Finding Freedom: Meghan Markle Broke Tradition With Wedding Speech

published 7 August 2020

Confirming speculation that occurred around the time of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's wedding reception, apparently Meghan did give her own speech at the event.
We still don't know exactly what was said, but we do know that it was a (probably pretty minor) break with royal wedding tradition.
New biography Finding Freedom also dives into a ton of detail about Harry and Meghan's sweet and romantic courtship.

When Meghan Markle got married to Prince Harry in 2018 (still thinking about that day gives me chills, TBH), there were tons of rumors and speculation about how the event was different, how it included so many unique little touches that the couple had planned for their big event. And now, as confirmed in the new biography Finding Freedom and reported by HELLO!, Meghan did in fact give her own speech—breaking with royal tradition, apparently.

I for sure did not know this before, but per HELLO!, "Typically, English royal weddings include a speech from the best man, the host and occasionally the groom, but rarely the bride." But the reception (and after-after-party) of the Sussexes' royal wedding was epic in about 30 different ways, so I'm honestly not surprised by this at all. And frankly, to state the obvious, the reception was carefully planned, and it's therefore appropriate to assume that the Royal Family signed off on the move.

There was speculation in 2018 that Meghan did, in fact, give a speech in which she thanked the Royal Family for welcoming her (which now seems kind of sad, knowing everything we know now). Us Weekly also reported at the time that Meghan thanked mom Doria Ragland, not mentioning her dad and all that drama. She even apparently obliquely referenced her first marriage, telling Harry that finding love was "worth the wait." Finding Freedom didn't dive into exactly what was said, but considering Harry and William both gave warm and funny speeches too (and the fact that Meghan's a great speaker), it probably fit in well.

On the one-year anniversary of the wedding, Harry and Meghan shared behind-the-scenes video of their special day:

A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal)
A photo posted by on

And, although we didn't get a close-up of Meghan's speech (ugh, if only!), it provided even more detail that we hadn't seen before.

Meghan Markle's Most Iconic Fashion Moments

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commonwealth day service 2020 — (Image credit: Karwai Tang)

March 9, 2020

Meghan and Prince Harry attend the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey with all of the royal family. Meghan is wearing a custom Emilia Wickstead dress and carrying a Gabriela Hearst Demi bag; she's also wearing Birks earrings and Aquazzura heels.

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.

Meghan Markle's Most Iconic Fashion Moments

March 9, 2020

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