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Inside Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s Evening Wedding Reception: Funny Speeches, Cocktails and Fireworks

Newlyweds Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan partied late into the night at their evening wedding reception at Frogmore House following their Saturday, May 19, wedding at Windsor Castle in England.

Prince Harry, Duchess Meghan Markle, Royal Wedding, Carriage
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex leave Windsor Castle in the Ascot Landau carriage during a procession after getting married at St Georges Chapel on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England. Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Related: Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s Wedding Timeline

The intimate celebration for 200 of the couple’s closest friends and family kicked off at 7 p.m. and was hosted by the groom’s father, Prince Charles. It followed a more sedate lunchtime reception held by the queen, where Elton John performed.

Guests let their hair down at the evening shindig, with the thump of loud music that could be heard over the grounds of Windsor Castle, and at 11 p.m. guests were treated to a fireworks display that lit up the sky before the party wrapped up.

Harry, 33, and Meghan, 36, traveled to Frogmore House in an E-Type Jaguar modified with an electric engine as the bride wore her second dress of the day — a white halterneck Stella McCartney gown accessorized with a huge aquamarine ring that belonged to Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana. Harry looked dashing in a black tuxedo.

Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex leave Windsor Castle after their wedding
Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex leave Windsor Castle after their wedding. Steve Parsons - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Related: Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s Cutest Moments at the Royal Wedding: Photos

Guests included Tom Hardy and Idris Elba, who briefly stepped behind the turntables to DJ, as well as Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and their father, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and his wife, Countess Sophie.

The newly minted duchess’ close friend Jessica Mulroney was also in attendance and the Daily Mail reported that George and Amal Clooney, as well as Priyanka Chopra and Serena Williams, were among the A-list guests. Troian Bellisario revealed that the royal couple provided their guests with comfortable slippers for the reception. Williams shared pics of her colorful Valentino gown on Instagram before heading to the party.

The party reportedly featured house music from a DJ who also played at Pippa Middleton‘s wedding as well as a Drinks of the World-themed bar that included a ginger and rum cocktail, in a tribute to the groom’s red hair. It was named “When Harry Met Meghan.”

Related: Prince William and Prince Harry’s Cutest Moments Through the Years

The Mail reports that the three-course sit-down dinner was organic, at the request of Prince Charles. The guests were entertained by funny speeches from best man Prince William as well as Harry’s friends Tom Inskip and Charlie Van Straubenzee. A source tells Us Weekly that Van Straubenzee, who is Harry’s best friend, brought up the prince’s tabloid antics and made fun of his hair loss and “the entire room was cracking up.”

Meghan was also expected to give a speech at the reception.

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