In May 2017, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were thrilled to attend Pippa Middleton and James Matthews’ wedding, marking one of their first high-profile events as a couple. However, their plans for a romantic evening were quickly derailed by an unexpected turn of events: a strict seating arrangementswhich intentionally separated all the couples from each other.
The bride’s unusual rule
Pippa Middleton, the Princess of Wales’s younger sister, and her mother, Carole Middleton, reportedly wanted to avoid overshadowing the bride’s big day. Meghan, who was relatively new to the royal world at the time, skipped the church ceremony at St Mark’s in Englefield altogether, fearing her presence might attract undue media attention.
When the couple arrived at the reception party, held in a custom-made glossy tent at the Middleton family estate in Bucklebury, Berkshire, they discovered that the seating plan had been designed so that couples could not sit together.
Instead of sharing dinner with Meghan, Harry found himself joining in ITV News-Moderator Tom Bradby at the table again, while Meghan is with Mirka Federerthe wife of tennis legend Roger Federer, dined.
Reunited on the dance floor
After enduring the unusual arrangement over dinner, Harry and Meghan reunited near the dance floor. According to the book by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand Finding Freedom Harry—once known for being the life of the party—chose to spend the rest of the evening with Meghan instead of mingling with friends.
The couple’s evening wasn’t without its obstacles, but they managed to overcome the day’s challenges together, including Meghan’s earlier absence from the ceremony.
Behind the scenes at a royal wedding
The seating arrangement wasn’t the only carefully planned aspect of Pippa and James’ wedding:
- The ceremony: Meghan stayed in a nearby Airbnb during the service to avoid drawing attention to herself. She later met Harry for lunch before the reception.
- The reception: Guests enjoyed a sumptuous meal of trout and lamb served with 2002 Dom Ruinart Champagner.
Pippa stunned in a lace dress by Giles Deacon was designed while her niece and nephew, Princess Charlotte and Prince George, charmed guests as part of the bridal party.
A royal faux pas or thoughtful planning?
While the couples’ separation at the celebration was intended to encourage social interaction, it presented an unexpected obstacle for newly dating couple Harry and Meghan. Despite the situation, the two made the best of it and demonstrated their ability to overcome challenges together , even in the earliest days of their relationship.
This moment marked a significant chapter in their love story – one marked by careful navigation of royal protocols and family dynamics that would continue to influence their lives in the years to come.
