Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's excitement at attending Pippa Middleton's wedding together was short-lived after they discovered the bride's unusual request

Not yet engaged and little than a twelvemonth into their relationship, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were acceptable to bask Pippa Middleton's wedding reception successful each other's company.

But the Princess of Wales's younger sister had different ideas - with a strict seating program that separated each mates successful attendance. 

It meant that alternatively of spending the evening unneurotic arsenic a caller couple, Harry was sat with ITV News astatine Ten presenter Tom Bradby while Meghan dined with Roger Federer's woman Mirka.

Guests enjoyed a repast of trout and lamb astatine the 2017 nuptials of Pippa and hedge money manager James Matthews, washed down with '2002 Dom Ruinart Champagne', according to Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand's biography of the Sussexes, Finding Freedom.

'Sitting unneurotic successful the customized solid marquee that had been erected connected the 18-acre spot should person been a amusive nighttime for the couple, but, per Pippa's request, nary couples sat together,'  they wrote. 

Harry and Meghan, who was inactive caller to royal circles astatine the time, reunited adjacent the creation level aft the meal. And portion 'the aged Harry would person surely closed astatine the bash with the remainder of his friends', Mr Scobie and Ms Durand enactment that the past 32-year-old prince alternatively spent the remainder of the evening catching up with his girlfriend.

The seating illustration was not the lone situation faced by the brace that day, with Meghan absent from the ceremonial at St. Mark's Church successful Englefield, West Berkshire.

Pippa and her mother, Carole Middleton, seemingly shared concerns that the beingness of the royal mates mightiness overshadow the large day. 

The aboriginal Duke and Duchess of Sussex yet agreed it would beryllium champion for Meghan to debar the religion and media.

The authors of Finding Freedom accidental that Harry and Meghan past came up with a program which saw them thrust retired to Berkshire connected the time of the wedding. 

Meghan stayed successful an Airbnb that a adjacent person had rented connected her behalf portion Harry attended the work successful Englefield.

Meghan did her ain constitution and enactment connected a achromatic formal before Harry returned to the Airbnb for a spot of luncheon with his partner.  He past drove them some to the reception astatine the Middleton's Bucklebury home.    

Beautiful bride Pippa wore a flowing lace gown with a heart-shaped unfastened back, designed by Giles Deacon. She carried a bouquet of peony, saccharine pea, astilbe, freesia, waxflower, greenish doorbell and mollis.

Prince George, who was conscionable 3 astatine the time, and Princess Charlotte, past two, stole the amusement arsenic leafage lad and mini bridesmaid. (Pippa is said to dislike the word 'flower girl'.)

George wore an adorable button-up garment and beige trousers, portion his sister sported an ivory formal with a blush pinkish bow and angiosperm crown, on with a small basket.