No Big Deal, But Idris Elba DJed Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Wedding

Idris Elba went on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to talk about his proposal to fiancee Sabrina Dhowre and his upcoming performance at Coachella. But while he was there, he let slip an insanely cool detail from the most-watched and covered wedding of 2018—Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's royal wedding. Not only did Idris attend, he DJed the event!

Disc jockey, Drink, Alcohol, Distilled beverage, Bar,

(Image credit: Getty Images)

By Katherine J. Igoe

published 27 February 2019

in News

Idris Elba told Ellen DeGeneres in an interview that he actually DJed Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's wedding in 2018.
Idris said he wondered if it was a joke, but apparently not: Harry had seen Idris DJ before, and he was a fan. So sweet!
If you want to go back and relive that special, celeb-filled day, we're here for you.

Idris Elba went on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to talk about his proposal to fiancee Sabrina Dhowre and his upcoming performance at Coachella this year. But while he was there, he let slip an insanely cool detail from the most-watched and covered wedding of 2018 (and probably the 21st century so far)—a.k.a. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's royal wedding, of course. Not only did Idris attend, he DJed the event!

Idris laid out the situation for all of us. "So Harry and I have hung out a couple of times through his dad’s [Prince Charles] charity—The Prince’s Trust—which helped me out when I was a young actor."

"Harry came to a couple of parties that I DJed and he was like, 'What are you doing on [May 19]?'"

Idris continued, "I told him nothing and then he asked if I would DJ at his wedding...I was like, is this a joke?"

So, Idris is talking about the wedding reception, not the actual ceremony—which was held at Windsor Castle and was televised, without a turntable in sight. (That would be hilarious, though, if he did DJ the ceremony—imagine the look on the Queen's face??) We know less about the reception except for a few guests Instagramming their outfits and a couple key details, like Meghan reciting a beautiful, meaningful poem. So this is BIG insight into the event.

Okay, but now I have a million more questions, Idris. What songs did you play? Were there any songs you WEREN'T allowed to play? (Is the Queen not a fan of the Macarena? Oooh even better, what if she IS a fan of the Macarena?) What was the couple's first dance? Their last dance? I must know!!

As a reminder, here's Idris and Sabrina entering the church at the royal wedding (because why not reminisce about that amazing day, I say):

Suit, Formal wear, Fashion, Tuxedo, Uniform, Outerwear, Headgear, Street fashion, Costume, Photography,

Although he probably changed into something a bit more comfortable for DJing purposes.

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Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award.

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.

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