It's officially been one year since Meghan Markle and Prince Harry got married! To celebrate their anniversary, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex gave us a sneak peek into their special day with 14 never-before-seen wedding photos.
In the year since the Sussexes tied the knot, they've been subjected to an enormous amount of media scrutiny. Meghan, in particular, has had to endure a lot of harsh criticism.
Meghan and Harry have, in turn, opted to fiercely guard their private life from the press as much as possible. They share details of their life when they want to, not when the public forces it out of them. And now that the Sussexes have their own Instagram page, they can truly be in control of their own narrative without relying on the press.
On their first wedding anniversary, the Sussexes used their Instagram to share some new photos of their wedding day. These lovely, touching photos show what things were really like behind the scenes.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry tied the knot on May 19, 2018. They said their vows at Windsor Castle as the entire world watched.
At the time, Kensington Palace released many breathtaking photos of the couple's wedding and reception. Many of the photos were rather formal — for example, the Sussexes posed for an official portrait with their flower girls and page boys.
But some of the most meaningful wedding photos are often the most candid ones.
Meghan and Harry's official wedding portrait was a candid photo, not a posed shot. Their photographer, Alexi Lubomirski, said it was pure luck.
"It was just one of those magical moments when you're a photographer and everything falls into place," he explained, per the Daily Mail.
Aside from their official wedding portrait, the Sussexes kept most of the other, more candid personal photos of the wedding to themselves. Until now!
In honor of their first anniversary, Meghan and Harry released 14 never-before-seen wedding photos, including a behind-the-scenes shot of their family wedding portrait.
They shared the photos in a video reel on their shared Instagram page, @sussexroyal.
The photos show special moments from before and after the ceremony. One photo shows Meghan and Harry sharing a moment of laughter, while another shows Harry and brother William on their way to the chapel.
In one photo, Harry appears to be in a room by himself, having a quiet moment and reading something. Vows? A letter from Meghan?
Another photo shows Harry "hitching a ride" to the church. Royals — they're just like us!
There's also a photo of Meghan picking up her bouquet, the final touch before she's ready to walk down the aisle. She's fully dressed in her gown and veil.
Then there's a photo of Meghan taking the arm of her soon-to-be father-in-law, Prince Charles. Prince Charles walked Meghan down the aisle, since her own father couldn't be present.
Two photos show Meghan and Harry each signing the wedding register at the chapel. Adorable!
In one shot, Meghan walks back into the chapel. Her dress and veil flow elegantly down the stairs behind her as an attendant helps out.
There's also a photo of Meghan and her mom, Doria Ragland, smiling and holding hands after the wedding.
And lastly, the couple shared a behind-the-scenes photo of their official wedding photo shoot.
Were these photos worth waiting a whole year for? ABSOLUTELY.
Happy anniversary, Meghan and Harry!
