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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Jessica Taylor

Meghan Markle's key changes to royal wedding vows - a dated promise she refused to make

The royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was watched by nearly two billion people around the world as the pair tied the knot in Windsor.

Eager viewers were left in awe of Meghan's sleek gown, designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, which she paired with a glistening tiara on her head on loan from the Queen.

While many aspects of the wedding ceremony were fairly conventional, the pair broke from tradition to put their own personal touches on their big day.

One such break from tradition was inviting an American bishop to speak during their nuptials, with Reverend Michael Curry delivering a heart warming speech to guests and viewers.

Meghan decided to make a key omission from her wedding vows (Getty Images)

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But the Duchess of Sussex ensured a break from tradition in her own words as she delivered her wedding vows - following in the footsteps of her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana.

While the pair, who celebrate their wedding anniversary today, promised to have and to hold each other in sickness and in health as most couples do, modern Meghan removed one promise from her vows - to obey.

The Duchess's decision matched that of a young Princess Diana when she tied the knot to Prince Charles in 1981.

However, it seems her statement didn't catch on, as other Royal brides left the vows as they were - including Sarah Ferguson.

But with new generations come new traditions, and when Kate Middleton married Prince William in 2011 she also opted to drop the promise to "obey" her husband.

For Harry and Meghan it was important to promote equality in their wedding, and the pair also chose to refer to themselves as "husband and wife" rather than "man and wife."

Throughout the ceremony they were referred to as their recognised names rather than the names on their birth certificates - Henry and Rachel.

At the wedding reception, guests of the couple were treated to a lemon and elderflower cake - which differed from the classic fruitcake often served up at a royal wedding.

And it's not just Meghan who decided to do things a bit differently, with Harry making some choices of his own.

The Duke of Sussex opted to permanently wear a wedding ring, breaking from tradition set by his grandfather, Prince Philip, and followed by his older brother, Prince William.

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