In the less than two days since the happiest news we’ve ever heard news broke that Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle were engaged after a whirlwind 18-month romance, we’ve learned quite a lot.
We learned the significance behind Meghan’s stunning, 2.5 carat, triple diamond ring.
We learned how Harry surprised her by popping the question over a casual roast chicken dinner.
Heck, we even learned exactly how the Queen’s beloved corgis reacted to Meghan’s first visit.
(Which, let’s be honest, is the only thing that really matters…)
And now, we've learned the date we will need to be ~~mysteriously absent~~ from work, because we'll be busy flying to the UK for the next royal wedding.
Yep, the friendly chaps over at Kensington Palace have confirmed that Meghan will walk down the aisle towards Prince Harry in May 2018.
"The marriage of His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales and Ms Meghan Markle will take place at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle in May, 2018," said the announcement - which feels like it should be shouted in a town square accompanied by a large bell and a "Hear ye, hear ye!".
"Her Majesty The Queen has granted permission for the wedding to take place at the Chapel."
The date is a month after Prince William and Kate Middleton are expecting their third child, which means there may be an extra-adorable flower girl or page boy in attendance (in mum's arms, of course).
The Palace also confirmed the royal family will pay the wedding and all the trimmings - from the service to the music, the flowers and the reception.
The Chapel is a smaller venue than Westminster Abbey, where Prince William and Kate married in 2011, and St Paul's Cathedral, where Harry's parents Prince Charles and Diana wed in 1981.
Harry and Meghan's venue holds 800, while Westminster Abbey has a capacity of 2000.
It's also located outside of London, which royal experts say will allow the newly-engaged pair to put a more "personal stamp" on their nuptials.
"[The venue] would give them a little more of a low-key wedding," ABC News royal contributor Victoria Murphy said.
"It's a bit smaller, it's outside of London, and that would just give them the opportunity to maybe have it a little bit more personal, a little bit more low-key, which is what Harry can obviously do, since he's not going to be the king."
On Mamamia Out Loud we discuss why Meghan Markle Is The Role Model Young Women Need:
Prince Harry's communication's secretary Jason Knauf revealed the venue is a "very special place" to the couple, who have regularly spent time at Windsor Castle during their relationship.
"They are grateful to the Queen for granting permission for the use of the chapel," Jason Knauf said.
"The chapel itself has centuries of Royal tradition and hosted the weddings of many members of the royal family."
In fact, Prince Harry was christened in the chapel where he will soon wed, which is also the place where Prince Charles and Camilla had their marriage blessed in 2005.
Knauf said Prince Harry and Meghan are already planning how to put their "own stamp" on their big day.
"The couple of course want the day to be a special, celebratory moment for their friends and family," he said.
"They also want the day to be shaped so as to allow members of the public to feel part of the celebrations too and are currently working through ideas for how this might be achieved."
The American actress - a Protestant who attended Catholic school as a child - is also preparing to be both baptised and confirmed into the Church of England before the nuptials.
It's also expected she will become a British citizen after the wedding.
Listen to the full episode of Mamamia Out Loud. Where we discuss everything from Meghan Markle to Milo Yiannopoulos
The exact date, location of the reception and confirmation on whether the wedding will be television are yet to be announced.
That means there's still time for us to plan the perfect outfit (and matching hat!) for the occasion...
For everything Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and the Royal Wedding, visit our Royal Wedding hub.
Top Comments
Peter Phillips, son of Princess Anne, married there about 10 years ago.
His wife Autumn - who I think was Canadian(?) converted from R/Catholic to C of E before the wedding.
The more interesting information here is that the wedding will take place at Windsor Castle. I can see this will be more personal, help tourism in the future and probably safer in regards to threats. I wonder whether the estate grounds will be locked down for the function or remain open to public entry as usual.