The Duchess of Sussex made a comment during her wedding speech about the Firm which shocked guests into silence, according to a royal biographer
When Meghan Markle walked down the aisle of St George’s Chapel to wed Prince Harry over eight years ago, it was an unforgettable ceremony. The occasion proved to be a breathtaking celebration of the couple’s love story, with people around the world coming together to toast the newly-minted Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Once the televised church service drew to a close, the newlyweds and their guests headed to a lunchtime reception, followed by an evening party hosted by Harry’s father, King Charles, at Frogmore House. Sources indicate it was quite the spectacular affair, with guests tucking into ‘dirty burgers’ and candyfloss while sipping on themed cocktails, including one dubbed ‘When Harry Met Meghan’ — a playful nod to the much-loved romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally.
During the speeches, Meghan demonstrated herself to be a thoroughly modern bride by stepping up alongside her new husband to deliver a few words — a move that left many speechless. In her heartfelt address, she revealed she had “found her prince”, paid tribute to the late Queen, and expressed her gratitude to Charles for stepping in at short notice to escort her down the aisle.
However, royal biographers Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand suggest that Meghan hinted at feeling silenced during her time as a working royal. In the book Finding Freedom, they write: “A first for a royal bride, the move reinforced the idea that this American was no typical duchess.
“‘You could literally hear a pin drop”, said a close confidant, who described the speech as a momentous occasion even for the Americans. “For her to have been quiet for as long as she had, and then have this really safe space where she could give these heartfelt remarks, it was a really special moment,” the source said.
“‘She spent so many years, whether on campus, on TV, or advocating for women to be empowered, speaking out. And she’s respected that. She does have a lot of respect for the family and the institution that she has joined. But it’s just a different way of living. We’d missed hearing her speak’. And apparently Meghan felt the same way, because she laughed, ‘I know it’s been a while’.”
Years later, Meghan tackled the issue of being stripped of her voice head-on during her bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, revealing she had been silenced and drawing parallels to The Little Mermaid. She disclosed that she was taken aback by the striking similarities between herself and the beloved animated princess, who also ‘lost her voice’ after marrying into royalty.
She recalled an afternoon when she settled down at the couple’s former home, Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace, and happened upon the film while watching television. “Now, who as an adult really watches The Little Mermaid?” she joked to Oprah.
“But it came on and I was like, well, I’m just here all the time, so I may as well watch this. And I went ‘Oh my God, she falls in love with a prince and because of that she has to lose her voice. But by the end, she gets her voice back.'”
In her and Harry’s bombshell Netflix series released in 2022, Meghan revealed precisely what she said during her wedding day speech. In the final instalment of the six-part documentary, Meghan reads the speech from her phone while sitting alongside Harry, sharing that her opening line “got a big laugh” from the assembled guests.
She then read out: “Onto the crux of why I wanted to speak tonight. First of all, it’s been a while.” Continuing to recount her speech, Meghan goes on: “But mostly I wanted to share a story. A story about the man that I love and the way that we met.
“Let’s call this a modern fairytale. Once upon a time, there was a girl from LA. Some people called her ‘an actress’. And there was a guy from London. Some people called him ‘a prince’. All of those people didn’t fully get it. Because this is the love story of a boy and a girl who were meant to be together.
“They meet on July 3rd, 2016 in London and they giggle endlessly. They have their second date and he brings her cupcakes because it’s 4 July. ‘A bittersweet celebration’, he says. Ironic really. Her country’s independence from his country. Yet in this moment they know they don’t want to be independent from each other.
“And after a month of long-distance courtship, they settle into the quiet of Botswana. And amidst whatever momentary worries that creep in, they look at each other and think, whatever world we’re in. They would love and garden and travel and laugh, and rack up more air miles than any couple could have.
“And when the tides were rough, they squeezed each other tighter. ‘Nothing can break us,’ they’d say. ‘For this love, she was a fighter.’ I appreciate, respect and honour you, my treasure, for the family we will create. And our love story that will last forever. So I ask you to raise a glass to the astounding assurance that now life begins. And the everlasting knowing that, above all, love wins.”
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