Why didn't Meghan Markle have a maid of honour at her wedding?

When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex tied the knot back in 2018, there was one question on everyone's lips - why didn't Meghan Markle have a Maid of Honour?

We know that Prince Harry appointed his older brother, Prince William, as his best man. But Meghan opted to forgo the longtime tradition of having a Maid of Honour. And her reason why was rather heartwarming.

Meghan Markle have a maid of honour Credit: PA

Why didn't Meghan Markle have a maid of honour?

Well, as it turns out, the Meghan simply had too many friends to choose from (woe is her). So, rather than go through the process of singling out her bestie - and potentially ticking off a few other pals - she decided to play it safe.

A spokesperson from Kensington Palace told Cosmopolitan UK:

"She has a very close-knit group of friends and she did not want to choose one over the other. They have all been actively involved in helping her prepare and will be there with her to celebrate on the day."

At the time, there was much speculation that Meghan would pick her sister-in-law, the Duchess of Cambridge, as her Maid of Honour.

Other rumours included the erstwhile actress's best friend, Canadian fashion stylist, Jessica Mulroney. Per Vanity Fair, Jessica acted as Megan's "secret wedding planner".

When did Meghan and Harry get married?

Meghan and Harry married on May 19, 2018. And the ceremony began at 12pm, followed by a carriage procession through Windsor, an hour later.

The ceremony took place at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

The Duchess of Sussex walked down the aisle, accompanied by her bridesmaids, page boys, and Prince Charles. The Most Reverand Michael Bruce Curry officiated the ceremony, before the bride and groom said their vows and exchanged rings.

Instead of a Maid of Honour, Meghan chose 10 bridal attendants for her wedding party. This included her new niece and nephew, Princess George and Princess Charlotte. How sweet!

The wedding reception took place at St. George's Hall, which is a state room within Windsor Castle. 600 guests in total were invited to the ceremony, and then to lunch, which was hosted by the Queen.

Who paid for the royal wedding?

Taxpayers did not foot the entire bill for Megan and Harry's 2018 nuptials.

A statement from Kensington Palace read:

"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."

The government did, however, pay for security and police presence with tax money.

How much did it cost?

If you're curious as to how much the wedding cost - it came to an eyewatering £32 million, according to the Express.

The majority of this amount went towards security - which came to £30 million - and was paid for by the taxpayer. The publication details that an additional £1.5 million was spent by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Kensington Palace covered the more personal aspects of the nuptials, and Meghan allegedly paid for her own wedding dress.

Harry and Meghan's wedding also reportedly cost £8 million more than William and Kate's wedding back in 2011, which was held in Westminster Abbey.

This is believed to be due to an increased terrorist threat at the time. As a result, more money had to be put behind security for the royals, their guests, and the public.