On the eighth anniversary of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's wedding, new details have emerged about Meghan Markle's speech at their 2018 reception, which reportedly left guests in stunned silence. The ceremony took place on 19 May 2018 at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, followed by a lunchtime reception and an evening party at Frogmore House hosted by King Charles.
During the speeches, Meghan broke with tradition by standing alongside Prince Harry to address the guests. According to royal biographers Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand's book Finding Freedom, she alluded to having been unable to use her voice during her time as a working royal. A close confidant said: 'You could literally hear a pin drop.' The source added: 'For her to have been quiet for as long as she had, and then have this really safe space where she could give these heartfelt remarks, it was a really special moment.'
Meghan reportedly laughed: 'I know it's been a while,' acknowledging the silence she had maintained. Years later, in her 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview, she compared her experience to The Little Mermaid, saying she 'lost her voice' after marrying into royalty. In the couple's 2022 Netflix series, she read from her wedding speech, calling their romance a 'modern fairytale' and saying: 'Once upon a time, there was a girl from LA... and there was a guy from London. Some people called him a prince.'
