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The £130 scent diffusers used to mask the ‘musty’ smell of St George’s Chapel during Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle were approved by Buckingham Palace ahead of her wedding day.
After the nuptials in May 2018, royal sources had claimed that the odour of the 15th century chapel did not find favour with the soon-to-be Duchess of Sussex, and said she had insisted on masking it with air fresheners before her wedding guests arrived.
However, according to royal biographers Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand in their new book Finding Freedom, which has been serialised in The Times and Sunday Times, the Diptyque Baies diffusers were provided by the brand and were approved by the palace ahead of the royal wedding.
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Meghan Markle’s Diptyque scent diffusers used to mask the ‘musty’ smell of St George’s Chapel were approved by Buckingham Palace ahead of her wedding day, the new royal biography claims
The signature Diptyque scent smells of roses, infused with fruity undertones of berries and currant leaves
The signature scent used to make the chapel more fragrant smells of roses, infused with fruity undertones of berries and currant leaves.
It was previously understood that the request to use the atomisers to create a pleasant aroma for guests specifically came from Meghan’s office at Kensington Palace.
It was thought that although she and Harry organised the wedding themselves with an in-house team, anything to do with the chapel was a matter for the Queen, who had to give them permission to use it.
That meant all of the arrangements needed to be passed by the Lord Chamberlain’s Office at Buckingham Palace, which is in charge of ceremonial matters.
The source said at the time: ‘Apparently Meghan didn’t like the smell of the chapel, which, as you would expect, is a little musty. It’s not unpleasant at all, though.
‘It just smells how you would expect an old building to smell. And that’s something the Royal Family are particularly used to.
‘Meghan wanted staff to go around with these atomisers, like spritzer guns, and spray the chapel with scent before anyone arrived.
‘Royal Household staff stepped in and told her office politely, but firmly, that this was the Queen’s Chapel and it simply wasn’t appropriate.
‘I don’t believe they said no because they thought it could affect the chapel in any way. It was simply the principle of the thing.
‘This is a place that has held royal weddings, funerals and even contains the Royal Vault. I don’t believe a request of that nature had been made before.’
The source stressed at the time that there had been ‘no falling out’ between the two households, but that there was a certain amount of surprise at the request.
‘Frankly it was all a bit ridiculous and rather over the top,’ they added.
The request for the use of the discreet air diffusers had caused a stir at the time, according to royal sources in 2018. However, Finding Freedom authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand suggest that the scenting of the chapel was something Buckingham Palace agreed to ahead of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s big day
A second source, while also confirming that atomisers had been requested, said: ‘The two households worked very well together. I don’t believe they [the atomisers] caused concern.’
The discreet diffusers were much like the candles used by Kate Middleton for her wedding to Prince William at Westminster Abbey in 2011.
The new Duchess of Cambridge had requested her favourite scented candles and toiletries from luxury fragrance brand Jo Malone be delivered to scent the Abbey on the couple’s big day.
A selection of candles, handwashes and lotions were requested, specifically in citrus spring scents including Orange Blossom, Grapefruit and the ever-popular Lime, Basil & Mandarin.
It was reported that new Duchess of Cambridge requested her favourite scented candles and toiletries from luxury fragrance brand Jo Malone be delivered to scent the Abbey
These were for use inside the Abbey and for wedding guests using the royal bathroom and additional six VIP bathrooms.
Controversial new book Finding Freedom provides an intimately detailed and personalised version of the events leading up to the Sussexes’ dramatic departure from royal life.
Co-authors Scobie and Durand have insisted ‘all information in this book has at least two sources’. Harry and Meghan have denied giving interviews. The biography claims allege that Meghan and Harry were proving unpopular with royal staff, and could be difficult and ‘dictatorial’.
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