Royals

Queen Elizabeth Attends Royal Wedding After Giving Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Permission to Marry

Updated

8 years ago

July 17, 2018

Queen Elizabeth II, as Princess Elizabeth, and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh, styled Prince Philip in 1957, on their wedding day. She became queen on her father King George VI's death in 1952. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

So exciting! Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding is happening today at St. George's Chapel today in Windsor Castle, but what many fans are dying to know is if one very special guest, his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, is in attendance.

Even though there were rumors swirling that she wouldn't be present for the red-headed royal's nuptials, she's there in her stunning lime green ensemble! She's also accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip. It was also previously confirmed by Kensington Palace that she'd be in attendance. "Her Majesty the Queen has granted permission for the wedding to take place at the Chapel," the statement read a day after their engagement.

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The Queen gave Harry and Meghan permission to marry on Sunday, May 13. "The Queen has signed the Instrument of Consent, the hand-written document which records Her Majesty's consent to the Marriage of Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle," Kensington Palace revealed in a statement at the time alongside a photograph of the colorful letter.

Earlier in March, she also granted Harry permission to marry Meghan in a letter released by Buckingham Palace. "My Lords, I declare My Consent to a Contract of Matrimony between My Most Dearly Beloved Grandson Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales and Rachel Meghan Markle, which Consent I am causing to be signified under the Great Seal and to be entered in the Books of the Privy Council," she wrote, according to People.

The couple previously announced their engagement on Monday, Nov. 27 — and even revealed Elizabeth knew all about the engagement before it happened because Harry asked her permission to propose! "His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince Harry to Ms. Meghan Markle. The wedding will take place in Spring 2018. Further details about the wedding day will be announced in due course," read a statement from Harry's father, Prince Charles. "His Royal Highness and Ms. Markle became engaged in London earlier this month. Prince Harry has informed Her Majesty The Queen and other close members of his family. Prince Harry has also sought and received the blessing of Ms. Markle's parents. The couple will live in Nottingham Cottage in Kensington Palace."

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Some reports were suggesting that Elizabeth might not have attended the special day. Since Elizabeth, 92, is technically the head of the church of England, some say she should not endorse a marriage with someone who's been divorced. Meghan, 36, was previously hitched to Trevor Engelson from 2011 until 2013.

Previously, she wouldn't attend her son Prince Charles' ceremony to Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005, and she once told her sister, Princess Margaret, that she was not allowed to marry her true love, Peter Townsend, who was also divorced. We're just glad she made the exception for Harry!

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