Prince Harry and Meghan Markle celebrated their eighth wedding anniversary this week, with the Duchess of Sussex marking the occasion by sharing a series of previously unseen photographs from their 2018 nuptials.
Meghan Shares Intimate Wedding Photos
Meghan posted 24 images on social media, offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at their wedding day at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. The couple tied the knot on Saturday, 19 May 2018, in a ceremony that was largely shrouded in secrecy.
According to former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, the Duchess of Sussex appears to be reclaiming the royal wedding narrative in her own way. Speaking to the Mirror, Bond said: "I suppose this is another example of Meghan taking control of her own publicity, and there's nothing wrong with that."
A Shift in Approach
Bond noted that on the wedding day itself, no photographs were permitted, and the reception was wrapped in secrecy. "That's obviously how they felt at the time, but eight years on things have changed," she explained.
The royal expert believes that with Meghan's growing social media presence and her influencer brand, she now feels more inclined to share glimpses of her brief royal life that fans previously could not see. "Meghan now seems very keen on giving the public glimpses of her private life with Harry," Bond said. "And there's no doubt that people are interested – she has millions of followers on her social media, and that all feeds into her business plans and her brand."
Royal Family Presence
Among the 24 photos, only one member of the Royal Family was visible: King Charles, whose back was turned to the camera. Despite the estranged relationship between the Sussexes and the Royal Family, Bond believes Meghan's omission of senior royals was out of respect for their privacy rather than a statement about their relationship.
"I think one reason there are virtually no pictures of any other members of the family is out of respect for their privacy," Bond said. "I don't think we should draw any conclusions about the state of their relationship from the fact that they are not included in the pictures."
Balancing Public and Private Life
The photo release came just hours after Meghan delivered a speech in Switzerland about the dangers of online spaces for children. She also shared obscured glimpses of her daughter, Princess Lilibet, in other posts.
While the Duchess faces criticism for sharing family life online, Bond argues she is simply following modern norms. "It is rather jarring to hear both Harry and Meghan talk about the dangers of the online world and the need to protect our children from it, and then to see how prolific she has become on her Instagram account, and how often we get a glimpse into their Montecito life," Bond said. "But the truth is, it's the world we all now live in: she is developing her brand and this is part of it. Most of us are playing exactly the same game."
