The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, marked her eighth wedding anniversary with Prince Harry on Tuesday by releasing previously unseen photographs from their 2018 wedding, including intimate images from their private evening reception that the public had never seen before.
The couple exchanged vows at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018, and are marking the occasion at their Montecito residence alongside their two children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, four.
Meghan posted the images to her Instagram account with a minimal caption: “Eight years ago today.”
The newly released images captured the couple commanding the dance floor during their wedding reception, with one photograph showing them sharing a passionate kiss surrounded by guests. The evening reception is traditionally the most guarded part of any royal wedding, with cameras barred from the venue. One royal source noted that the Royal household enforces strict no-camera rules at weddings and inside royal homes, making the release of internal reception scenes unprecedented for a senior royal wedding.
The evening reception was hosted by King Charles at Frogmore House, where Meghan changed into a sleek white halter gown by designer Stella McCartney and wore an aquamarine cocktail ring that once belonged to Princess Diana. Actor Idris Elba served as DJ for the evening, George Clooney tended bar, and Serena Williams played beer pong among the celebrity guests, which also included Oprah Winfrey, Elton John, and Victoria and David Beckham.
The daytime ceremony photographs also drew attention because King Charles appeared in the wider frame, a detail that gained significance alongside recent reports that a Sussex wedding portrait had gone missing from Highgrove.
The anniversary comes off a busy period for the couple, who last month completed a four-day trip to Australia, their first since 2018 when they were still working royals. Harry and Meghan stepped back from senior royal duties in March 2020 and have since built their lives in California. The couple have two children together and have spoken openly about the pressures that drove their departure from royal life.
