Royal Wedding

The Prince of Wales announced the engagement of his youngest son Prince Harry to Ms. Meghan Markle on 27 November 2017. They became engaged earlier in the month, with the Prince giving Ms. Markle a bespoke engagement ring consisting of a large central diamond from Botswana, with two smaller diamonds from the jewellery collection of his mother, Princess Diana.

Prince Harry and Ms. Markle, an American actress best known for her role in the Canadian-American legal-drama television series Suits, had officially been a couple since November 2016. After the engagement, Ms. Markle began the long process of becoming a British citizen.

Prince Harry and Ms. Markle chose to hold the official photo call to mark the announcement of their engagement in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace. The garden had been a favourite of Diana, Princess of Wales and the planting scheme was transformed into The White Garden in her memory in 2017.

The day before the wedding Kensington Palace announced that Prince Charles would accompany Ms. Markle down the aisle, after she confirmed her father would not be attending the wedding due to his recent heart surgery. The bride spent the night before the wedding at Cliveden House along with her mother, while the groom stayed at Coworth Park Hotel with his brother, Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge.

The wedding took place on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor in a service conducted by the Dean of Windsor and attended by around 600 guests.
Ms. Markle’s wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller under the fashion house Givenchy.

The gorgeous 16-foot veil included flowers from all 53 countries in the Commonwealth. Ms Markle was accompanied by her mother as she made her way to the church.
Prince Harry and his best man, the Duke of Cambridge, wore the frock coat uniform of the Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons) in which both were commissioned, and Prince Harry served for 10 years, including in combat in Afghanistan. Prince Harry wore the rank of major with the star of the Royal Victorian Order, of which he is a Knight Commander, along with the ribbons of the Royal Victorian Order, Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan, Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee
Medal and Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and Army Air Corps wings.
A total of ten bridesmaids and page boys were chosen, with the bride and groom each selecting five.

Traditionally, royal princes have been awarded peerages prior to their marriages. Hours before the wedding, Prince Harry was granted the titles Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton, and Baron Kilkeel, and Ms. Markle assumed the style "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex" upon marriage.

After the ceremony, the newly married Duke and Duchess of Sussex enjoyed a carriage procession through Windsor to the delight of the waiting crowds and well-wishers.
Some 18 million TV viewers were reported in the UK and 30 million in the USA, with a global
audience estimated to be in the hundreds of millions.

20p Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose for official engagement photos at Frogmore House in December, 2017 in Windsor. (Photo by Alexi Lubomirski via Getty Images).

50p Prince Harry whispers to Meghan Markle as they watch a dance performance by Jukebox Collective in the banqueting hall during a visit to Cardiff Castle on January 18, 2018 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Ben Birchall - WPA Pool / Getty Images).

 

55p Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle stand together at the altar in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. (Photo by DOMINIC LIPINSKI/AFP/Getty Images).

£2 Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex leave Windsor Castle in the Ascot Landau carriage during a procession after getting married. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) Sheet Border. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose for official engagement photos at Frogmore House in December, 2017 in Windsor. (Photo by Alexi Lubomirski via Getty Images).

S/S £3. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leave St George's Chapel after their wedding. (Photo by Jane Barlow - WPA Pool/Getty Images).

S/S Border. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle exchange vows during their wedding ceremony. (Photo by Owen Humphreys - WPA Pool/Getty Images).

FDC. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex wave from the Ascot Landau Carriage during their carriage procession on Castle Hill outside Windsor Castle after their wedding ceremony. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images).

Technical Details:

Designer Bee Design
Images supplied by Getty Images
Printer Cartor Security Printing
Process Lithography
Perforation 13 ¼ x 13 ½ per 2 cms
Stamp size 42 x 28mm
Sheet Layout 10 with pictorial border
Souvenir Sheet Size 100 x 68mm
Release date 14 August, 2018
Production Co-ordination Creative Direction (Worldwide) Ltd

Stamp Item Numbers:

ST011979 Mint Set
ST011980 Mini Sheet
ST011981 CTO Set
ST011982 FDC
ST012007 FDC Mini Sheet