Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are marking their seventh wedding anniversary today. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were married on May 19, 2018, in a grand ceremony at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. Watched by millions around the world, the event was a dazzling mix of royal tradition and modern flair.

While the wedding was a moment of joy and celebration, the years that followed brought a wave of controversies and revelations surrounding the big day. As the couple likely mark the occasion privately, here’s a look back at some of the most talked-about moments from their royal wedding.

Meghan’s iconic wedding gown

Meghan stunned in a minimalist yet elegant wedding dress that has since become one of the most searched royal bridal looks of all time. Designed by Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy, the gown was made of silk and featured three-quarter-length sleeves, a boat neckline, and a flowing train with a triple silk organza underskirt. Its simple sophistication drew comparisons to Audrey Hepburn’s timeless style. However, royal biographer Ingrid Seward later claimed in her book My Mother and I that the late Queen Elizabeth II felt the gown was “too white” for a divorcée marrying in church, confiding in close friends that it appeared “flamboyantly virginal.”

The veil that told a story

Meghan’s five-metre-long veil, also crafted by Givenchy, was a symbolic masterpiece. Embroidered with flowers from all 53 Commonwealth nations, it also included a California poppy for her home state and wintersweet from Kensington Palace. Crops of wheat were added at the edge to represent love and charity. However, author Tom Bower claimed that Meghan had difficulty exiting her car at the chapel because her heel got caught in the veil. Reportedly, her escorting officer did not assist, possibly due to an incident at the rehearsal—something Bower interpreted as a bad omen.

The tiara dispute

The bride’s veil was secured by Queen Mary’s diamond bandeau tiara, loaned to her by Queen Elizabeth II. The tiara, created in 1932 with a central brooch from 1893, became the subject of tabloid fodder after reports emerged of a dispute between Harry and the Queen’s dresser, Angela Kelly. Rumours suggested a disagreement over Meghan’s request to try on tiaras with her hairdresser before the wedding. Some even claimed Harry angrily declared, “What Meghan wants, Meghan gets”—a line he denied in his memoir Spare, calling the story “rubbish.”

The bridesmaids dress row

One of the most infamous stories from the wedding preparations involved a fallout between Meghan and the Princess of Wales over the bridesmaids’ dresses. Early reports claimed Meghan made Kate cry; however, in her 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan said it was the opposite—she was the one left in tears. Harry echoed this in Spare, describing how Meghan was “on the floor sobbing” after the disagreement. A more recent royal biography noted that both women were deeply upset and “crying their eyes out” over the incident. The Palace has never commented on the matter.

Meghan’s father misses the big day

Thomas Markle, Meghan’s father, was expected to walk her down the aisle but was unable to attend due to health issues. Instead, Prince Charles—now King Charles III—stepped in to escort Meghan. In a BBC documentary celebrating Charles’s 70th birthday, Harry recalled asking his father to take on the role, saying: “He immediately said, ‘Yes, of course. I’ll do whatever Meghan needs.’”

A break from royal tradition with the wedding cake

Adding a personal touch to their big day, Harry and Meghan chose a non-traditional wedding cake. Instead of the customary fruit cake, they opted for a fresh lemon sponge with elderflower syrup, lemon curd, and buttercream.The cake, created by Claire Ptak of Violet Bakery in East London, was also displayed unconventionally—tiers were presented on separate stands and decorated with fresh flowers, reflecting the couple’s modern and artistic taste.