Prince William, the best man at his brother Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018, reportedly pulled a mischievous prank on the newlyweds as they left their star-studded 'after-party' at Windsor's Frogmore House. The lighthearted act, which took place before the well-publicized royal rift, was inspired by a fall Harry had taken from a ladder while changing a lightbulb for Meghan shortly before the wedding.
According to an insider who recalled the prank a day after the reception, William, then 35, tied a ladder to the back of the couple's car as they prepared to depart around midnight, "shattered and madly in love." The source said, "Apparently Harry fell off a ladder recently while changing a light bulb for Meghan and hurt his arm. So Wills tied a ladder to the back of the car, which nearly floored a few people."
The reception, attended by 200 of the newlyweds' closest friends and family, boasted a star-studded guest list that included David and Victoria Beckham, tennis star Serena Williams, James Corden, Idris Elba, George and Amal Clooney, and actress Priyanka Chopra. The 230-year-old venue reportedly had a 'carnival atmosphere,' with the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex partying into the small hours.
Guests were treated to a Tiki-themed bar, requested by groom Harry, and enjoyed 'dirty burgers' and drinks-of-the-world themed cocktails, including one named 'When Harry Met Meghan,' a play on the hit romantic comedy 'When Harry Met Sally.' The drink featured rum and ginger, the latter a nod to Harry's famous red hair. Comedian James Corden reportedly acted as a compère for the evening.
The sit-down dinner, paid for by William and Harry's father, Prince Charles, ran from 7:30 pm until roughly 10 pm. The then-Prince of Wales delivered a speech that had guests "laughing and crying," including a gag about changing Harry's nappy. A guest at the wedding told the Mail, "Charles spoke about feeding Harry a bottle and changing his nappy, and then said look how well he turned out. That's about as embarrassing as it got."
Following the dinner, guests were treated to a spectacular fireworks display, adding to the festive and celebratory atmosphere of the evening.
The revelation of Prince William's good-natured prank on his brother and new sister-in-law serves as a reminder of the lighter moments shared between the royal siblings before the highly publicized rift that led to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping back from their roles as senior members of the Royal Family in 2020.
Since their departure, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made their home in California, where they welcomed their daughter, Princess Lilibet, and have openly shared their grievances with the Royal Family, including accusations of racism towards their son, Prince Archie.
