The final numbers are in and it's official: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was expensive AF. We already knew that, of course, but now we have some concrete numbers to gape at.
RELATED STORY
According to Express, the total cost of the high-profile, televised May wedding was £32 million, with figures showing that £1.5 million was spent by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the bulk of the budget (£3o million of the £32 million spent) went to security.
New numbers offer a point-by-point breakdown of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's grand wedding (at least of the aspects that were paid for by taxpayers, anyway—the royal family shouldered the cost of things like flowers and reception fees).
“As was the case with the wedding of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, The Royal Family will pay for the core aspects of the wedding, such as the church service, the associated music, flowers, decorations, and the reception afterwards,” Kensington Palace said in a statement about the wedding.
Among the new budget details revealed by Express are:
- £232,810 for the PA system used to communicate what was happening in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle to the public.
- £1,084,512 for the Windsor and Maidenhead council for "stewarding, crowd control barriers, big screens, waste disposal, barriers and associated costs."
- £128,714 for private contractors.
- £3,875 for staff travel and expenses.
- £2,907 for accreditation passes.
- £14,081 for flags and banners.
Another tidbit from the budget breakdown? The cost of Meghan's wedding dress. The former actress became the Duchess of Sussex in a Clare Waight Keller dress that cost an estimated £390,000. For comparison, Kate Middleton's wedding dress was said to have cost about £250,000.
-
5 Irresistible Valentine's Day Outfits Celebrities Wore FirstSteal your Valentine's Day style cues from lover girls like Zendaya and Taylor Swift.
-
'Single's Inferno' Season 4 Is Here—Meet the K-Drama Actors, Reality Stars, and Models Looking for Love in ParadiseThe Netflix Korean dating show is back for another round of red-hot drama.
-
The NuFace Fix Microwand Erased My Fine Lines In Under Five MinutesWe put the latest launch to the test.
-
Why Royal Courtiers Allegedly Gave Prince Harry and Prince Andrew Unexpected 'Dukes of Hazzard' NicknamesA royal expert claimed the nicknames—inspired by the famous TV show—relate to King Charles.
-
Why King Charles's Cousin Immediately Name-Dropped Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on 'The Traitors'Lord Ivar Mountbatten quickly established his connection to the Sussexes, and discussed his status as the first openly gay British royal.
-
How Prince Harry Honored One Man's Unexpected Request While Helping California Wildfire VictimsThe Duke of Sussex reportedly went incognito to find a special item for an elderly man affected by the disaster.
-
Meghan Markle Is Pushing the Premiere of Her Netflix Series Due to the Los Angeles WildfiresMeghan requested that Netflix delay the release "as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state of California."
-
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Hugged Victims of the LA Fires During Surprise Appearance in Pasadena"No one knew they were serving food with masks."
-
Princess Kate Isn't Always "Well Enough" for Royal Duties, but She's Learning to "Pace" Herself"She is looking after herself and is wise to do so," a family friend shared.
-
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Issue Statement on California's Devastating WildfiresThe Sussexes addressed the disaster, which is "affecting tens of thousands from all walks of life."
-
Meghan Markle Shares Her Most Personal Instagram Post Yet—Including Rare Glimpses of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet—After Their Beloved Dog Dies"Thank you for so many years of unconditional love, my sweet Guy. You filled my life in ways you’ll never know."
