Meghan Markle, 36, and Prince Harry, 33, are soon to marry, holding their wedding on May 19. While royal weddings are always lavish, Prince Harry and the Suits actress’s is expected to be very expensive.
Wedding planner Hamish Shephard, who is also planning the wedding of Meghan’s friend and reality TV star Millie Mackintosh and her fiancee Hugo Taylor, estimates the nuptials will cost £32 million.
There are a number of aspects of the wedding which are set to cost a bomb, including a £26,000 bill for sausage rolls.
Mr Shephard said: “They’ve invited 2,640 members of the public who will each be given a cup of tea and a sausage roll. If you’re assuming that’s £10 a head, that’s £26,000 on sausage rolls alone.”
Flowers will also set the couple back a fairly enormous sum – far more than the average Briton would plan to spend on their whole wedding.
It was recently announced that Meghan Markle’s parents will have a coat of arms designed before the big day.
The massive costs are largely down to the fact that Harry and Megs are hosting for a huge wedding party.
Mr Shephard said: “The biggest cost of a wedding is always determined by the number of guests. You have three costs: a third is on the venue, a third is on the food and drink and a third is on the other parts such as the dress and the photographer, etc.
“Every wedding has those elements and that’s where it can scale. Harry and Meghan are planning for 4,000 guests and multiple venues.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle initially hoped to have their reception at Frogmore House, but later decided on another venue.
However, there will still hold their reception at the stunning stately home, meaning two venues must be catered for.
“They are having their church service at the incredible St George’s Chapel, and then they’re with 600 guests for a lunchtime reception at St George’s Hall – one of the most incredible halls in Windsor Castle.
“The grand evening reception will also take place at Fogmore House,” Mr Shephard said.
As each venue must be decked out in flower the florist bill will be one of the largest on the say.
The wedding expert said: “All these different venues means they will have an enormous number of flowers. Everything is going to be the best of the best, and something like floristry is where your budget grows, a massive amount of it goes on flowers, meaning they will cost at least £110,000”.
“Harry and Meghan have also ordered 20 silver-plated fanfare trumpets for when they arrive, which have cost £90,000 alone”.
Meghan is close to her mother Doria Radlan, and her father is said to be walking her down the aisle. However, the pair will both have to make their way over from Los Angeles and Mexico respectively.
Mr Shephard said: “With the recent announcement that Meghan’s father will be walking her down the aisle; the couple will likely be providing first class transport for the Markle family members – with privacy being a notorious priority for Meghan. A private chartered flight from Los Angeles to London could cost anywhere up from £70,000.”
The security is thought to cost £30,000 for the whole event affair.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s wedding costs (according to Hamish)
Flowers – £110,000
Sliver-plated fanfare trumpets – £90,000
Sausage rolls for the public – £26,000
Private jet for Meghan’s family – £70,000
Security – £30 million
