Royal Wedding, TRHs The Duke and Duchess of Sussex

On 27 November 2017, Clarence House announced that Prince Harry would marry Ms Meghan Markle in the spring of 2018. They were engaged earlier the same month in London, with the Prince giving Ms Markle a bespoke engagement ring made by Cleave and Company, consisting of a large central diamond from Botswana, with two smaller diamonds from his mother's jewellery collection. At the same time, it was announced that they would live at Nottingham Cottage in the grounds of Kensington Palace following their marriage.

On March 15th 2018 the Queen gave her formal blessing to the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: "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," reads her official consent.

Royal Wedding, TRHs The Duke and Duchess of Sussex

Prince Henry of Wales, known as Prince Harry, the second son of Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales, and Ms Meghan Markle, an American actress, married in St George's Chapel, Windsor on Saturday May 19 2018 The wedding began at 12 p.m. GMT, and the ceremony was followed by a carriage procession through the main streets of Windsor.

Meghan Markle became the second American and the first person of mixed race heritage to marry into the British Royal family. Although she attended a private Catholic school in her early years, she did not identify as Roman Catholic. On 6 March 2018, she was baptised and confirmed into the Church of England by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, at St. James's Palace. After the engagement, Ms Markle began the year-long process of becoming a British citizen. She will retain her US citizenship during the process, but Kensington Palace have indicated that the decision on whether she will retain dual nationality had not yet been made.

The Dean of Windsor, David Conner, conducted the service while the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, performed the marriage ceremony. There were two receptions. The first reception, for those attending the ceremony, was hosted by the Queen and took place in St. George's Hall after the carriage procession. A second reception at Frogmore House, for family and close friends and hosted by the Prince of Wales, occurred later that evening. Holding the Royal wedding on a weekend was a break with the Royal tradition of having weddings on a weekday. Members of the British Armed Forces added to the pageantry. They included the Irish Guards; Royal Gurkha Rifles; Army Air Corps and the Royal Navy Marines and Air Force. Members of the Household Cavalry formed a staircase party at the chapel, and also rode as escort. In addition, approximately 1,200 members of the public greeted the couple outside the chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle.

The ceremony and reception at St. George's Hall, included a guest list of approximately 600 people, most of whom had a "direct relationship" with the couple. 200 close friends of the couple were also attended the evening reception at Frogmore House.

As is custom the Queen conferred a Dukedom on Prince Harry. He will be known as His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex and Ms Meghan Markle, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex.

Royal Wedding, TRHs The Duke and Duchess of Sussex FDC

Royal Wedding, TRHs The Duke and Duchess of Sussex - purchase
Please Note: All prices are in New Zealand Dollars

Stamp strip		$8.00
Gutter pair		$16.00
Block of four		$32.00
Full sheet of eight strips		$64.00
FDC with stamps		$9.50

Technical Details

Designer:	Denise Durkin, Wellington. New Zealand	Pitcairn Stamps proudly brought to you by:
Printer:	Southern Colour Print, Dunedin, New Zealand
Process:	Offset Litho
Stamp size:	44.16 mm x 35.00 mm vertical
Format:	Two panes each of 4 strips with centre gutter
Denominations:	$3.00 and $5.00
Paper:	103gsm Tullis Russell Yellow/Green phosphor gummed stamp paper
Period of Sale:	30 May 2018 for a period of 2 years