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Kensington Palace has released rare footage from the new HBO Royal documentary Queen Of The World. In it, the new Duchess of Sussex speaks about how she personalised her Givenchy wedding gown and 16-foot veil. And her “something blue” has a truly romantic sentiment behind it.
“Somewhere in here there’s a piece of blue fabric that’s stitched inside – it was my something blue,” Markle told conservator Hannah Belcher, who works with the Royal Collection Trust. “It’s fabric from the dress that I wore on our first date.”
Admitting the gown was inspired by Harry’s grandmother Queen Elizabeth II’s 1953 Coronation gown, Markle discussed how she surprised her new husband by embroidering flowers from all of the Commonwealth countries into her veil. (Sixty-five years ago, the Queen’s Coronation gown included flowers from the eight Commonwealth nation that existed at the time.)
“It was important for me, especially as a part of the royal family, to have all 53 of the Commonwealth countries incorporated,” Markle said. “And I knew that it would be a fun surprise as well for my now husband, who didn’t know. And he was really over the moon to find out that I would make this choice for our day together, and I think the other members of the family had a similar reaction and appreciation for the fact that we understand how important this is for us, and the role that we play, and the work that we’re going to continue to do in the Commonwealth countries.”
Back home in Australia, Serena Williams has spoken about her close relationship with Markle. As both their lives undertook such drastic recent change, both women rely a lot on one another, Williams has revealed. “We were actually just texting each other this morning,” the tennis champion, 36, said in a new interview with Lisa Wilkinson. “We have known each other for a long time, but we really are replying on each other a lot recently.”
Williams said she will look back at Markle and Prince Harry’s wedding as a very special milestone for the world. “I felt like we were literally watching history,” the athlete remarked. “I feel like in a few years, when I look back at that moment, it’s just gonna be so historic. It’s gonna be something people never forget… The whole service was really wonderful and most of all, I just wanted to see my friend be happy and I think that’s what happened.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will visit Australia in October.
