of the visit will conclude with a reception hosted by the Governor-General at Admiralty House, to be attended by Australians from a broad range of sectors including charity and community, business and industry, arts and culture, sport and entertainment.
Are you excited for Royal Tour 2018?