JUST hours after fireworks lit up the night sky over Windsor Castle in a spectacular finale to the royal wedding, the Duchess of Sussex unveiled her aspirations for her new role.
Meghan Markle, who is said to have thanked the royal family for welcoming her into “The Firm” as she gave a speech at the couple’s reception, received her own web page on the official royal.uk website.
The 36-year-old’s online biography champions her history of charitable work and “lifelong commitment” to social justice and women’s empowerment. It also features her quote from a United Nations conference in New York in 2015, when she said: “I am proud to be a woman and a feminist.”
Making no mention of her former career as an actress, the web page states: “As well as undertaking royal duties in support of the Queen, both in the UK and overseas, the Duchess devotes her time to supporting a number of charities and organisations. From a young age, The Duchess had a keen awareness of social issues and actively participated in charitable work. Aged 11 she successfully campaigned for a company to alter their television advert that had used sexist language to sell washing-up liquid. Her Royal Highness also volunteered at a soup kitchen in Skid Row, Los Angeles from the age of 13-17. She continued to volunteer at the soup kitchen when she would return home to Los Angeles until the age of 22.”
It adds: “These early experiences helped to shape her lifelong commitment to causes such as social justice and women’s empowerment.”
During the black tie reception at Frogmore House in the grounds of Windsor Castle, hosted by Prince Charles, the new Duke of Sussex is said to have praised his wife following a challenging week, in which her father was found to be collaborating with paparazzi to stage photographs and then later confirmed he was no longer able to attend the ceremony.
Sources said that an emotional Prince Harry told his bride she “navigated everything with such grace”, adding that the couple “make such a great team”. He then told her: “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you”.
Elton John performed a medley of his hits at the gathering, including Princess Diana’s favourite, Your Song.
Earlier in the evening, the couple left their initial reception at Windsor Castle, hosted by the Queen, in a vintage E-type Jaguar that belonged to Prince Charles. With the Duke at the wheel, the Duchess swapped her bespoke white silk Givenchy gown - designed by Clare Waight Keller, who was formerly creative director of Pringle of Scotland - for a Stella McCartney halterneck dress in silk crepe. She also sported a gift from her groom - a large aquamarine ring that belonged to Princess Diana.
The couple left Windsor on Sunday, heading home to their cottage in the grounds of Kensington Palace. They are delaying their honeymoon to attend their first official royal engagement as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex - the 70th birthday patronage celebration for Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.
Their honeymoon destination has not been officially revealed, although there are suggestions it may be in Namibia, south-west Africa.
ROYAL WEDDING IN NUMBERS
18 million - The number of Britons who watched coverage of the wedding, making it the biggest TV audience of the year.
3 billion – The estimated global online and TV audience for the wedding.
45 minutes - How long it took Meghan's hairdresser, Serge Normant, to style her wedding day hair into a "messy bun".
2640 - Members of the public invited into Windsor Castle grounds.
4 - Page boys, made up of Prince Harry's nephew Prince George; his godson Jasper Dyer and twins John and Brian Mulroney, the sons of Meghan's best friend.
6 - The number of bridesmaids made up of Prince Harry's niece, Princess Charlotte; his god-daughters Zalie Warren and Florence van Cutsem; Meghan's god-daughters Rylan and Remi Litt and Meghan's best friend's daughter, Ivy Mulroney.
£200,000 – The cost of Meghan’s bespoke white silk Givenchy gown, including £78,000 for custom-made fabric and £4,000 for fittings.
500,000 - Estimated number of kettles boiled after the ceremony aired on TV.
22c/71f - Temperature in Windsor during the wedding.
15ft - Length of Meghan's silk tulle veil.
53 - Countries of the Commonwealth incorporated into the day after Meghan asked for distinctive flora of each to be united in a single spectacular floral composition on her veil.
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