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Royal wedding 2018: Guests sell gift bags online


Image copyright PA

A small number of gift bags given to guests at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's wedding are being sold online.

Nine auctions can currently be found on the website eBay - with some listings reaching more than £1,000.

The bags were given to 2,640 members of the public invited into the grounds of Windsor Castle for the wedding on 19 May, but not the 600 chapel guests.

Contents of the bags include the order of service booklet and a tube of "handbag shortbread".

One listing reads: "Don't miss out on this limited once in a life time opportunity to have a piece of royal history."

Another, seemingly posted by the Swindon Night Shelter, promised all proceeds would go towards meeting "the complex needs of those homeless and vulnerable in Swindon and the surrounding area".

Other items given to the guests include a bottle of water, a chocolate coin, a fridge magnet, a badge and a 20% off voucher for the Windsor Castle gift shop.

The 600 guests invited into the chapel, including celebrities such as David and Victoria Beckham, Oprah Winfrey and George and Amal Clooney, were not given gift bags.

Image copyright eBay Image caption Some auctions had reached more than £1,000

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were married at St George's Chapel

Image copyright Getty Images

Among the 2,640 guests invited into the grounds were 200 people from charities associated with Harry and Meghan, 100 local schoolchildren, 610 Windsor residents and 530 members of the Royal Households and Crown Estate.

A further 1,200 people were invited by the nine regional Lord Lieutenant offices

Kensington Palace has declined to comment on the story.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Watch highlights of the big day

Royal wedding gift bag contents

Royal wedding guests invited into the grounds of Windsor Castle received:


Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Watch highlights of the big day

The newly married Duke and Duchess of Sussex have left Windsor Castle as the weekend's royal wedding celebrations come to a close.

The couple stayed at the castle on Saturday after an evening reception with 200 of their friends and family, hosted by Prince Charles.

Details of Prince Harry and Meghan's honeymoon have yet to be confirmed.

But their first official engagement as a married couple will be a garden party at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.

Earlier the Royal Family posted a message on their twitter account to thank those who had travelled to Windsor for the wedding.

Skip Twitter post by @RoyalFamily Thank you to everyone who came to Windsor and those who followed from around the UK, the Commonwealth, and the world today. Congratulations once again to the newly-married Duke and Duchess of Sussex. #royalwedding pic.twitter.com/SQWQg5ZsOq — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 19, 2018 Report

The wedding celebrations ended with a black-tie dinner and fireworks display at Frogmore House, near Windsor Castle.

For the evening, Meghan changed out of her wedding dress into a lily-white, silk crepe Stella McCartney halter-neck gown.

Prince Harry, who was given special permission from the Queen to keep his short beard for the ceremony, while wearing the frockcoat uniform of his former regiment, the Blues and Royals, changed into a tuxedo.

Meghan broke with royal tradition and gave a speech.

The evening refreshments are said to have included themed cocktails, including one named "When Harry met Meghan" - referencing the romantic comedy starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal.

Guests dined on posh burgers and candy floss, according to reports, and danced to music provided by a celebrity DJ.

Some are also said to have staged an after-party at Chiltern Firehouse in central London.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Meghan reveals her halter-neck evening dress before driving into the sunset

Clare Waight Keller, the designer of Meghan's wedding dress, said it was a collaborative process with the royal bride.

Meghan was "exactly what you see on TV", said the Birmingham-born designer, adding: "She's just so genuine and warm and radiant. She's just glowing.

"She's a strong woman. She knows what she wants, and it was really an absolute joy working with her."

The designer - artistic director of Givenchy - also spoke to Prince Harry after the ceremony.

"He came straight up to me and he said 'oh my God, thank you, she looks absolutely stunning'," she said. "I think everybody saw on television - he was absolutely in awe, I think."

Her final design sketches are being given to Meghan as a keepsake.

Image copyright PA Image caption Much has been made of the boat neck cut and the minimalist design of the dress

Meghan showed little sign of nerves while getting ready, her hair stylist has revealed.

Serge Normant, who flew from New York for the big day, said it was "dreamy" to work with her, adding: "She was very happy. It was a beautiful morning, just the perfect morning to get married."

As a wedding gift, Prince Harry gave his bride an emerald-cut aquamarine ring which had belonged to his late mother - Diana, Princess of Wales - which she wore to the evening reception.

Image copyright PA

All of the 600 guests at the ceremony held at St George's Chapel, in Windsor Castle, were invited to a lunchtime reception at St George's Hall, where the best man, the Duke of Cambridge, acted as compere.

Guest Suhani Jalota, founder of the India-based Myna Mahila charity, said Elton John performed a "mini-concert". She said speeches by the Prince of Wales and the groom were "lovely", adding: "Some people were even crying."

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Royalty of the celebrity world arrive

Among the close friends who attended the evening celebrations were Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra and tennis ace Serena Williams, who revealed their outfit changes on social media.

Posting on Instagram, David Beckham said: "Watching Harry as happy as he was makes us all proud of the man and person he has always been... what a day."

TV audiences around the world watched the ceremony at St George's Chapel, held in front of 600 guests.

In the UK, more than 13 million people watched the TV coverage on the BBC One - peaking at 13.1 million just after 13:00 BST.

ITV's audience peaked at 3.6 million, just after 14:00 BST.

Thousands of people lined the streets of Windsor to watch the couple as they left the ceremony in a horse-drawn carriage.


Carriage procession 'like a fairytale'

We asked you what it was like to see the carriage travel through Windsor- and one word kept coming up.


The royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, was a hallmark in many ways, including being a show of the best that fashion can offer.

Among the traditional customs at British weddings and other formal events, the hats, "fascinators" and various sculptural hair arrangements that women wear to showcase their celebratory moods and daring style, are among the most eye-catching. With that in mind, the displays of styles and colors at Meghan's and Harry's nuptials offered many visions to behold.

For formal royal events - and there are only a few more formal than a wedding - rules exist relating to fashion choices that female guests should follow, such as wearing knee-length or longer dresses that cover their shoulders, and accessorizing their heads.

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was not an exception. It was, in fact a wonderful show of sartorial elegance and extravagance where the guests were dressed to impress.

Studded with celebrities accustomed to serving up red-carpet looks and the royal family as well as other British aristocrats adept at displaying their sophistication with headgear, the royal wedding was a master class in hats, fascinators and day dresses, and a rainbow of colors and styles that won't be seen again soon.

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