No ring, no bring?

Meghan Markle was noticeably absent from Pippa Middleton’s wedding on Saturday, May 20 — even though her boyfriend Prince Harry was in attendance along with his brother Prince William and sister-in-law Princess Kate Middleton. But that didn’t mean that Meghan wasn’t welcome to celebrate with the royal family! A source revealed that she scored an invitation to the evening’s reception, which she attended with her royal boyfriend.

“Harry knew this was all about Pippa’s big day and he and Meghan jointly decided they didn’t want to upstage her. Harry went all the way back to London to get Meghan and bring her to the party,” a source revealed to The Sun.
“He left as discreetly as possible and traveled with her all the way back up, showing just how serious he is about her. He didn’t want Meghan having to arrive alone, without him alongside her, at the reception.”

prince harry prince william getty

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

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While Pippa said “I do” to hedge fund manager James Matthews, Meghan was actually an hour and a half away in London, getting ready for the reception, an insider revealed to People. Prince Harry traveled back to London after the morning’s ceremony to pick up his girlfriend and then they made an appearance together at the reception in Bucklebury, England —
which is a big step in their relationship because it means things are getting serious between the couple.

It was first speculated that the 33-year-old had implemented a “no ring, no bring” policy for her wedding guests — which means that guests would not be allowed to bring a date if they weren’t married to them or at least engaged. But judging from the guests who arrived at the St. Mark’s Church in Englefield, England, Pippa didn’t have a rule because her brother James Middleton brought his longtime girlfriend and Princess Eugenie of York brought her longtime boyfriend, according to People.

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Etiquette expert Myka Meier said there could be multiple reasons why Prince Harry showed up to the nuptials solo. She explained that the guest list for the church ceremony could have been finalized last year before he started dating Meghan or Pippa just wanted to have a small, private ceremony at the church.

“Pippa isn’t having an over-the-top wedding. She wants her big day to focus on family,” an insider previously revealed to Closer.