Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Share Never-Before-Seen Wedding Photos to Celebrate Their Anniversary
Photo: Chris Allerton, courtesy of The Duchess of Sussex
Photo: Chris Allerton, courtesy of The Duchess of Sussex
MeghaToday, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry celebrate their eighth wedding anniversary. The Duchess of Sussex marked the special occasion by sharing a selection of reportedly never-before-seen photos from their wedding. To caption her two Instagram posts—which show photos from behind-the-scenes at the ceremony and the reception (including Elton John performing for guests)—Meghan wrote: “Eight years ago today…” She also shared the photos on her story with a soundtrack of the song “Forever Your Girl” by Paula Abdul.
On May 19, 2018, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were married at St. George’s Chapel, on the grounds of Windsor Castle. Their 600 guests included family and celebrity friends like Victoria and David Beckham, Serena Williams, Oprah, George and Amal Clooney, and more. For the momentous day, which was watched by an estimated 1.9 billion people around the world, the Duchess wore an off-the-shoulder Givenchy wedding gown by then-creative director Clare Waight Keller.
The designer previously revealed that she worked with Markle on the design of the dress for many months in total secrecy. “It was a very discreet communication between us—literally just us. There was no one else involved,” she said. The dress is thought to have been inspired by Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s minimalist ‘90s wedding gown, which the Duchess once said was her favorite celebrity wedding dress.
For the reception at Frogmore House, Markle changed into a high neck gown in silk crepe by Stella McCartney.
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This article was originally published on Vogue.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
On May 19, 2026, the couple marked eight years of marriage by sharing a collection of previously unseen photos from their 2018 wedding day. Meghan posted these images across two Instagram carousels, offering fans a glimpse into both their daytime ceremony at St. George’s Chapel and their private evening reception at Frogmore House.
Prince Harry gifted Meghan a bronze penguin statue. During their anniversary celebration, Meghan explained the sentimental significance, noting that during their engagement party, they asked friends to wear animal onesies. They chose penguins because the species is known for staying together for life.
The photos provided a rare look at the couple’s private evening festivities, including candid shots of their first dance to “Land of 1000 Dances” by Wilson Pickett. The images captured the couple spinning on the dance floor and kissing, moments that were previously kept largely out of the public eye.
The daytime photos featured intimate behind-the-scenes glimpses, such as Prince Harry admiring Meghan’s wedding bouquet, candid shots of the official portrait session, and close-ups of the wedding speeches. The collection also included a photo of Sir Elton John entertaining guests at the piano.
Meghan shared an Instagram story showing the couple celebrating at home with their children, Archie and Lilibet. The video showed Prince Harry surprising Meghan with a lemon elderflower cake—the same flavor as their 2018 wedding cake—while their children sang “Happy Anniversary” to them.