Remembering Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's fairytale wedding two years on

Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex exit St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle after their royal wedding ceremony, in Windsor, Britain, May 19, 2018. NEIL HALL/Pool via REUTERS

Meghan’s flower-embroidered veil. Photo: PA

File photo dated 19/05/18 of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry leaving St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle after their wedding. During their wedding ceremony

Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, are escorted by members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment as they ride in the Ascot Landau Carriage and pass through the Cambridge Gate into the grounds of Windsor Castle at the end of their carriage procession in Windsor, on May 19, 2018 after their wedding ceremony. (Photo by Yui Mok / POOL / AFP)

Mr & Mrs: the new Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle sports a bespoke Stella McCartney halter-neck gown at the after party of her wedding to Prince Harry. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

Harry and Meghan (centre) are pictured surrounded by beaming page boys and bridesmaids and (back row, left to right) Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall; Prince Charles; Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland; Prince William; (middle row, left-right) Prince Philip; Queen Elizabeth II; Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge; Princess Charlotte and Prince George. Photo: Alexi Lubomirski/PA Wire

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ride in an Ascot Landau along the Long Walk after their wedding in St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, Britain, May 19, 2018. Yui Mok/Pool via REUTERS

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex travel in the Ascot Landau Carriage during their carriage procession after their wedding on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England

Prince Harry looks at his bride, Meghan Markle, as she arrives accompanied by Prince Charles, Prince of Wales during their wedding in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Royal wedding

This official wedding photograph released by the Harry and Meghan shows the couple pictured together on the East Terrace of Windsor Castle. Alexi Lubomirski/Handout via Reuters

Harry and Meghan during their wedding service (Jonathan Brady/PA)

thumbnail: Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex exit St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle after their royal wedding ceremony,  in Windsor, Britain, May 19, 2018. NEIL HALL/Pool via REUTERS
thumbnail: Meghan’s flower-embroidered veil. Photo: PA
thumbnail: File photo dated 19/05/18 of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry leaving St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle after their wedding. During their wedding ceremony
thumbnail: Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan,  Duchess of Sussex, are escorted by members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment as they ride in the Ascot Landau Carriage and pass through the Cambridge Gate into the grounds of Windsor Castle at the end of their carriage procession in Windsor, on May 19, 2018 after their wedding ceremony. (Photo by Yui Mok / POOL / AFP)
thumbnail: Mr & Mrs: the new Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle sports a bespoke Stella McCartney halter-neck gown at the after party of her wedding to Prince Harry. Photo: AFP/Getty Images
thumbnail: Harry and Meghan (centre) are pictured surrounded by beaming page boys and bridesmaids and (back row, left to right) Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall; Prince Charles; Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland; Prince William; (middle row, left-right) Prince Philip; Queen Elizabeth II; Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge; Princess Charlotte and Prince George. Photo: Alexi Lubomirski/PA Wire
thumbnail: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ride in an Ascot Landau along the Long Walk after their wedding in St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, Britain, May 19, 2018. Yui Mok/Pool via REUTERS
thumbnail: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex travel in the Ascot Landau Carriage during their carriage procession after their wedding on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England
thumbnail: Prince Harry looks at his bride, Meghan Markle, as she arrives accompanied by Prince Charles, Prince of Wales during their wedding in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
thumbnail: Royal wedding
thumbnail: This official wedding photograph released by the Harry and Meghan shows the couple pictured together on the East Terrace of Windsor Castle.  Alexi Lubomirski/Handout via Reuters
thumbnail: Harry and Meghan during their wedding service (Jonathan Brady/PA)
Laura Elston

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are celebrating their second wedding anniversary.

Much has changed for Harry and Meghan since they said their vows in St George's Castle, Windsor Castle, on May 19 2018, in front of the royal family, celebrity guests and a worldwide television audience of millions.

The Queen's grandson Harry and former Suits star Meghan have welcomed son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, who turned one on May 6.

But they also sparked the Megxit crisis and quit as working royals just one year, 10 months and 12 days after their high-profile wedding.

Meghan’s flower-embroidered veil. Photo: PA

The couple opened up about their struggles dealing with royal life and the intense tabloid interest, in a television documentary about their Africa tour in the autumn of 2019.

Harry also addressed a rift between himself and his brother the Duke of Cambridge, saying they were on "different paths" and have good and bad days in their relationship.

After a six-week break in Canada, Harry and Meghan issued a bombshell statement in January this year without warning the Queen and the Prince of Wales, saying they wanted to step down as senior royals to earn their own money, while still supporting the monarch.

But the Sussexes' plan was too controversial given their global profiles and was likely to have led to accusations they were cashing in on their royal status.

The Queen held an emergency summit at Sandringham with Harry, the Prince of Wales and William - but it was announced a few days later there would be no dual role for the Sussexes, meaning they would have to walk away from the monarchy completely.

From March 31 2020, Harry and Meghan stopped using their HRH styles and ceased to be senior working royals, in favour of a life of personal and financial freedom.

The couple, now living in Los Angeles where they have been in lockdown amid the coronavirus outbreak, are preparing to launch their new charitable organisation Archewell - named after their son.

It will replace their now-defunct Sussex Royal brand, but plans to launch the venture have been delayed while the world battles the coronavirus.

Harry and Meghan (centre) are pictured surrounded by beaming page boys and bridesmaids and (back row, left to right) Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall; Prince Charles; Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland; Prince William; (middle row, left-right) Prince Philip; Queen Elizabeth II; Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge; Princess Charlotte and Prince George. Photo: Alexi Lubomirski/PA Wire

American former actress Meghan became the first mixed race person in modern history to marry a senior British royal when she walked down the aisle two years ago.

The Sussexes' ceremony was a romantic, star-studded affair, with the duchess dressed in an elegant, minimalist boat-necked pure white wedding gown by Clare Waight Keller at Givenchy.

Her five metre-long veil featured flowers from all Commonwealth countries and was held in place by Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, loaned by the Queen.

An emotional Harry was captivated by his bride as they met at the altar, telling her: "You look amazing."

Crowds flocked to see the newlyweds - the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex - who kissed on the West Steps of the chapel.

Guests in the gothic church included George and Amal Clooney, Oprah Winfrey, Idris Elba, Serena Williams, Carey Mulligan, James Blunt and James Corden, and a number of Meghan's Suits former co-stars.

Dubbed a royal wedding like no other, the nuptials combined British traditions with diversity and modernity.

Sounds of a gospel choir filled the venue, with US preacher Bishop Michael Curry delivering a lengthy, impassioned, rousing address on the power of love.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte were among the pageboys and bridesmaids, and the Duke of Edinburgh, recovered from a hip operation, put in an appearance.

There was drama in the run-up to the big day, with Meghan's father Thomas Markle pulling out of walking her through the Quire to the altar due to illness, and after being caught staging paparazzi photographs.

But the Prince of Wales stepped in to perform the symbolic role.

Thousands lined the streets of Windsor to watch Harry and Meghan as they went on a carriage procession in the Ascot Landau through the town and the Long Walk in Windsor Great Park.

The black tie evening celebrations - to which Meghan wore a glamorous lily white halter neck by Stella McCartney - were staged in nearby Frogmore House where 200 close family and friends partied the night away.

Mr & Mrs: the new Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle sports a bespoke Stella McCartney halter-neck gown at the after party of her wedding to Prince Harry. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

Second wedding anniversaries are traditionally marked with gifts of cotton.