Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Attend First Royal Event As Newlyweds

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By Dianne GebauerUpdated: May 23, 2018 12:11 pm EST

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made their first public appearance following their nuptials.

On Tuesday, May 22, 2018, the royal couple made their first public appearance as newlyweds at a garden party held at Buckingham Palace in celebration of Prince Charles' 70th birthday, Page Six reports.

The event, which recognized the prince's years of charity work with hundreds of organizations, is the first of several scheduled to mark his milestone birthday, although it isn't actually until November 14 — a fact Prince Harry joked about in his prepared remarks.

"Can I ask you to join me in wishing the Prince of Wales a very Happy Birthday — six months ahead of his 70th!" the Duke of Sussex quipped (via E! News). "How very Royal!"

Prince Harry went on to praise his father's impact in front of the party's attendees, which included over 6,000 people from charitable organizations Prince Charles has supported. "It is your selfless drive to effect change, whether that is to improve the lives of those who are on the wrong path, to save an important piece of our national heritage or to protect a particular species under threat," he said, "which (Prince) William and I draw inspiration from every day."

During her new husband's heartfelt speech, Markle stood next to Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla, donning a blush-colored dress by the British label GOAT. The Duchess of Sussex completed her royal look with a hat by Philip Treacy, a pair of diamond earrings by Vanessa Tugendhaft, Tamara Mellon shoes, and a Wilbur & Gussie clutch.

As Nicki Swift previously reported, Prince Harry, 33, and Markle, 36, tied the knot on Saturday, May 19, in a gorgeous ceremony at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. The couple announced their engagement last November, after getting together in the fall of 2016.

Just a day ahead of their first official outing as a married pair, the two were spotted out and about while arriving at their new home, Nottingham Cottage, on the grounds of Kensington Palace.